Chapter 3

The colorful sparks of the fireworks reflected off my deathly pale face on the glass.

I slowly let go of the curtain.

It fell back, sealing the room in darkness.

How beautiful.

The fireworks, and them.

The next morning, the smart blinds opened automatically.

The bright sunlight pierced my eyes, and I realized I had passed out on the floor and slept there all night.

I gritted my teeth and dragged myself up. I looked at the calendar on the nightstand. Today was circled.

It was Ethan's birthday.

In previous years, this day meant a mandatory family dinner.

Even our parents, who were always away on business, would fly back to celebrate with him.

A bitter taste rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down. I ran to the bathroom sink and coughed up a large amount of dark blood. I stared at the red stain.

It seemed... I wouldn't even make it to the end of the month.

The man in the mirror was pale, with dark circles under his eyes—looking like a pathetic ghost.

I washed my face and went downstairs.

Mrs. Gable looked shocked when she saw me.

"Brandon, you look terrible..."

I forced a smile, my voice incredibly hoarse. "I'm fine, Mrs. Gable. It's Ethan's birthday. I always make him a warm sweet custard. I want to do the same today."

When I was first brought back to this family, my parents disliked me, my classmates bullied me, and I was too poor to buy a real gift.

I could only use the leftover ingredients in the kitchen to make him a cup of warm sweet custard.

But Ethan never looked down on it.

He placed that cheap cup of custard right in the center of the lavish dining table and told everyone proudly:

"This is the best dessert I've ever had. My brother made it for me!"

Ethan, I really don't want to die.

I wanted to make you sweet custard for the rest of my life.

I wanted to be your brother forever.

I forced myself to concentrate, carefully watching the custard simmer on the stove.

But as it was almost done, another wave of severe dizziness hit me. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs.

I opened my pill bottle.

My vision went completely black, and my body collapsed forward.

Clatter!

I knocked over the sugar jar, and Mrs. Gable came running in.

"Brandon! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I just stood up too fast. The custard is done, Mrs. Gable. Can you help me pour it?"

I quietly squeezed the pills in my hand.

I was too careless.

I didn't realize that one of the heavy painkillers had slipped from my hand.

It had fallen into the pot.

I was so stupid.

I slept until the evening, woken up by the sound of laughter downstairs.

Everyone had arrived.

My parents, Ethan, and Chloe were all in the living room, chatting happily.

But the moment I walked in, the laughter died.

My mother glared at me, her voice cold. "You knew it was Ethan's birthday, yet you slept upstairs until now? Where are your manners?"

My father frowned in agreement. "All those years we paid for your boarding school abroad were a waste. You haven't learned a thing about respect."

I kept my eyes down, my nails digging into my palms.

I silently endured the familiar scolding.

Ethan stood up immediately, walking over to grab my arm to defend me.

"Mom, Dad, don't say that!"

"Brandon wasn't feeling well. Brandon, are you okay? Come sit next to me."

His hand was warm.

But I was too cold. I didn't want to freeze him, so I gently pulled my arm away.

"I'm much better."

The conversation quickly shifted back to him.

I sat there quietly, watching my parents present Ethan with expensive designer bags and custom watches. I listened to them pamper him with endless warmth and laughter.

Chloe sat beside him, smiling gently, her eyes never leaving him.

I felt like a stray dog, staring through a window at someone else’s warm home.

Halfway through the dinner, Ethan noticed my silence. Thinking I was upset by our parents' words, he nudged my arm playfully.

"Alright, enough about the gifts. My favorite present isn't even here yet! Brandon, where is my sweet custard?"

"I've been saving room for it all night!"

Seeing him like this, my heart melted.

I turned to Mrs. Gable. "It's ready. Please bring it out."

The warm custard was placed in front of Ethan.

He took a spoonful and swallowed it with a satisfied smile.

However, just a few seconds later—

His smile froze. He looked at me in shock, and the spoon clattered to the floor, making a sharp, echoing sound.

"Ethan?"

Chloe was the first to notice something was wrong.

In the next second, Ethan clutched his stomach, his body convulsing violently as white foam began to spill from his lips!

"Ethan!"

"Oh my god, Ethan! What's happening?"

My mother’s screams and Chloe’s frantic cries erupted at once. The living room instantly fell into complete chaos.

I stood there frozen, watching Ethan convulse in agony. Suddenly, the severe side effects of my heavy painkillers flashed through my mind:

Muscle spasms and comatose state.

It was me...

I had dropped a pill into his custard.