Chris' face, initially tinged with guilt, shifted instantly.

Positioning Sharon protectively behind him, he eyed me warily. "Amber, what are you doing? She is your sister!"

I glared at Sharon. "You'd better watch your mouth."

Sharon, looking hurt, pleaded, "Chris, don't let me come between you two. If my sister won't admit that Aaron is faking his illness, I'll just drop it."

My brow furrowed as I turned to Chris. "You think Aaron is faking it too?"

He remained silent.

Looking around, Aaron was nowhere to be seen.

With a calm tone, Chris asked, "Where did you whisk him off to again?"

He clearly didn't believe me.

If only he would come home, he'd see the table covered in medications and medical records.

Yet, he never returned.

I remember when Aaron knew he didn't have much time left. He wanted one last family trip to Disneyland.

I had begged Chris, even going so far as to kneel before him.

In the end, I clung to his pants, promising that this would be the last time I would ever bother him.

I was willing to set him free.

At that moment, he looked down at me, slightly stunned.

His eyes filled with both joy and complexity. "You mean that?"

"Yes," I murmured, closing my eyes as tears streamed down.

Chris was the child I found by the riverbank when we were little. I pleaded with my parents to adopt him.

He became my brother.

When I was in junior high school, my parents divorced, and Sharon was awarded custody of my father.

Since I had always followed Chris around, I clung to his sleeve and begged him to come with me and my mother.

This one act of mine earned me Chris' resentment for many years.

He had wanted to go with Sharon.

Because of me, he could only watch as Sharon went abroad.

Later, my mother entrusted me to Chris, saying that only by handing me over to him could she rest in peace.

Chris was forced to have a makeshift wedding with me.

There were no relatives, no friends, no marriage certificate.

He said that this was all I deserved.

On her deathbed, my mother even asked us when we would get our marriage certificate.

Chris evaded the question.

Once out of the hospital room, he lost all his patience. "Wasn't it enough that your mother threatened me into marrying you? Now you want to make it official?"

I was about to defend myself.

He cut me off. "Don't even think about things you shouldn't. Sharon is coming back."

"She won't want someone who's been married before," he added.

The most important place should be reserved for the most precious person.

Sharon, because of me and Aaron, has been hesitant to accept Chris' proposal.

I was even ready to let him go.

Why won't he spend one last moment with Aaron?

It was one thing for him not to love me, but Aaron was his son too.

How could he be so heartless towards Aaron...

I stared at Chris in utter disappointment. Once, I had found his features as picturesque as a painting, but now, his face only filled me with disgust.

Just as Chris was about to speak, Sharon interrupted, "Chris, my foot hurts, and so does my face. Can you check if it's swollen? I wonder if it will affect tomorrow's business event."

Chris immediately redirected his attention to her.

Sharon took the opportunity to collapse into Chris' arms.

The slap I had delivered with all my might left a clear handprint on her fair cheek.

Tears welled up in Sharon's eyes.

Chris, heartbroken, gently wiped her tears away.

He used to be quite kind to me when we were younger. If I fell, he would help me up.

And he would wipe away my tears like this.

I couldn't recall the last time he showed me a hint of kindness.

Chris' gaze was devoid of tenderness, replaced by a chilling coldness. "Amber, apologize to your sister."

I lifted my chin, straightening my spine. "No!"

Chris never expected me to have the audacity to defy him.

The time when he despised me, coincided with my budding affection for him.

Because I liked him, I was cautious and meticulous in his presence.

With a heart whole of caution, I offer him my genuine affection, terrified that he might despise me.

But no matter what I did, it was always wrong in his eyes.

Nothing I did could ever measure up to Sharon.

Chris was briefly surprised, then returned to the couch with Sharon in his arms.

As I walked away, I heard Chris warn, "Amber, don't make me angry."

His bodyguard stopped me and escorted me back in front of the two of them.

Chris sat there, legs crossed, looking at me leisurely.

The pressure was palpable.

"Apologize to Sharon."

Sharon flashed me a challenging smile, then turned to Chris. "It's okay, Amber didn't mean it."

Chris looked at her pityingly. "Sharon, you're too soft-hearted. You treat her like Amber, but she's never seen you as her sister."

Then, he glared at me. "Anyone who hurts Sharon will pay double."

I remember being cornered in an alley by older students who stole my money in elementary school.

Chris had suddenly appeared, beating the one who kicked me half to death.

The person who had fiercely protected me then was now protecting someone else.

Perhaps my defiant attitude had angered him.

Chris was intent on teaching me a lesson.

He signaled the bodyguards to force me to kneel before them.

Seeing me bow my head, Chris looked somewhat pleased.

A bodyguard stepped forward, raising his hand to strike me.

Sharon stopped him. "Chris, she's still my sister, and men can be too harsh. I'm afraid they'll hurt her.

"If she really needs to learn a lesson, I should do it."

Chris had no objections.

Sharon raised her hand and slapped me twice.

Her manicured nails left a cut on my cheek.

Sharon looked troubledly at Chris. "Chris, what should we do? I've hurt Amber."

Chris snorted coldly.

"She deserves it, Sharon. You're too kind, worrying about her even though she hurt you first."

The bodyguard let me go, and I fell clumsily to the ground.

Chris looked down at me. "Amber, you owe Sharon an apology."

I owe her?

It was she who first slandered my Aaron!

Chris always took her side, no matter what.

I scoffed, "In your dreams!

"I hate you, Chris!"

When I looked at him, there was no trace of affection left in my eyes, only intense hatred.

Chris furrowed his brow at the sight.

"Amber, just do as you're told, and you can have whatever you want. I can accompany your son or give you the title of my wife."

I once longed to be his legitimate wife.

But he was always seen publicly with Sharon.

Everyone knew he was married and thought Sharon was his wife.

Now that I no longer want it, he's using it to coerce and lure me into submission.

I endured the pain on my face and met his gaze. "No need, Chris. We're done."

Perhaps because I had loved him so intensely before, he simply couldn't believe I would leave him.

He sneered, "What? Not coming to me, pretending to need me to play with your son anymore?"

I detected a hint of scorn in his words.

Before I could respond, Sharon spoke up, "Amber, stop deceiving Chris. If Aaron were really dying, why would you be here alone?"

I couldn't take it anymore. "Shut up! You have no right to mention Aaron."

Sharon looked hurt. "Okay, I won't mention it then. Don't be mad at me, Amber."

Seeing my hostile attitude towards Sharon, Chris was thoroughly provoked.

He chuckled coldly, pulled out his phone, and called his assistant, Mason Wills.

To ensure I heard his words, he put the call on speaker.

"Mason, find out which hospital Amber's son is at. Pass the word to stop his treatment."

His expression revealed a masterful strategist at work.

As if this move would somehow give him control over me.

I gave a dreariness smile.

Mason hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Mr. Walker, Mr. Aaron has passed away. It happened the day after you disappeared！"