**Chapter 17**
The scent of disinfectant stung my nostrils.
I stared at the ceiling, dreams and reality blurring in my mind.
Elara’s tear–streaked face, her struggles to push him away, and finally, her on the beach, smiling at another man.
“Brother…”
A timid voice reached me from beside the bed.
Brooke stood two steps away, her fingers tightly clutching her bag strap, knuckles white.
“How do you feel? The doctor said you had a brief fainting spell due to emotional overexcitement…”
I slowly turned my head, my gaze settling on her face.
Brooke instantly froze, like a rabbit caught by a beast, cold sweat breaking out on her back.
“Is this fun?”
I spoke, my voice terrifyingly hoarse.
“Wha–what?”
Brooke forced a smile. “Brother, what are you talking about? I’m just worried about you…
“I remember everything.”
Seven simple words, and the color drained from Brooke’s face.
She stumbled back two steps, nearly knocking over the IV stand.
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Her voice trembled. “Elara… she left on her own, it has nothing to do with us…”
I slowly sat up, the needle on the back of my hand pulling out, beads of blood trickling down my skin.
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I seemed to feel no pain, just stared fixedly at Brooke.
“Why are you so far away from me?”
“Are you that afraid of your brother?”
Brooke trembled even more violently.
She remembered how I used to treat those who hurt Elara–one wealthy heir simply touched Elara’s hand, and the next
day, his entire family disappeared from the city.
“Brother, you just woke up, you should rest well…”
She turned to leave.
“Stop.”
But the next second, two icy words, like shackles, pinned her to the spot.
I threw back the covers and got out of bed, approaching her step by step.
“Why did you have to target Elara so relentlessly? Didn’t our parents give you all their love? They even demeaned Elara
to the dust just so you wouldn’t feel wronged…”
“What about you?!”
Brooke suddenly spun around, screaming hysterically.
Tears smeared her face, her carefully applied makeup a chaotic mess.
“Did you ever treat me like a sister?!”
She was shaking all over. “I’m your *real* sister! But what about you? Your eyes were only ever on Elara!”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“What am I talking about?”
Brooke gave a miserable laugh. “Remember the first day I came back? I cautiously called you ‘brother, but you didn’t even glance at me! Elara merely sneezed, and you immediately took off your jacket for her!”
“I tried so hard to please you, but what did you do? I had a fever of 102, but you were buying cake for Elara! She just scratched her finger a little, and you called an entire medical team overnight!”
“Damien! I’m your sister! She’s just a stray, an imposter who doesn’t belong, who knows where she came from! How dare
you…”
*Smack!* My hand shot out, slapping her hard. The woman’s fair cheek instantly swelled high.
“So that’s why you kept targeting her?”
“Yes!”
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Brooke clutched her face, stumbling back two steps, laughing hysterically.
“I hate her! Why did she, an imposter, get all of my biological brother’s affection? Why, even after I came back, do you still revolve around her?!”
“And do you know what’s most ridiculous? The parents you speak of being good to me? It’s only out of guilt! And to shut up outsiders, fearing what people would say about treating their adopted daughter better than their biological one! They were always only concerned with their own reputation!”
I was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.
The laugh was terrifyingly cold.
“Brooke, listen carefully.””
I spoke each word distinctly.
“I don’t care how our parents treat you, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re not even worth a single strand of Elara’s hair.”
Those words utterly broke Brooke.
She collapsed onto the floor, her smeared makeup making her look like a clown.
“So what? What if I can’t compare? I’m still the true heiress of the Sterling family!”
She muttered to herself. “Elara doesn’t want you anymore. She’d rather be far away from you than with you! Don’t you understand?!”
My pupils contracted sharply. My heart felt like it had been stabbed.
“Get out.”
Brooke scrambled, sobbing, out of the room, only to collide with Mr. and Mrs. Sterling who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
“Brooke? What’s wrong?”
Mrs. Sterling tried to help her up.
“Don’t touch me!”
Brooke slapped her hand away, crying as she ran off,
Mr. Sterling frowned and entered the room.
“Damien, what happened to your sister?”
“I’ve told you many times, Brooke is your biological sister, you should be kinder to her.”
But I, now back on the bed, ignored him. I slowly looked up, my eyes chillingly sharp.
“Mom, Dad, it’s time we settled some accounts.”
