Osiris lived in the most upscale medical care center in the city.
Our parents passed away early.
It was he who dropped out of school
and single-handedly raised Barry.
Later, in a construction accident,
he lost one leg.
With the compensation money,
Barry managed to finish his education smoothly.
From that day on,
he never allowed this older brother
to work again.
When Barry’s career finally took off,
he arranged for Osiris to live here.
Well fed. Well cared for.
And completely cut off from the world.
Over the years,
Barry’s new lovers came one after another,
and he was often nowhere to be found.
Whenever that happened,
I would come visit Osiris.
He was my family.
And also the only friend in this world
with whom I could still speak the truth.
I knew he had lost his temper more than once
over Barry’s absurd behavior.
He truly treated me as family.
“Get out!”
The moment I reached the door,
Osiris’s furious roar burst out from inside.
Along with the shouting,
nutritional supplements and gift boxes
were hurled violently out of the room.
“Barry, let me tell you!”
“In our family,
there is only one daughter-in-law, and that is Chloe!”
“If you bring these shameless things in front of me again,
are you trying to drive me to my death?”
“What has Chloe ever done wrong to you,
that you treat her like this?”
“You will regret it!
You think just because you’ve got some dirty money,
you can afford to lose all your dignity?”
I stood outside the door,
my feet feeling as if they were nailed to the floor.
Keira hid behind Barry.
Seeing him get hit by the flying boxes,
her eyes reddened.
Suddenly, she stepped forward.
“Brother, Barry and I are true love.”
“They haven’t had feelings for each other for a long time.”
“Barry respecting you
doesn’t mean you get to interfere with his freedom.”
At this point,
she hardened her heart and raised her voice.
“Besides, Barry and Chloe are already divorced!”
“Chloe even wished us well!”
Barry reached out to cover her mouth,
but it was already too late.
Osiris clutched his chest in fury,
gasping for breath.
His remaining leg could no longer support him.
He collapsed heavily back onto the bed.
“Get out…”
“All of you, get out!”
“Brother! Are you okay?”
Barry rushed forward.
“Don’t be like this. I actually came this time
to invite you to my wedding with Keira…”
“She treats me really well.
Why can’t you at least try to—”
Osiris finally caught his breath.
The anger drained away,
leaving only a lifeless gray behind.
“Barry.”
“I don’t want to see you anymore.”
“I failed to teach you properly.
I have failed our parents.”
“Brother, don’t say that.”
“Calm down first.
I’ll come see you again in a few days.”
Barry pulled Keira along and walked out.
When he lifted his head,
he met my scrutinizing gaze head-on.
He wanted to dodge,
but it was too late.
He could only stand there awkwardly, stammering.
“How… how much did you hear?”
“You came to see my brother too?”
“I was just trying to stabilize his condition.”
He hurried to explain.
“You know depression can’t handle stimulation.”
“The wedding is just part of the treatment.
It’s all fake.”
“Don’t worry.
You’re the only one in my heart.”
“You’re my real wife.”
Before his words had even settled,
Keira had already hooked her arm through his,
speaking in a sweet, coaxing tone.
“Brother,
the wedding venue is basically ready.
Let’s go check it together.”
Suddenly, I didn’t understand.
If that was the case,
why was he still lying to me?
Why did he still insist
on maintaining that illusion of loving me?
I didn’t say another word.
I pushed past them directly.
My foot went out of control
and kicked over the gift boxes scattered all over the floor
as I walked straight into the ward.
Osiris kept apologizing to me.
Again.
And again.
Saying he hadn’t raised Barry well.
Saying the Gu family had failed me.
By the end,
his eyes were red.
