From his tone and the slight tremble in his hand gripping her arm, Annabelle knew he was angry. She could also sense his deep unease.
Annabelle turned his face to meet hers and ruffled his hair. "I promise I won't do anything stupid again. Just... pretend I wasn't in my right mind this time. It won't happen again, okay? Please forgive me?"
"Hmph, like I care!" Ryan Linton turned his head away petulantly and looked out the window.
As he turned his head slightly, Annabelle caught sight of several distinct marks on his face. They were mostly hidden by his thick bangs, though, and you wouldn't have seen them if you weren't looking closely.
Annabelle turned his face back toward her and tenderly inspected his wounds.
William Chapman himself had just admitted to hitting him. Seeing these marks, a wave of fury washed over Annabelle.
Ryan Linton saw her furrowed brow and tense expression and knew what she was thinking.
"Stop touching it. You're messing up my hair."
He gently moved Annabelle's hand away and casually brushed his bangs back into place, completely concealing the once-visible marks again.
'That's just like him. Always getting hurt, but always pretending he doesn't care.'
Looking at the seventeen-year-old boy before her, Annabelle felt her heart ache.
'This is my little brother. No matter how much it hurts, no matter how wronged he is, he always just grits his teeth and endures it all alone.'
After their mother passed away, Ryan was the only family she had left. But in her past life, her entire world had revolved around Leona Grant, and she had rarely shown this little brother any concern.
William Chapman often beat him, and even when she knew, all she did was cry in secret. She never once stood up for him.
But today, he had almost been beaten up over a dress for her.
Doctors have a habit of carrying simple medicines with them.
Annabelle took an ointment from her bag and, pursing her lips, carefully applied it for him.
Leona Grant had just stepped out of the car and was caught off guard by the sight. A flash of amazement glinted in his eyes.
The sunlight slanted through the mottled branches outside, seemingly crowning her with a radiant halo. Her skin was as fair as snow, making the slight crease between her brows stand out. Her face was etched with profound worry and self-blame.
Ryan didn't stop her this time. Instead, he asked worriedly, "Annabelle, are they mistreating you in that house?"
Annabelle's fingers paused for a moment, but they quickly started moving again. She said faintly, "No. I've just learned to let a lot of things go."
After she finished applying the ointment, Annabelle put it back in her bag. She pursed her lips, then caressed his face. "Ryan, I'm sorry. It was my fault for being so useless before. You've suffered all these years. From now on, I will protect you."
Ryan Linton fell silent.
After a while, he looked at her with deep, dark eyes and said in a heavy voice, "Sis, do you blame me?"
Annabelle was taken aback. "Why on earth would I blame you?"
Ryan Linton lowered his gaze, his eyelashes trembling slightly. A watery sheen passed over his eyes.
Some memories, once uncovered, are bound to be bloody.
He fell silent again for a long moment. The scar that had taken up residence in his heart for seventeen long years was now slowly cracking open.
He kept his head down, his eyes turning crimson. "I'm like a jinx! Everyone who gets close to me gets hurt! I caused Mom's death! I caused Grandpa's death, and Kiera lost her legs because of me! And your unhappy life now is all because of me too!"
"William Chapman was just after the Grant Family's money, that's why he was so desperate to marry you off to them! I know you haven't had it easy these past few years, and it's all my fault. If I hadn't caused Mom and Grandpa to die, someone would have been there to protect you. Then you wouldn't have had to marry into the Grant Family. All of your unhappiness now—it's all my fault!"