My Brother, The Devil ✔

28

Blair POV.

I get in the car in a daze. I soon start to have a fever and get off halfway to vomit twice by the roadside. My stomach is empty, and all I vomit is green bile.

George takes me to the hospital for an IV drip. I don't want to stay in the hospital; the smell of disinfectant is too strong. George holds me and grabs the hand I'm using for the injection.

When dawn breaks, my fever finally subsides, and he drives me to the nursing home. I only feel slightly relaxed when I see my grandmother. Holding her hand, I curl up on the bed and fall into a deep sleep.

I don't know how long I've slept.

Sometimes when I open my eyes, I see George sitting by the bed, and sometimes I only see Grandma. Occasionally, I'm startled awake by nightmares. Then grandma strokes my hair, soothes me back to sleep, and sings lullabies I heard when I was young.

When George appears again, he says they have found Antonio's body. Grandma stays by my side, surprised that my husband died so young by suicide. She never met Antonio, and we had just gotten married, with our child not yet born.

She starts to doubt if sending me to the Emerson family was a mistake, realizing that my life isn't as happy as she imagined.

I have to comfort her, "It's okay, Grandma, I'll be fine."

I gather my strength, put on a black dress, and go out to see Antonio one last time.

Today is sunny; the morning breeze disperses the clouds, and the sunlight falls on the green grass.

I walk into the funeral home and approach Antonio. He lies among the flowers, and the mortician has repaired his wounds. He looks as if he is just asleep and could wake up at any moment.

"I haven't notified Antonio's parents. Should we let them see him? It's up to you," George asks.

I shake my head. "He wants to go away quietly."

When I met Antonio, he had already learned to submit and be a so-called normal person. What was Antonio like many years ago? I imagine he was like a little beast, challenging the world with his horns, capable of loving anyone and anything.

But this world didn't quite love him.

Now that he's dead, I know he just wants to leave quietly.

The door is open, and the wind blows in.

Flowers in the house attract a butterfly, which flutters in the wind, and finally lands on Antonio's shoulder.

I hold back tears and say to him, "Have a good dream."

Suddenly, there are footsteps approaching from a distance.

"My condolences," Barbara says to me.

She also brings more news: the little girl we rescued from Eli and Michael at the bar has also died.

"I know," I say.

Barbara glances at George beside me and pulls me aside. "I heard she wanted to report your families, then she died. Her body was found by the river."

Eli's parents had long been exiled. How the girl died is evident.

"Such a big event, but there is not a single news report," I say, curling my lips.

"Blair?" Barbara looks at me worriedly.

"I'll fly to Country B tomorrow," I say.

As I turn to leave, a strong hand suddenly grips my wrist. I turn back and meet George's gaze. Since returning from the seaside, we have hardly spoken. Witnessing the loss of life is too painful. By comparison, love and hate seem as fleeting as clouds.

"The girl Eli and Michael threw into the pool is dead," I say.

George replies, "And？"

"Do you want to stop me? Even you want to cover this up?!"

"Have Robert bring Apex back to see me."

"What?"

"Our father is after Apex. Robert must act immediately. Your classmate's family is powerful in Country B; he can handle this small matter," George says calmly.

I don't have the energy to think about how George knows I've been following Apex's news. I just say, word by word, "No, I don't trust you."

George looks down at me; we are very close. His grip on me is tight, and he whispers in my ear, "Blair, you can only listen to me on this. Otherwise, I'll lock you in the basement of the Blue Sea from now on. No one will see you, and you'll have only me for the rest of your life."

His tone is flat, and even his gaze is cold. But I know he's serious. He seems calm, but inside he's utterly insane.

George holds my arm tightly and turns to Barbara, saying, "You need to cooperate too."

Three days later, news of Antonio's death at sea appeared on major websites. His newlywed, pregnant wife also died with him.

The official reason is that a big wave swept the couple away while they were playing by the sea, and their bodies were never found.

George is a liar. He said he wouldn't lock me in the Blue Sea, but here I am again.

Our funeral, mine and Antonio's, is held in a church. In the coffin there are only our clothes, surrounded by flowers.

Mrs. Mary and Mr. Emerson attend the funeral with Michael, while George and Barbara wait for them in the hallway.

When George returns that night, I curiously ask what his mother's reaction was to hearing about my death.

George replies, she wasn't happy or sad, just a bit confused.

I cross my arms. "I got it. The person she hated the most all these years is finally gone, and she feels a bit empty without an opponent."

George places the tray of food in front of me, "Eat."

As I pick up the fork, George adds, "But your decision not to let Antonio's parents see him one last time was very right."

"Why?"

George sighs softly, "When his mother showed up at the church, her legs were so weak she could barely walk. She seemed mentally unstable, constantly shouting, 'How could this happen? Why did this happen?!' and saying she had to find someone to take revenge on for corrupting her son."

"Jay is dead, and she still thinks it was his fault?"

"Or maybe she vaguely understands but doesn't want to wake up. No parent will admit they drove their child to death with their own hands."

"Perhaps." I nod, "When this is all over, I want to see Antonio again, to talk to him."

"Alright. I buried his ashes in a seaside cemetery, with Jay."

At this moment, George's phone rings. He puts a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet, then answers the call.

It's Robert on the other end. "What happened? Just a few days ago, she was fine when I talked to her on the phone!"

"Accident at sea. It happened too suddenly. Her husband died too."

Robert's voice grows increasingly agitated, "You asked me to bring Apex here, and now you're telling me Blair is dead?"

"Yes. People can't avoid accidents."

"You...!"

"Where is Apex?"

"Someone's trying to kill him! I went through a lot of trouble to bring him to your country; it was my promise to Blair, and now, she, she..."

Robert starts to choke up, his voice filled with resentment, "I always knew your family didn't care about her, but I never imagined you'd be so indifferent to her death!"

George walks out to the balcony, lights a cigarette, and silently listens to Robert's accusations.

Once Robert calms down a bit, George speaks politely, "You should continue fulfilling your promise to her. Let's meet."