"Why is she suddenly claiming her kid is yours?"
My brother paused, eyeing me with suspicion.
"Alex, you know what I hate most—liars. My son is safe at home. There's no way he's in the ER."
I panicked completely.
"If you don't believe me, come see for yourself. See who's barely hanging on in there!"
At the ER doors, a nurse stepped out.
"Family of Noah Weiss? Has the surgery fee been paid?"
My nephew's name hit my brother like a slap. His face shifted, and he started to respond—
But Serena grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Jason, she's lived with you long enough to know your son's name. Don't fall for her tricks."
I dropped to my knees. Tears streamed down my face.
"Jason, Noah's really in there. Please—pay first so he can have surgery. Please."
If anything happened to my nephew, I'd never forgive myself. And Elena had always been so good to me—how could I ever face her again?
I'd never knelt before my brother. Not once in all these years.
We were blood. He nodded and stepped forward—
Serena let out a piercing scream.
"Jason, my face—my face hurts so much!"
Then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.
My brother panicked. He scooped her up and turned to leave. I grabbed his pant leg, but he kicked me away hard.
"Get lost! If anything happens to Serena, I'll pretend I never had a sister!"
I struggled up, eyes burning, body screaming with pain.
"Nurse, please—can you make an exception? Do the surgery first. I'll find a way to pay, I swear—"
The operating room doors swung open behind her.
My heart dropped. The doctor's voice was heavy with regret.
"I'm sorry. The patient missed the optimal treatment window. We did everything we could."
My head went hollow. My body crumpled.
Across the hall, my brother emerged from another doctor's office with Serena clinging to him, still sniffling.
"Alright, stop crying. The doctor said your face will be fine—just needs proper care. Too much crying might slow recovery."
He was gentle. Serena nodded obediently, then her tone shifted, edged with meaning.
"Why are you so generous with outsiders? Buying a solid gold locket for some random kid on a whim."
My brother froze.
"What gold locket?"
Serena pulled it from her pocket.
"This one. I ripped it off that illegitimate brat."
The moment he saw it, his expression changed.
His hands trembled as he took it. He read the engraving. His face went white.
He flipped it over. Read it again. Disbelief cracking through him.
Then something clicked.
He kicked Serena square in the chest.
"You bitch!"
