Chapter 68 Discerning Reality from Appearances

As Sabrina's tears flowed, Barry was consumed by a mix of guilt and helplessness. Yet, there were things he could not, or would not, say. "I've told you, I didn't do it! Why can't you just trust me? We're family, and Grandpa doesn’t know what he's talking about!" Sabrina and Barry had always been close, just one look and she could tell whether he was lying or not. 'What has happened to Barry over these years?' she wondered. "If you're not going to tell me the truth, then so be it. But I'm warning you, I'll get to the bottom of this. If you've done anything wrong, even as your sister, I will not overlook it. I'll take you to the police myself for some serious reflection!" With no hope of getting any more truth from Barry, Sabrina gave up pressing him. A heavy silence hung in the hospital room between the siblings. Words were unnecessary, and their silence said everything. Curtis remained silent as well. He simply waited for Sabrina to take the lead before exiting with her. "You're on your own now," she said before turning away. Barry's mouth opened as if to respond, but no words came out. Curtis looked back at Barry with a raised eyebrow before they left. Back at the villa, Daniel was absorbed in a television show but detected the tension immediately. "What happened to you two?" Sabrina could only shake her head. The joy of her grandpa's recovery was overshadowed by the weight of her brother's alleged actions. As for Curtis, he could not find the right words either, so he briefly filled Daniel in on the day's events. Daniel glanced at Curtis and then at Sabrina. He had thought that there was not much progress in their relationship, but now it seemed there was some. "I think dwelling on your brother is pointless. Look at the bigger picture. Focus on investigating Ada," Curtis suggested. His words resonated with Sabrina. She also thought that Ada was at the crux of the issue and resolved to delve deeper into conversation with her for any potential leads. "Alright, let's put this behind us and eat. I'm starving," Daniel finally said, ending the uncomfortable silence. He had been waiting for them, and while he did snack a little, he was still very hungry. Sabrina felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Daniel. Next time something urgent comes up, I'll call ahead. Don't wait for us, your health is more important." She had always treated Daniel like her own family, often taking his advice without seeking Curtis' input. Realizing this, she turned to Curtis for his opinion. Curtis seemed unfazed but internally, he agreed with the sentiment. In the past, he would never have considered whether Daniel had dined or whether he should inform anyone of his whereabouts. Sabrina's presence had shifted his perspective, teaching him the importance of family communication and not keeping all his problems bottled up inside. "Alright, I understand that you've both been so busy. Let's just eat and stop talking about all this unnecessary stuff." Daniel felt a bit helpless, but deep down, he was happy that someone cared about him. As they dined, the companionship worked wonders, and Sabrina felt the day's troubles recede, lightening her mood. * After waking up, Parker gradually felt his strength returning. He was determined to be discharged from the hospital. The hospital stay was too uncomfortable for him, and he much preferred the comfort of home. However, Sabrina was deeply concerned. After all, Parker had previously been abandoned, and had soon after been in a car accident. How could he consider leaving the hospital without an extended recovery period? At a minimum, they should wait for the doctors to confirm his full recovery. "Don't try to persuade me otherwise. I know my body best, okay? You all are just too worried about me. I'm not as frail as you think." During the time Parker was unconscious, his complexion had been ashen. Yet, he remained adamant about leaving the hospital, as if the very walls were suffocating him. Sabrina was overwhelmed with concern and uncertain about how to persuade Parker to change his mind. Ultimately, it was Curtis who soothed him with a few simple words. "You're really something," Sabrina remarked, impressed. "I wouldn’t even know how to explain this to Grandpa, yet you've managed to calm him down so quickly. Your words seem to carry more weight than mine." Both were concerned for Parker, yet Curtis' words had a kind of magic that Sabrina's lacked. Not only did Parker agree, but he also seemed quite pleased. It was an outcome that stirred unease in Sabrina. She could not help but wonder about the stark contrast in their influence. A glimpse of her troubled expression brought an unexpected lift to Curtis' spirits. It was a guilty pleasure, realizing his impact was greater, even if it felt slightly wrong to enjoy the moment. "Grandpa was worried that staying in the hospital would cost money. I assured him it was free and even showed him evidence. That seemed to put his mind at ease." 'Wait, the treatment is free?' Sabrina looked at Curtis in astonishment. It was quite a surprisingly convenient excuse.