The Ugly Truth

I reached out to wipe away Kevin's tears, but his bony hand caught mine.

The grief surged uncontrollably. He sobbed even harder, like a river bursting its banks, impossible to hold back.

After I comforted Kevin, we returned to my ward, and he left for work shortly after.

I said goodbye to him with a mix of reluctance and resignation. I straightened his clothes, fixed his hair, and made sure he looked every bit the professional.

Over the years with the Sainsbury family, I had grown used to seeing their constant obsession with maintaining a spotless image.

But doing this for Kevin felt different—meaningful, even. I cherished the moment because winter's chill was creeping closer.

Back in bed, I picked up a book to pass the time.

That was when my phone rang again. To my surprise, it wasn't Kevin—it was Eden.

The last time we spoke, she backed off after I put her in her place. Why was she calling me now?

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Where are you, Cindy?" Eden's voice was heavy with emotion—part panic, part fury.

"What's wrong?" I asked, unease already bubbling beneath my calm tone.

"Can you come home? Craig's about to get beaten to death by Mom and Dad." Her voice cracked into a mix of urgency and tears.

"This is all your fault! Mom and Dad are blaming him for suggesting you needed a lesson back then. He's getting punished because of you."

"Why should I go back?" I asked, exasperated but also caught in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings.

"Why shouldn't you? You love Craig the most, don't you? Can you really stand by and watch him suffer?" Eden's tone wavered between accusation and desperation. She was trying to find that soft spot in me she could exploit.

She had some nerve.

I took a deep breath. My voice turned icy as I asked, "Are you begging me to come home?"

As I mentioned the word "beg", Eden suddenly fell silent.

I let out a bitter laugh and continued, "Ms. Sainsbury, I already left the family. You've always wanted to be the sole heiress, haven't you? So, why drag me back now?"

There was a hint of sarcasm in my tone. It was the very tactic she had used on me countless times before.

After a brief pause, I heard her reluctant sniffle.

"I'm not saving Craig," I said coolly. "Even if you beg me on your knees."

Without waiting for a response, I ended the call.

Looking at the screen, I finally made up my mind. I blocked every contact from the Sainsbury family. As I did, it felt like a weight I'd been carrying for years had finally lifted.

The sunlight poured through the curtains, spilling across the pages of my book. It was bright, but it couldn't chase away the darkness lingering in my heart.

The Sainsburys were nothing more than a past I had no desire to revisit. My life didn't need those people constantly ripping at my wounds.

…

I didn't expect Craig to show up at the hospital. That insufferable man always appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as suddenly, like a ghost haunting me.

I'd been sitting by the large windows in the lobby, enjoying the rare good weather.

"Cindy." That familiar yet grating voice made me look up.

Craig's figure emerged from the shadows as if he'd been part of them all along.

"Why didn't you tell the family you were sick?" His tone carried its usual detached coldness, along with that typical Craig-brand judgment.

His sudden appearance shattered the fragile peace I'd built around myself.

I had long since stopped interfering with the Sainsbury family, and Craig's questioning only stirred up frustration inside me.

"I don't have a family," I replied flatly.

Craig frowned, clearly displeased by my attitude. "No matter what's happened, you'll always be part of the family."

"Family?" I let out a laugh so sharp it hurt.

"Mr. Sainsbury, you people are ridiculous. Why do you keep forgetting that I cut ties with you? My last name is Larson. Yours is Sainsbury. What's there to talk about between us?"

My emotions boiled over, and my voice quickened with anger. The air grew heavy with tension, and even the scattered sunlight couldn't break through the oppressive atmosphere.

"It's not what you think," he said in a low voice. "Mom and Dad miss you. I came here to bring you home."

"Mr. Sainsbury, what punishment did they dish out to make you come crawling back to me?"

I figured that perhaps Paula's and Dale's guilty conscience must've tipped in my favor yesterday, and they had directed their resentment toward Craig.

But so what? Whenever Eden and I stood side by side, their eyes never left her.

Whatever guilt they felt now was just another layer of their carefully constructed hypocrisy.

"It's not that," Craig said quietly. "I lost you. It's my responsibility as your brother to bring you home."

I chuckled at those words. "Craig, can't you come up with something new? That line will only work on me once."

My heart ached. Four years ago, he had appeared before me with the same demeanor, saying the same words with a large sum of money as compensation.

All of this led me to make the most regretful decision of my life—to return to the Sainsbury family.

What kind of brother was he? Was I just a toy he could buy back when he wanted and discard when he didn't?

And now, he had the nerve to ask for my help?

I bit down hard on my lip, and my eyes burned with hatred.

Craig didn't respond. He just stared at me, his gaze heavy with something that felt like a silent sigh.

Realizing words were pointless, he sighed softly and turned to light a cigarette.

The smell hit me like a punch, making my chest tighten as I coughed uncontrollably. Cancer patients shouldn't be anywhere near this stuff.

Craig's face reddened slightly. He glanced at the cigarette and then back at me. "What are you diagnosed with?"

I pointed to the sign on the wall. "You're in oncology. What do you think it is? Indigestion?"

Craig finally dropped the act. His anger flared. "Cindy Larson, are you going to fake your death just to get sympathy from Mom and Dad?"