Chapter 5

I didn't get back to my parents' house until eleven at night.

Alex wasn't there.

I collapsed into Mom's arms, sobbing uncontrollably, my entire body wracked with pain.

My parents were terrified and wanted to call Alex back.

"No!"

I sharply lifted my head from Mom's embrace, touching my right cheek, which was already swollen.

The pain Alex inflicted on me hurt more than Julian's betrayal.

That was my own brother.

He chose to believe Briar, whom he'd only known for less than two months,

and didn't believe me.

After I had cried enough, I recounted everything that had happened that day.

Dad was so angry that he smashed an expensive teacup.

He immediately called Alex, announcing the cancellation of tomorrow's wedding.

Alex soon heard the news.

After settling Briar and her family, he stormed back home.

At that moment, Mom, Dad, and I were sitting on the couch,

waiting for him.

The instant Alex saw me, he raised his arm,

as if he wanted to hit me again, just like earlier that day.

But Dad, with a dark expression, kicked him hard in the stomach.

"Alex, you've really grown up, haven't you? Daring to lay hands on your own sister? Is this how I raised you?"

Alex had just managed to soothe Briar.

Then he heard that the family had canceled the wedding, and Briar was crying and insisting on leaving with her family that very night.

He had apologized profusely to Briar's family for a long time before finally calming them down.

He truly hated me.

Even with Mom protecting me,

I could feel Alex's piercing gaze, as if trying to shoot me down.

"Clara, what did Briar ever do to you that you're so determined to destroy her?"

He glared at me, his resentment deepening.

"Oh, I get it. You're not targeting Briar; you're targeting me."

"Since childhood, you've always had to compete with me for everything. You always had to ace every subject, just to make my almost-perfect scores seem inadequate, just to make everyone think I'm not as good as you, to snatch the family business right out of my hands."

When you've been hurt enough,

nothing seems surprising anymore.

Dad's and Mom's slaps landed simultaneously on Alex's face.

He laughed maniacally as he stumbled backward.

"Just because I'm a boy and not a girl, you always favored her. It was true when we were kids, and it's still true now. I've known it all along."

Alex wiped his eyes, staring directly at us.

"Briar is the only woman I've ever truly loved. I'm going to marry her tomorrow. If you still want me as your son, then don't stand in my way."

After Alex left, Mom and Dad remained silent for a long time.

Actually, they weren't just taking my word for it.

I had shown them the parking lot video.