Chapter 79 Let Him Handle Barry

After leaving the hospital, Sabrina hurried back to her apartment. Ada hadn't returned yet, so the apartment was quiet. She sat there for a while, lost in thought, until a knock on the door interrupted her. She expected it to be Barry, but to her surprise, it was Curtis. Sabrina was taken aback and asked, "Why are you here?" "Marcus texted me, saying that you're not in the best emotional state, probably due to something your brother got involved in. He wanted me to come and check on you, so here I am," Curtis replied. Considering the recent happenings surrounding Barry and the missing apartment deed, Curtis had figured Sabrina would be back at the apartment. So he drove there directly from work and found Sabrina as expected. Sabrina looked visibly tired, her frustration evident on her face. She took a couple of steps back to let Curtis inside and updated him. "I managed to make contact with Barry. He told me he borrowed some money to repay his debts. However, it only covered the principal amount. He's still short on 100,000 dollars which is the interest. I'm planning to sell this apartment to help him out." "So you mean your brother borrowed money from loan sharks? But what did he use the money for?" "What else could he have used it for? Gambling, of course! He told me he was just having a little fun, but everyone knows once you're hooked, you can't just quit that easily!" Sabrina explained her frustration over the matter, trying to keep her composure in front of Curtis. So, it appeared that Barry had taken Sabrina's apartment deed with the simple goal of selling the apartment to repay his debts. However, Curtis knew this wouldn't be the last time Barry would rack up gambling debts. After all, gambling addicts couldn't just change their ways that easily. Barry would most likely spiral down the same wormhole and fuck things up again. To resolve it thoroughly, some additional effort was required. "When will Barry be back?" Curtis asked. "I'm not sure, but he should return soon." Curtis nodded. He looked around the apartment and noticed that the interior had been completely overhauled. It was evident that the traces of Sabrina's life had all but disappeared. If not for the fact that Sabrina still held her key to the apartment, Curtis might have thought it no longer belonged to her. "By the way, the person you mentioned earlier, the one interested in buying the property, can you invite them over? If possible, I want to finalize a deal as soon as possible so I can help Barry with his debt," Sabrina said. This situation left Sabrina feeling powerless. She knew that Barry had gotten himself into a mess, but she couldn't simply stand by and watch. Curtis gazed at Sabrina with a deep, penetrating look, making her visibly uncomfortable. His gaze seemed to search for something more profound. "Are you sure that once we sell this apartment today, it will change your brother's life and lead him back to a normal one?" Curtis questioned. Sabrina couldn't provide a definite answer. She knew that even if they sold the apartment and repaid the debt, she couldn't guarantee her brother's ability to get his life back on track. "But if I don't help him to repay the interest, they might do something to threaten his life. I can't just stand by and watch him die." Curtis, who was known for his indifference to personal relationships, found it hard to grasp why Sabrina would go to such lengths for another person. However, deep down, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. "Why don't you let me take care of this matter," Curtis offered, surprising Sabrina with his willingness to help. After all, their marriage was based on a contract, and dealing with Barry's issues was far beyond the scope of that agreement. It made Sabrina feel uneasy. "No need," she responded. "He's my responsibility. I have to deal with this. I don't want you to feel burdened." Curtis was a little taken aback that she would think that. He pressed on, "We're married. Even if it's just on paper, if I can help you, I would be more than willing to. Besides, you're dealing with your brother's unruly behavior. I think you'd have a much easier time with a man by your side, helping you handle him." Reluctant as she was to incur a debt of gratitude, Sabrina was tempted to claim that she could handle it alone, but the truth was she had doubts. She would certainly feel more at ease with Curtis around. She had few options in this, so she decided to take up his offer with a brief "Thank you." Curtis frowned slightly, not too keen on Sabrina thanking him. He believed that, as a married couple, such formality only created distance between them. Wait, why was he having these thoughts? Up until that moment, he had considered their marriage as nothing more than a business transaction. Unbeknownst to him, their relationship had gradually evolved, and this change was something he had unconsciously come to accept. The atmosphere suddenly became silent. After a moment, an urgent knocking on the door resounded, unmistakably indicating Barry's return. Curtis exchanged a meaningful glance with Sabrina, who quickly rose and retreated to the bedroom. As soon as Sabrina entered the bedroom, Curtis opened the door, and he was met with a visibly agitated Barry. Barry didn't bother with pleasantries and, without a word to Curtis, rushed inside, frantically searching for Sabrina. His arrogance prevented him from searching the bedroom, and after a futile search of the entire living room, his frustration began to surface. "Where's Sabrina? Why are you here? And didn't we agree to have someone come to buy the house? Where is she?" Barry demanded. Curtis observed Barry closely. Despite his previous severe injuries, Barry had made a remarkable recovery, and he was no longer dependent on crutches. "It seems like you've made a good recovery. It looks like you don't need to stay in the hospital anymore. Why not come back home?" Curtis didn't directly respond to Barry's questions. This response left Barry even more infuriated, and his face turned red with anger. "I'm not here to talk about hospital stuff; I'm asking about my sister. She told me over the phone that she was going to sell this house to help me with my debts, didn't she? Are you trying to get your hands on our family's property?" Barry's accusation sounded like a joke, considering Curtis was loaded with money. He could easily afford multiple houses like this. "Calm down. Of course, we're selling the apartment, but do you think 100,000 dollars is enough?" Curtis's question immediately brought Barry to silence. He looked at Curtis with a guarded expression. "What do you mean by that?" Barry inquired, curiosity replacing his anger.