Chapter 5 Breaking Point

"Emilia!"

Before I even registered the shout, a brutal kick landed, slamming me to the ground, the knife clattering beside me.

I looked up, only to see my brother, Ethan, his face a mask of cold disgust.

"What is wrong with you?" His voice was like thunder, each word striking with force.

I blinked, disoriented, feeling the ache at my temples intensify as if my veins were twisting in fury. My eyes burned, dry to the point of pain, but not a word escaped me.

Hannah rushed to him, sobbing. "Ethan, I had no idea Emilia was here having a private moment with her boyfriend. I didn't mean to interrupt…" she said innocently.

The implication hung thick in the air—my outburst had been due to her stumbling upon my 'intimate rendezvous.'

Chad played his part smoothly, adding, "Sorry, Emilia's just shy. You barged in and startled her. That's why she freaked out."

Ethan's gaze traveled over my disheveled state, his expression hardening with contempt. "Emilia, how low can you go?" He sneered. "Do you even realize what today means? And here you are, pulling off this disgraceful stunt!"

A buzzing filled my head. I stared at him, disbelief crashing over me. That my own brother, flesh and blood, could throw words so venomous my way was… staggering.

Pain knifed through my stomach, nearly folding me in half as I clutched my dress and struggled for breath.

Hannah took a small step forward, feigning concern. "Calm down, Ethan," she murmured, a sly grin in her eye. "Emilia probably didn't mean to ruin things today. Maybe she just… couldn't help herself."

I swung my hand toward her, unable to hold back any longer.

But Ethan blocked me, shoving me back to the ground.

From where I lay on the ground, all I saw were their cold, judgmental stares peering down at me.

Pain shot through every nerve—my head throbbed, my stomach churned, and my vision blurred.

It was as if my body were coming apart at the seams. My mind was fogged and scattered.

"What are you even trying to pull?" I could hear Ethan's voice, cold and disgusted. "Emilia! Are you out of your mind?"

'Are you out of your mind?' The words stung me, the question echoing through me.

I wanted to scream and sob, but I couldn't summon the strength. All I could do was grip the wall and drag myself up, each motion searing through me like fire.

"Yes," I managed, my voice barely more than a rasp. "I am… sick." I leaned back against the wall, summoning every ounce of will just to stay standing.

It wouldn't be long now, would it?

Blood rose in my throat, thick and bitter, spilling past my lips and staining my clothes, dripping to the floor.

For a moment, Ethan froze, something flashing in his eyes—a flicker of uncertainty. He instinctively reached out to steady me.

I swatted his hand away and took a shaky step back. "Why can't you ask me what happened? Just once?" My voice broke as I continued, "Why is it so easy for you to believe every word out of Hannah's mouth but refuse to hear a single one from me?"

More blood surged up, yet I forced myself to speak, defying the agony tearing through me.

"You're my brother. But you've never once tried to understand me. You don't want to hear the truth because you don't care. To you, Hannah is the only one that matters. No matter what happens, somehow, I'm always the one at fault."

A bitter laugh bubbled up through the pain. "Because I'm the sinner, right? I'm the one who owes Mom and Dad a life. Isn't that what you think?"

A stunned silence fell over us.

Ethan's composure cracked for a fleeting moment, but he forced it back, his expression hardening into a steely mask. When he finally spoke, his tone was cutting and emotionless. "Isn't that the truth?"

Time seemed to stand still, the air heavy as lead.

I met his gaze, my voice barely a whisper. "Yes. Yes, it is."

My eyes burned with pain so fierce it felt like fire, but not a single tear would come.

"I'll pay them back soon enough," I murmured, the faintest smile tugging at my lips.

My gaze locked onto his, steady despite everything. "I'm almost out of time. Are you happy now? My brother."