He placed Edith gently on the sofa and knelt halfway to apply medicine to her hand. “Why are you always so careless?”

Earl’s movements were meticulous, his fingers light as he tended to the wound. Watching him, Edith couldn’t help but feel a pang in her heart.

“Brother,” she whimpered, hooking her pinky around his, her eyes welling with tears once more. “Do you really have to be with Edith?”

His hand froze momentarily but resumed its task as if her words hadn’t struck a nerve.

“Yes,” he replied calmly. “I’m almost thirty, and you’re an adult now. It’s time for me to settle down, and you should feel at ease starting your own life too.”

“Edith is a good girl,” he continued, his tone steady. “Don’t worry. She’ll treat you well. Even when we have children of our own in the future, you’ll always be my family. Everything I own will be divided equally between you.”

Such a generous, noble promise.

Edith should have been content with that.

She knew the truth—they weren’t related by blood. Earl had simply been a friend of her parents, taking her in after they passed and raising her for ten years, giving her a life of comfort and privilege.

She should have been grateful.

He was her family’s benefactor, wasn’t he?

But… but…

Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at him. “Brother, I miss my parents.”

He acknowledged her softly. “Mm.”

Edith leaned her head on his shoulder, her voice trembling. “Do you miss them too?”

Earl didn’t push her away. Instead, he finished tying a neat bow on the bandage around her hand, capped the iodine bottle, and tidied up the medical kit. “Yes,” he said simply. “I do miss them.”

Nestled against him like a baby bird seeking warmth, Edith murmured, “It’s good to miss them.”

That evening, Edith came home carrying a beautifully packaged fruit basket.

Her long, wavy hair and flawless makeup radiated the confidence and charm of a mature woman.

Kicking off her high heels at the door, she stood barefoot until Earl handed her a pair of disposable slippers.

Edith slipped them on and looked down at her feet. The slippers were decorated with bright yellow ducks—playful and childish. She glanced over and saw Earl’s pair in blue, just as quirky and completely at odds with his usual polished demeanor of tailored suits and leather shoes.

She couldn’t suppress a giggle, covering her mouth with one hand. “Mr. Frost, wearing something so childish? It doesn’t suit you at all.”

Earl chuckled, his expression warm. “Children like them, so we just go along with it.”

Earl greeted Edith warmly, “Your sister heard about your injured hand and was so worried she insisted on coming to see you.”

His tone carried a subtle sense of pride, as though Edith’s kindness and thoughtfulness were his own achievements, something to be proud of, like a man boasting about his beloved.

Edith forced a sweet smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thank you, Aunt Edith.”

Edith laughed lightly, reaching out to touch her head. “Aunt? I’m only ten years older than you! Just call me sister.”

Carefully avoiding Edith’s injured hand, she gently guided her toward the fruit basket she’d brought. “I picked out some fruits for you. Make sure to take care of that hand.”

The fruit basket didn’t have much variety, but each item was something Edith loved.

Earl glanced at it with a trace of surprise. “You actually know what she likes to eat? That’s impressive. She’s a picky one.”

Edith’s smile grew, a touch of pride in her expression. “Of course! I care about her deeply.”

Her gaze, filled with affection, lingered on Edith as she spoke.

Yes, the more thoughtful she was toward Edith, the more it reflected how much she loved him.

Earl was like a clean, bright house filled with light, while Edith felt like a lonely crow perched in its shadow, forever out of place.

As the conversation continued, Edith unconsciously bit her lower lip, her emotions bubbling beneath the surface.

Carefully, Edith pulled out the fruits, revealing a teddy bear tucked at the bottom of the basket. She held it up with a triumphant smile, as though seeking approval.

“Last time I saw the old teddy bear in your room with its stuffing coming out, I searched high and low to find the exact same one. It must mean a lot to you, right?”

The surge of overwhelming love in her voice was undeniable, pressing in like a tide Edith couldn’t escape.

She felt like she might drown in it.

“I will love you, Edith,” Edith whispered, her words soft but resolute.

