Chapter 4
Brother.”
Marcus stared at the man he’d only seen on TV, taking a shocked step backward.
“Harrington… you were adopted by the Harringtons?”
Suddenly he remembered a few years back, when some construction company from up north came to his hometown and built a bridge.
Audrey Bridge, connecting Cloud Peak Mountain to the county seat. It didn’t just boost tourism–it was a lifeline for the locals.
Word was some rich businessman funded the whole thing as a coming–of–age gift for his little daughter, building up good karma for her.
Audrey Harrington.
Marcus froze like someone had hit pause on him. He couldn’t get a single word out.
So she was Audrey Harrington.
That untouchable princess from the powerful family
he
could never reach.
And Cloud Peak Mountain was exactly where he’d abandoned me.
“Nah, it’s just a patient’s family asking follow–up stuff. We sorted it all out.” I looped arms with Dylan as we headed for the exit. “Hey Dylan, isn’t Dad flying back tonight? I should make his favorite meatloaf.”
“Oh great, the second Dad walks in the door, you’re already planning to cook for him. Your brother’s lucky if he gets a home–cooked meal once in a
blue moon.”
I laughed as I got into the car. Even as we drove away from the hospital, Marcus was still standing there frozen, watching our car disappear into the
distance.
I knew exactly what was going through Marcus’s head.
If I was struggling, he’d feel guilty. But if I was doing too well? That bothered him just as much.
That’s why the second he saw that luxury car, he immediately assumed I was some rich guy’s kept woman.
Two lifetimes later, and he was still just as disgusting.
Dylan glanced at me in the rear–view mirror with a slight frown. Just as he was about to say something, I cut straight to the point:
“Dylan, that guy back there–he’s my biological brother.”
I didn’t want to hide it, so I laid it all out. Dylan looked at me nervously, asking if the guy was here to cause trouble or drag me back to my birth family.
“Don’t worry about it! He’s nothing! I’m here, and I won’t let anyone mess with you!”
Dylan looked at me with a resolute gaze that it warmed my heart. I gave him a comforting smile.
“Relax, Dylan.”
“He’s not worth my time.”
I wasn’t that scared, submissive Elena anymore. If Marcus and Lily wanted to get close to me now, they’d better think twice about whether they could
handle it.
The only reason I was even giving them a second glance was because of something about Lily’s expression.
And her condition.
I’d always suspected she wasn’t actually mute.
nicht Hand Refuses to Save Her
30.8%
just like in my past life, even after my mentor’s examination, her throat was perfectly normal.
But I knew Fd heard her speak before.
When I was twenty, I’d caught a weird voice coming from her bedroom.
It didn’t sound like a young woman at all. Her voice was deep and raspy.
If she really didn’t have any medical issues, then why had she been faking it all this time? What was she up to?
I buried my questions for now. When I got to the hospital the next day, I heard that Lily had been transferred to the psych ward.
She wasn’t just getting a full checkup–she was staying for inpatient therapy for her mental health.
That got me curious. After finding out which psychiatrist was assigned to her case, I went straight to her room.
But before I could even knock, I heard that familiar voice again.
That strange, raspy voice of a middle–aged woman:
“They’re all crazy anyway. Can’t provide for anyone, can’t make any real decisions.”
“What are you
afraid of?”
Chapter 5
