Big Brother

Could the handsome older man be Mr.Valentine?

Evelyn immediately opened the large box.

Inside was a delicate small box tied with a pink bow, clearly a gift for a girl.

She opened the small box and saw a luxury bag from the same brand.

Evelyn instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

What a coincidence that would be!

Her phone vibrated with a message from Marcus.

"Did you receive the gift from Third Uncle? Can we meet now?"

Evelyn thought for a moment.

Flowers yesterday, a bag today. If she ignored him, he would probably send something else tomorrow.

She replied, "Please tell Uncle Xu I'm not angry. But a meeting isn't necessary."

Marcus relayed the message immediately.

Mr.Valentine fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. "Then forget it. We return to New York the day after tomorrow."

"Alright."

Marcus asked, "Third Uncle, didn't your friend say he was sending jewelry? Why a bag?"

Mr.Valentine shook his head. "Jewelry is too expensive. Miss Nan wouldn't let her accept it."

Jewelry from that brand cost millions.

Mr.Valentine thought it would be presumptuous, so he chose a bag worth a few thousand dollars.

Girls liked them all the same anyway!

Mr.Valentine also felt he was being stubborn.

He couldn't understand this persistent urge to see her.

His phone vibrated with a message from his young friend.

Young Friend: "Handsome Uncle, did you manage to appease your junior?"

Mr.Valentine chuckled and replied. "It's settled. Returning to New York the day after tomorrow. Don't forget our dinner plans."

Young Friend: "Don't worry! I'm bringing my mom~ I'll show you the best mom in the world!"

Mr.Valentine smiled. "Alright. Let's see whose mom is better."

…

Evelyn didn't return the bag.

A few thousand dollars wasn't worth the hassle.

She set it aside and had breakfast with Alexander.

They were having Cantonese dim sum today.

Alexander placed a shrimp dumpling on her plate.

Evelyn took a bite, her eyes lighting up. "So juicy and tender! Delicious!"

"Really?"

Alexander leaned over and ate the remaining half from her chopsticks.

He looked at her lips and smiled. "Indeed very sweet."

Evelyn felt teased!

Since last night, this man had become much bolder.

Evelyn stuffed another shrimp dumpling into her mouth, chewing fiercely.

She didn't realize her supposedly fierce peach blossom eyes now looked captivating and alluring.

Grandma Eleanor burped, feeling full from all the dog food.

After the meal, Alexander looked at Evelyn. "I'm heading to the office first. I'll be back for lunch and will work from home this afternoon."

He was proactively reporting his schedule.

Evelyn nodded with a smile.

Alexander turned to leave.

His phone rang abruptly!

The ringtone made Evelyn's heart clench with a bad premonition.

Alexander took out his phone. It was a call from Thomas.

Whatever was said on the other end made him freeze instantly!

Evelyn walked over, frowning. "What's wrong?"

Alexander's jaw tightened, his face dark.

The invisible pressure he had shed last night returned.

He gripped Evelyn's hand tightly and said slowly, "Sophia Watson jumped off a building."

…

In the hospital ER.

Sophia Watson breathed weakly, covered in blood.

Doctors and nurses rushed in and out, bringing numerous blood bags.

Evelyn stood with Alexander outside the operating room.

The woman on the bed was pale and thin, her arms and legs exposed with multiple abrasions.

Her internal organs were damaged, bleeding continuously.

Rough estimates suggested the blood in her body had been replaced four times.

She jumped from the tenth floor of the psychiatric hospital and had no pulse upon arrival.

Critical condition notices had been issued four times…

Evelyn once thought Sophia was being dramatic.

Starving herself was just a threat tactic.

She never imagined Sophia truly didn't want to live without Alexander.

She looked at Alexander again.

The man's face was icy, his eyes fixed blankly on the person on the bed.

The emotions in his eyes were complex and profound, impossible for Evelyn to decipher.

When Alexander made his decision yesterday, he had anticipated this outcome.

He knew Sophia had severe psychological issues. They were real.

But knowing and witnessing were two different things.

The frail Sophia on the bed reminded him of his childhood.

Few knew the traffickers who captured him weren't there to sell him.

They were paid by the main family to kill him.

So the food they gave him was poisoned.

He didn't dare eat it.

The other children, starving, obediently ate. He did not.

The other children thought he was arrogant, not knowing he couldn't eat…

He was only nine, starving hungry at night, too hungry to sleep…

He once thought he would starve to death.

He even saw a black cat jump into the room at night, staring at him with eerie eyes.

He seemed to have read in a fairy tale that black cats came for the dying, to eat their souls.

He looked into those pupils, terrified from the bottom of his heart.

He didn't want to die. He still had his grandmother…

Just then, the door creaked open, and a small figure slipped in.

She shooed the black cat away and pulled half a steamed bun from her pocket, handing it to him.

She said, "Big brother, stop starving yourself. Eat. When you're dead, there's nothing left…"

He survived the traffickers not only because of her final help but also because of her secret feedings over those three months.

What he owed her was more than just one life!

Alexander clenched his fists tightly.

The psychiatric hospital director approached, bowing apologetically. "Mr. Vance, I'm sorry. Miss Watson said she understood she couldn't rely on a man, she had to rely on herself… Then she went to sleep quietly. We didn't dare relax our vigilance, but the night nurse accidentally dozed off. When she opened her eyes, the patient was gone. The window was open, the curtains blowing in the wind…"

The director paused, noticing Alexander's livid expression, and didn't dare continue.

Alexander's jaw was tight. He muttered to himself, "Was I wrong?"

Evelyn knew he was consumed by deep guilt.

She didn't know how to comfort him…

She instinctively said, "You weren't wrong. I once saved a big brother too…"

Alexander looked at her. "What big brother?"