Chapter 64 The Slap

Seeing Curtis step forward, Barry's temper flared up instantly. "You have the nerve to talk to me? Didn't you deceive my sister into marrying you? Just because you two have a marriage certificate doesn't make you part of this family!" Barry had held back from confronting Curtis for Sabrina's sake. He was infuriated that his sister had inexplicably married a man without the family's knowledge. As for Sabrina, she found Barry to be very unfamiliar today. He seemed to lash out as if everyone was indebted to him. “Barry, what's gotten into you? I’m trying to talk reasonably, but you keep bringing up irrelevant issues and even dragging Curtis into this. He hasn't done anything wrong!" “It’s not him, it’s you! You have no idea what it’s like... the panic when Grandpa fell sick? As your brother, I took on the family burdens without troubling you. Sure, you sent us money later, but do you know how exhausting it is to work and take care of Grandpa at the same time? "Ada has always been by my side. Even if I haven't known her for long, she’s been nothing but good to me. If harm comes to either of you, it's definitely your fault!" Slap! Unable to bear Barry's words any longer, Sabrina gave him a sharp slap across his face. When their parents passed away, they had promised to be each other’s safe haven no matter what. Now, a woman and old grudges had soured that promise. "You're saying it's my fault? Fine. I’ll take Grandpa to live with me. I’ll care for him. As for you, do as you please, go wherever you like. Your well-being is no longer my concern.” “Good riddance! I want nothing to do with you either. You disgust me!" In the end, their attempt at reconciliation ended in utter failure. Sabrina's being shook with each silent sob, a heartbreaking testament to the pain inflicted by her brother's harsh words. The siblings stared at each other for a while. Sabrina sniffed, took Curtis' hand, and left the ward. There was no point in continuing the conversation. There was nothing left to talk about, more words would only cause more pain. In the car, Sabrina's tears continued, prompting a rare show of concern from Curtis. "Your brother seems like he's been brainwashed or something. Maybe that shock of a slap will jolt him back to reality." He may not be the most sympathetic person, but he could never bring himself to harm a woman, especially his own sister. "There's definitely something wrong with Barry," Sabrina managed between sniffles, a flicker of insight breaking through her grief. "His relationship with Ada isn't as straightforward as it seems. I've seen his true self, and this isn't it. I even discussed it with him when I started working, saying I'd bring Grandpa to live with me. He refused and assured me he could take care of Grandpa. Someone must've said something to him." She wiped her tears, her natural resilience surfacing amidst the chaos of emotions, her mind working through the complexities of a sibling bond turned sour. This was all part of the communication and connection between siblings, after all. Yet now, Barry was unfairly blaming everything on her, as if he were in the right. Curtis listened, his surprise at her level-headed analysis evident. 'She’s handling this better than I expected,' he mused. "Why are you staring at me?" Sabrina noticed Curtis's gaze and asked, intrigued. At that moment, Sabrina’s tear-stained cheeks and reddened eyes presented a picture of poignant vulnerability that defied her usual strong-willed persona, eliciting an instinctive protectiveness from those around her. "I'm just surprised. I thought you'd be furious after your heated argument with Barry. I was expecting you to cuss him out the whole way here," Curtis admitted. Sabrina blushed slightly. "I wanted to yell at him. He's totally out of line! Can't he see that I'm the one paying for his hospital bills? If he keeps treating me like this, I'll cut him off!" Her words sounded half-joking, but her mood had not improved. After all, it was not easy to feel better when your own family treated you poorly. The atmosphere grew quiet again, and the two of them returned to the apartment without another word. Their visit was to check on Ada, whose disheveled appearance startled Sabrina. She knew of Ada's injuries but had not anticipated such deliberate marks, especially on her face. Her left eye was swollen, making the sight distressing. "Who would mar a woman's face like this?" Sabrina wondered with a mix of anger and caution, determined to uncover Ada's intentions. "Hi, guys. Come on in," Ada invited them. The apartment showed signs of hasty tidying, a superficial improvement at best. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess," Ada said, her face flushed with guilt. "I never thought I'd run into my ex here. He was supposed to be overseas. I would've stayed away if I had known." Sabrina showed no reaction. Any guilt she might have felt towards Ada evaporated upon recalling Barry's words. "How did you come to know my brother?" Sabrina probed, seeking the truth from Ada directly. Sabrina still wanted to hear it from Ada's own mouth that she had helped her brother recover the money. It sounded plausible, but when combined with recent events, something seemed off about it. Ada hesitated, her attempt to maintain a facade nearly crumbling under Sabrina's piercing gaze. She managed a smile that was a little too perfect, tinged with a hint of happiness.