The heavy rain, the car accident, the dim and flickering lights in the prison. Edith’s small, trembling hand gripped tightly, and when she looked up, her father’s desperate, ashen eyes stared back at her—

Countless fragmented memories pieced themselves together into a nightmare Edith would never escape.

“Ah—!”

Her scream pierced the silence.

Earl quickly stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Edith clutched at her ears, wailing in sheer panic, her body trembling as though the fear would tear her apart.

“What happened? What did I do?” Edith sobbed, her hands shaking uncontrollably. “I’m sorry—what happened?”

Earl shushed her gently, signaling her to stay calm as he carried her into the bedroom.

But Edith fought to free herself, her nails clawing at his arms, leaving three bloodied scratches. She scrambled onto the bed, cocooning herself in the quilt, trembling like a trapped bird.

Earl tugged at the quilt twice but couldn’t pull her free. Realizing her distress, he left to speak with Edith, the murmurs of their conversation drifting faintly through the ajar door.

“Her father gave her a birthday gift when she was nine…”

“…the next day, arrested… company financial disputes…”

“…his last gift… a happy family…”

“…she loved him so much…”

The whispers grew quieter, eventually fading away altogether.

Earl returned and shut the door, but not before Edith caught a glimpse of his face through the narrow crack—a profile steeped in pity, his gaze soft as he embraced Edith. Their two shadows, elongated and entwined, flickered briefly on the wall.

Yet, despite his presence, he didn’t meet her eyes. He didn’t turn back.

Even when Edith’s cries turned hoarse, reduced to choked sobs, he remained silent.

That night, Edith cried until her voice broke, just as she had when she first came to Earl’s house—a fragile child, her parents gone in the blink of an eye. Her only resistance against a cruel world was tears.

Earl had stayed with her then, cradling her small body all night, coaxing her out from beneath the quilt with infinite patience.

“Don’t be afraid, Edith. I’ll always be here for you. Always.”

But now, those scars—her scars—were merely a story he used to comfort another woman, all to excuse his sister’s rudeness.

Edith traced the red string jade pendant her mother had left her, its cold surface grounding her fleeting sense of reality. She longed to retreat into a dreamless abyss, where even memories couldn’t reach her.

Earl, you shaped my life, made it, so I had only you to hold on to.

But when others needed you, you left me behind without a second glance.

She couldn’t understand—truly, she couldn’t.

After seeing Edith out, Earl returned, letting out a sigh.

“You scared your Aunt Edith,” he said.

Edith stared at him, her voice trembling.

“Brother, why didn’t you care about me just now?”

Earl’s tone was calm but firm.

“Because she’s my girlfriend.”

Edith’s voice rose, frustration spilling out.

“Then why didn’t she apologize to me?”

Earl’s brows furrowed as he asked, “Why should she apologize to you?”

“She pities me, Brother. She looks down on me!” Edith’s voice cracked as her emotions boiled over. “I don’t need her sympathy or her self-righteous pity. She’s rubbing salt into my wounds! Does she think everyone’s life is as happy and perfect as hers? Does she think no one can see her sense of superiority? Who even wants her charity—”

She stopped herself, shaking with anger.

Edith—the woman who was a powerhouse in the business world but naive and soft-hearted in front of Earl.

She had everything. Two loving parents, a privileged upbringing, and a family that adored her unconditionally. She had grown up in a life of comfort and wealth, her path lined with opportunities—college, graduate school, and a finance career in the United States. Upon returning, she had become Earl’s most trusted partner.

Half of Edith’s expensive wardrobe was funded by her own success.

Smart, beautiful, and confident, Edith was like a flaming rose—vibrant and untouchable. But she always looked down at Edith, seeing her as nothing more than a child.

And now, she had effortlessly claimed the only person Edith had in the world.

“Enough!” Earl’s sharp voice cut through the room, his expression cold and unyielding.

Edith froze, stunned. She had never seen him so stern before.

“Edith,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “She’s your future sister-in-law. You need to learn to respect her. Do you understand?”

Edith’s heart trembled as she burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms.

