Ryan spoke softly, his tone like that of a doting younger brother.
But when he said the word “you,” his eyes locked with Emily’s, and a subtle, unmistakable intimacy lingered between them.
It was as if they had completely forgotten I was still in the room.
I clenched my palm tightly, holding back the storm of questions inside me.
Suddenly, Ryan pulled a small box from his suitcase and handed it to me.
“Ethan, I picked this out carefully before I returned to America. Have a look—do you like it? If your leg hadn’t been injured, I wouldn’t have gotten the spot to study abroad. I’ve always felt guilty about that.”
A sneer tugged at the corner of my lips.
Is that really all you feel guilty about?
While I lost ten years, you lived in comfort under the Carter family’s roof, enjoying everything that was meant for me.
Even the woman I thought was my salvation—my fiancée—set me up just to hand you the life I was supposed to have.
Now I’ve become the obstacle between the two of you.
Seeing my hesitation, Emily took the box and pushed it into my hands.
“Take it. Ryan told me he missed you the most while he was overseas.”
“Yes, Ethan,” he added with a gentle smile. “I spent a lot of time picking it out. Please open it.”
Under their eager eyes, I slowly opened the box.
Inside was a marathon registration form.
The moment I saw it, a chill spread through my chest. I turned silently and began walking upstairs.
“Ethan, stop right there!”
“Ryan gave you a thoughtful gift, and this is how you act as a brother? Not even a thank you?”
I slowly turned back, my voice biting.
“How exactly should I thank him? To sign me up for a marathon so I can run on crutches? And what kind of brother am I to him, anyway? He’s not even a Carter by blood!”
“You—!”
Emily froze, speechless, a flicker of guilt crossing her face.
“Ryan… did you mix up the gifts? Your brother—”
Before she could finish, Ryan’s eyes filled with tears.
“Ethan, you misunderstood. That wasn’t my intention. I just thought you should go out more, not stay cooped up.”
“I know you’ve never liked me, thought I stole your parents’ love… Maybe I shouldn’t have come back. I’m sorry. I’ll leave.”
He wiped his tears and reached for his suitcase.
Seeing this, Emily’s expression shifted from reluctant to furious.
She grabbed the box from my hand and hurled it at me.
The corner of the box scraped my cheek, sharp pain spreading as I collapsed to the floor, unable to get up for a moment.
Emily stood over me, her voice cutting like ice.
“Still pretending to fall? Even Cathy Earnshaw wasn’t this delicate.”
Ryan rushed over, putting on a concerned face, and tried to help me up.
“Ethan, are you okay? It was just a box, why are you—”
I pushed myself up and shook off his hand.
“Spare me your concern.”
Seeing that I still refused to play along, Emily’s tone turned frigid.
“Fill out the registration form and apologize to Ryan!”
“No,” I said firmly.
“I wasn’t asking. That’s an order!”
“Ethan, do you still want me to marry you?”
I bit my lip and met her eyes.
“If you don’t want to marry me, then don’t!”
Hearing this, Emily shoved me back down, grabbed my hand, and forcibly pressed my fingerprint onto the form.
I struggled with everything I had, but the two of them dragged me straight to the competition venue—
All I could do was shout, helplessly, as the nightmare unfolded before me.
