Part 3Auntie’s Remorse

When Eleanor walked into the hospital room, her expression softened the moment she saw Julian in the bed.

“How are you feeling today? Any better?”

“I’m fine,” Julian said with a weak smile. “See? I’m perfectly fine. There’s no need for me to be cooped up in here.”

Eleanor picked an apple from the fruit basket and began to peel it. “You were hit by that car because you pushed me out of the way. Of course I’m going to stay until you’re fully recovered.”

“Julian, you’re the most important person in the world to me. You can’t be so reckless with your life ever again.”

I remembered when she used to say those same gentle words to me. But since Julian’s arrival, I had long ceased to be her priority.

He was the one who told her that since she wasn’t my blood relative, it was inappropriate for her to be so involved in my life now that I was an adult. From then on, Julian became the intermediary for everything concerning me.

He concealed the fact that I had a brain tumor, insisting instead that I was a degenerate addict. He had me locked away on the cliffside estate under the guise of helping me, yet never once came to see me.

And now that he was hurt and needed my rare blood type, now that he needed his walking blood bank, he finally remembered I existed.

But they didn’t know. They didn’t know that I was already a pile of bones, lying alone and forgotten on a desolate ledge halfway down the mountain.

“Eleanor, Leo wouldn’t come back? He still resents me, doesn’t he?” Julian said, pushing back the covers as if to get out of bed. “I’ll go to him. I’ll apologize to him myself.”

Eleanor rushed to stop him.

“Julian, you were only trying to help him. He’s the one who’s ungrateful. It’s not your fault.”

“I’ve already canceled his cards and sent people to find him. Don’t worry, I will find him and make him give you blood.”

She carefully fed Julian the apple she had just peeled.

“Julian,” she asked thoughtfully, “did Leo ever mention anything to you about having bad headaches while he was overseas?”

A flicker of panic crossed Julian’s face. He stammered, “N-no. Leo grew up rough, he’s always been strong as an ox! Eleanor, why are you suddenly asking this?”

Eleanor seemed lost in thought.

“It’s nothing. It’s just… when I went to the villa today, the room was covered in blood. But you’re right. He’s always been so healthy. He rarely even catches a cold. It’s impossible he could be sick enough to die.”

Julian visibly relaxed.

My soul raged beside them. I wanted to scream, to tell her that this man was lying to her again. But I could do nothing. Even if she could hear me, she wouldn't believe me. She would always choose to believe Julian. In her eyes, I was just a twisted, jealous boy.

Julian tested the waters. “Eleanor, if Leo doesn’t want to come home, maybe we should just let him go. As long as he’s happy, right?”

Eleanor’s face instantly darkened.

“Absolutely not! I have to ensure you’re safe. His blood type is the same as yours. You lost so much blood, and the doctor said you might need a second transfusion if complications arise. The hospital’s blood bank is already depleted.”

“I raised him for so many years. It’s time he paid me back! Giving a little blood won’t kill him. Hell, even if it cost him his life, he should give it willingly!”

For a moment, my entire being trembled. How could she say something so monstrous? She once promised she would always be my family, that I would never have to experience abandonment a second time. Had she forgotten all of it?

Julian lowered his head, a triumphant smile hidden from her view. He had gotten the answer he wanted.

He always pretended to be the bigger person, masterfully manipulating Eleanor, poisoning her against me. And even now, he continued to hide the truth, ensuring she would despise me completely.

“Eleanor, don’t say that about Leo,” he said, his voice full of false sympathy. “He would be so hurt if he heard you.”

Even now, he had to play the saint.

Eleanor just scoffed.

She was about to say more when her phone rang. I saw the caller ID: Detective Marcus. Our cousin, a police detective.

She answered, and her face went rigid. She stood up, her expression turning grim.

From the other end of the line, I heard his voice:

“Eleanor… Leo is dead.”