Chapter 3

3.

I reached out and snapped the string of the wind chime, laughing at myself.

Some loves are destined to be tragedies from the very beginning.

This time, I was truly giving up.

The door creaked open, and Sienna walked in wearing messy pajamas.

Her neck was covered in dark, obvious marks.

"Go make some breakfast. Jackson's stomach is bothering him."

"Make that savory pork and egg porridge. He likes that."

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, her tone softened slightly.

"You've been having stomach pains too, right? Porridge will be good for you."

I forced a small smile. "Sure thing, Sienna."

I went back to calling her by her name or just sister.

Starting today, I was going to be the brother she wanted me to be.

Sienna didn't seem to notice the change in how I addressed her.

All her attention was on Jackson, who was lounging behind her in just a towel.

I turned and walked downstairs like a ghost.

My stomach had been hurting a month ago, not now.

I had been caught in a storm, developed a high fever, and my old stomach issues flared up.

I had spent the whole night tossing and turning in pain while she was busy in the other room.

She only remembered that Jackson liked that specific porridge.

She completely forgot that I had hated the smell of those preserved eggs since I was a kid.

The smell alone made me want to throw up.