“Brother, I only have you. Please don’t leave me.”

Earl’s expression shifted, his body tensing, but he held her steady. He gently rubbed her hair, his voice soft.

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid… I’ll always be here for you, Edith.”

The memories came rushing back—those rainy nights spent nestled together in the safety of their warm, sturdy home, the shared duck slippers and matching towels that became part of their daily rhythm, and the unspoken desires and forbidden affection that had grown between them, undeniable and unshakable.

“Earl,” Edith whispered, her voice trembling. “Will you love me?”

She saw it—the storm of emotions in his eyes, roiling like a thunderstorm, dark clouds colliding with streaks of lightning.

Earl gazed at her deeply, his chest rising and falling with his uneven breath, but then his gaze dropped.

“Yes,” he said finally, his voice steady but distant. “I will love you. You’re the child I raised with my own hands.”

Edith bit back her sobs, forcing herself to smile.

“Okay,” she said quietly. “Then let me move out so Edith can move in.”

Earl stiffened, his face darkened.

“If I fall in love in the future,” she continued, “it’ll be inconvenient to live at home.”

Earl cut her off immediately. “No.”

“Why not? Is it that I can’t move out, or that I can’t fall in love?”

“Neither,” he said firmly. “You’re still young.”

“I’m an adult,” she argued.

“You don’t have a job, no income. How will you support yourself?”

“You could give me an allowance, like my classmates’ parents do. Besides, the money you’ve given me already is enough for me to live comfortably for three lifetimes.”

Earl exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin.

“In short, no.”

They locked eyes, the tension between them thick enough to cut. Earl’s gaze was implacable, leaving no room for negotiation.

Finally, Edith spoke again, her voice low and unwavering.

“Brother, don’t regret this.”

After that, Edith didn’t see Edith for a long time.

Following that night, Earl barely mentioned her name around Edith. He did, however, agree to buy a few gifts on Edith’s behalf, saying it was an apology for her earlier behavior—an act of guilt and atonement for her recklessness and misplaced superiority.

But Edith didn’t care about any of it.

What mattered to her was that her birthday was only ten days away.

Edith loved celebrating her birthday. On that day, she became the center of the universe, the most important person in the world. And for one fleeting moment, everyone’s attention would be focused solely on wishing her happiness.

Before she turned nine, it was her parents who were her world; after that, it was Earl.

Every birthday wish Edith made with heartfelt sincerity felt sacred and unbreakable, carrying the promise of coming true.

When the clock struck midnight on her birthday, Edith would light a small lamp by her bedside and read through her mother’s diary.

She’d immerse herself in the tender words written to her and about her.

That quiet ritual was the most cherished moment of her year.

“I have a birthday next week!” Edith announced cheerfully one morning.

Earl, on his way out the door, smiled warmly. “I haven’t forgotten. Let’s celebrate with dinner at home that night, alright?”

Edith’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Okay! I’ll cook!”

Earl looked genuinely surprised. “Our Edith can cook? Now that’s something I can’t miss—even if it rains knives from the sky, I’ll be there.”

As the days on the calendar flipped by, her anticipation grew, and finally, her special day arrived.

There were no classes that day, so Edith spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen, determined to prepare a proper meal.

Cooking was unfamiliar territory for her; Earl rarely let her do it. She fumbled her way through, earning two blisters from the heat and a small cut on her thumb while chopping vegetables.

Still, she pressed on, ignoring the sting of her injuries.

By the time the sun was setting, she had managed to prepare a modest spread of dishes. She carefully arranged them on the table, placing the cake at the center, surrounded by flowers and candles she’d bought for decoration.

The flickering candlelight gave the room a warm glow, and Edith couldn’t help but feel proud of her effort.

She picked up her phone to text Earl, asking when he’d be home.

The message went unanswered. The phone stayed silent.

Six o’clock arrived, and with it came the soft hues of dusk. Outside, the world moved on. Pedestrians hurried by, and workers crowded the vegetable stalls below.

Still, there was no reply from Earl.

Edith waited, her patience unwavering.