chapter 3
Once she confirmed he was okay, Ashley let out a sigh of relief. “Before Felix, I always said Sean was a curse to our family. Ever since Felix was born, he’s been hurting him again and again.”
Felix took the opportunity to act pitiful. “Don’t be angry, Ash. I’m sure Sean didn’t mean to hurt me.”
The whole family burst into an uproar upon hearing this.
Dad slammed the table. “What? He actually caused the car accident to hurt you?”
Mom clenched her teeth. “That bastard, I’ll make him pay.”
The look in Ashley’s eyes was venomous, as if she wished she could rip me to pieces.
Felix flinched as though realizing things had gone too far and they might start questioning the story. He hurriedly said, “Please don’t be mad at Sean, okay? Maybe I remembered it wrong. No matter what, he wouldn’t hurt my brother.”
Ashley gently tapped his forehead. “You’re just too naive. You have no idea how evil some people can be at this point.”
Mom chimed in, “It’s truly a blessing to have a son like you. All right, I’ll listen to you. Let’s forget about that ungrateful brat and focus on getting you well again.”
The warm golden light of the setting sun spilled across Felix’s hospital bed. Watching the four of them together—a happy, united family—I felt an indescribable ache in my chest.
In that moment, I realized how out of place my soul truly was. It was as if I wasn’t one of them at all, like a stray dog that wandered into their home.
I wanted to leave, but my spirit was bound tightly to Mom’s side. I couldn’t speak. I could only watch and endure their contempt in silence.
A few days later, under the family’s meticulous care, Felix was discharged from the hospital. Mom was busy packing his things while Dad had already parked the car right outside the hospital door, afraid Felix might have to walk even a single extra step. Ashley wouldn’t even let him put on his shoes by himself on the way home.
Mom muttered irritably, “Sean is really something else. He didn’t even visit his brother at the hospital once, let alone apologize. I’m going to teach him a lesson once we get home.”
Dad glanced at Mom and said coldly, “I told you keeping him at home was looking for trouble. Sooner or later, something bad was bound to happen.”
Hearing the words “teach him a lesson” left me with a complicated mix of emotions. Long-buried memories flooded my mind.