Chapter 4Not Your Average Brother

That night, I went for a walk in the back garden to clear my head.

Vivian was nice, and she was the idol I'd always loved.

The Sterling family treated me the same as always, maybe even with a bit more caution.

But my heart felt heavy.

Suddenly, I saw Sebastian and Vivian talking in the gallery.

That gallery was built specifically for me by Sebastian. It was filled with my paintings.

He had said it was a secret base belonging only to him and me.

Now, he and his new sister were standing in it.

I watched him smile and pat Vivian on the head.

It felt like a jar of boiling water shattered in my heart—a burning pain.

Before, Big Brother only patted my head.

The moment Sebastian looked at me, my only thought was to run.

Run somewhere they couldn't find me.

Ignoring him calling my name from behind, I ran to the garage, grabbed a random car, and bolted.

I found a nearby bar, wanting to numb my emotions with alcohol.

My heart really hurt.

Big Brother wasn't just my big brother anymore.

His doting love for me was finally given to someone else.

So how was I supposed to face him in the future?

Drink after drink poured into my stomach.

But the more I drank, the more wrong things felt.

My head was dizzy, my body was getting hotter and hotter, and panic was setting in.

I tried to stand up and leave, but a man reeking of stale smoke grabbed me.

"Little sister, all alone? Want big brother to show you a good time?"

I struggled desperately, but I had no strength at all.

Just as I was on the brink of despair, I smelled a familiar scent of pine and cypress.

I heard two grunts of pain, and then everything around me went quiet.

Vaguely, I heard a helpless sigh.

Hot. So hot.

In the back seat of the Cullinan, I desperately searched for anything that could cool me down.

Next to me was a soft body that felt cool to the touch.

I clung to it like a koala, pushing aside annoying clothes, using my face and lips to absorb every bit of coolness.

"So cool, so nice."

My voice was thin and alluring.

"Harper, look clearly at who I am."

I lifted my hazy eyes, rims red, tears brimming.

"Big Brother, it feels awful. Help me."

Suddenly, my lips were captured, sucked on.

Like a dying person in the desert, I frantically drank the life-saving water.

"Help me, please, it hurts so much."

"Okay, Big Brother will help you."

My lower body suddenly felt cool.

It felt like all the blood in my body was boiling...

I bit my lower lip tight, but broken moans still escaped my throat.

My mouth was suddenly blocked by a pair of soft lips.

The moans were drowned out between teeth and lips.

"Don't make a sound, Harper."

The movements got faster and faster, too fast for me to handle.

"Harper, I'm saving you. Don't hate me."

Finally, my whole body tensed, spasmed, and then slowly went limp.

The burning heat inside me slowly dissipated.

I felt exhausted, and my consciousness drifted away uncontrollably.