Chapter 4

After learning my intentions, the director took me to meet the children there.

The orphanage children were noisy and rowdy, but one boy sat quietly to the side, completely indifferent to my arrival, focused intently on the vocabulary book in his hands.

I walked over to him and asked softly, "Do you really like studying?"

The boy's voice was small but not timid.

"Studying is very important. Only by working hard can I change my destiny."

I smiled at him. "Would you be willing to come home with me? I'll be your brother and find you the best teachers to help you study."

The boy nodded vigorously.

I took the boy to the director to process adoption papers. When I learned the boy's name was Lucky, I couldn't help but frown.

The boy sensed my reaction and looked at me cautiously.

I sighed and patted the boy's head. "How about I give you a new name?"

I took the boy shopping for daily necessities, then took him to change his name. He took my surname and became Wesley Armitage.

I hoped he would always know the direction in his heart as precious as the moon, and not bow down for sixpence like my brother Ethan.

On the way home, Wesley kept looking at his new ID card over and over—clearly, he really liked his new name.

When we got home, I cleaned out the spare room for Wesley to live in.

It was getting late, and I was just about to have Wesley go to his room to rest when I heard the sound of the door being unlocked.

"Adrian, I'm back! I've already talked to Mia—"

Ethan's voice stopped the instant he saw Wesley, then he looked at me in disbelief and demanded sharply:

"Who is he? What's he doing in my house!"

Wesley looked at me helplessly.

I looked at Ethan calmly.

"This is my house. Who I let in isn't for you to decide."

"He's my new brother, also your brother. His name is Wesley. If you can accept it, accept it. If you can't, then get out."

Before I finished speaking, Ethan grabbed a vase from the living room and smashed it hard on the floor.

"I don't agree! If you don't kick him out, I'll die right in front of you. I don't want you as a brother anymore!"

This was Ethan's usual tactic.

In my past life, every time I refused Ethan's excessive demands, he would threaten me by harming himself or cutting off our relationship.

And I, craving familial affection, fell for it every time. I usually couldn't resist and gave in.

After making his threat, Ethan expected to see me compromise like before.

But I just stood there, unmoved.

"If you want to die, hurry up. I can't stop you, and I don't want to."

Thinking of how my parents suffered in my past life, I felt he deserved to die eight hundred times over.

Ethan never imagined that I, who had always doted on him, would suddenly become like this. He immediately grew furious.

He rushed at Wesley and grabbed him.

Ethan's freshly done manicure made his nails especially sharp. He deliberately dug them deep into Wesley's skin.

Wesley winced in pain but didn't dare make a sound.

"You little brat, did you trick Adrian! You parentless thing, what right do you have to steal my brother!"

Ethan, the straight-A student, really got into cursing, his mouth full of obscenities.

I'd always taught Ethan to be gentle and polite. Before, he was just cold, but he'd never used profanity in front of me.

Eighteen years of upbringing and teaching couldn't compare to a few months of Ethan being around Mia.

Remembering my past life, I just felt utterly pathetic.

Seeing Ethan raise his hand to slap Wesley, I quickly stepped forward to stop him, pulling Ethan away.

"If you can't accept this, get out. If you keep throwing tantrums like this, don't blame me for being rude!"

Hearing this, Ethan looked hurt, as if he couldn't bear it anymore, and ran out crying.

But I knew in my heart that Ethan's sadness wasn't because of me.

It was just because something he'd possessed for so many years suddenly no longer belonged to him.