“You really just can’t change, can you?”
With that shock, my heart fell heavily.
With his words, it felt as if my brother cut the last bit of family that tied us together.
I smiled bitterly. “Yeah, I can’t change….”
Before I could finish my words, my brother suddenly lifted his hand and slapped me hard.
From his gaze, anger and disappointment were clear. “How could I have a sister like you!”
I paused for a moment, then covered my cheek and let out a cold laugh. “I also wonder why I have a brother like you.”
“You…!”
His hand shook as he pointed at me, too furious to speak.
Before his second slap could fall, I dropped to my knees and bowed my head to the ground.
“Thank you for quitting school to raise me. From today on, I don’t have a brother.”
Rising to my feet, I retrieved my father’s things from beneath the bed and started to leave.
His face sank as he grabbed the photo and ring away.
“These were Dad’s things. You have no right to take them!”
Whatever. Then, let it go.
I nodded, accepting the outcome, and got ready to walk out.
He called after me, holding back his anger. “You’re a labor camp convict. What can you even do after leaving me? Starve to death?”
My steps kept moving. “Save your worry.”
After I left the house, I sat in the neighborhood the whole day.
This time, Jude didn’t follow me.
He must have been completely disappointed and sick of me, and didn’t want to bother anymore.
I had no money on me and needed a job that included food and a place to stay.
But once they heard I had been in prison, no company was willing to take me in.
With no other choice, I went to a construction site for work.
The foreman looked me over from head to toe, his frown growing tighter every moment.
“A woman? Our work is tough. Can you even handle it?”
I pushed out a friendly smile.
“Let me give it a try, big brother. I may look thin, but I’m really strong.”
He still appeared unwilling until I actually got to work, quick and efficient.
It was only after that that he nodded and agreed to keep me. “Food and lodging included, one hundred a day.”
“But the project is short. It’ll end in a month.”
Happily, I nodded. That was enough.
In a month, Louie would be released, and I would have a place to go.
Just like this, I worked at the construction site for over twenty days.
When my brother showed up again, he was so stunned he almost didn’t recognize me.
My hair had grown into a rough patch, my whole body covered in dirt, gray shaking off with every step.
He stood far away watching, his eyes turning wet.
After a long pause, he hurried over and grabbed my wrist.
“Why are you here? Evie, do you know how long I’ve been searching for you?”
“Come on, come home with me. You can’t keep doing this kind of work!”
I pulled his hand, picked up another stack of bricks, acting like I didn’t know him.
With his lips pressed into a thin line, he stopped trying to persuade me. He went to talk to the foreman instead. I didn’t know what he said.
Right then, the foreman walked over with an unpleasant look. “Evie, why didn’t you say you were sent in for stealing? We can’t keep someone like that on the site. You’re dismissed!”
“No pay either. Hurry up and go!”
I panicked and pleaded for him to give me another chance.
“I was locked up by mistake. I didn’t steal, and I won’t steal. Please let me stay!”
“That man is your real brother, isn’t he? He would accuse you of no reason?”
With a mocking tone, the foreman cut me off. “We can’t keep someone dishonest. Go, go, go!”
Then, annoyed, he pushed me aside.
I lost my footing and staggered backward, only to be caught strongly by Jude.
