Chapter 7
Her eyes stung, her throat aching. It was strange–this stranger, this doctor, seemed to know the truth, a truth her own family refused to acknowledge.
Quilla froze, her face contorting in a mix of frustration and confusion. What did this doctor mean by defending Leah? Didn’t he see that she was the one who was sick and still tried to help Leah?
She couldn’t understand why her usual tactics weren’t working on him. She had always been able to manipulate others with her “goodness” before.
Quilla couldn’t find the words to respond, lowering her head in silence, defeated.
Brian stepped forward, protectively shielding Quilla. “Quilla came to class even though she was sick because there’s less than a hundred days until the final exam.
She couldn’t afford to fall behind. She just wanted to repair her relationship with Leah, but unfortunately, some people refuse to appreciate it.”
Leah could only feel bitter laughter rising in her chest.
When she left home this morning, Fourth Brother had instructed her to take care of Quilla–bring her water, get her food. But that was before he realized Quilla’s exams were more important than her own.
So now, she was just the outsider, the one who wasn’t worth any of their concern.
Nathan spoke up again, “Fourth Brother, take Quilla back to rest and tend to her injuries.”
“Second Brother!” Brian protested.
“I’ve spoken,” Nathan snapped. “Do you not want to listen?”
Brian fell silent and, with a glance at Quilla, turned to leave the room.
The infirmary fell into a heavy silence once more.
Nathan frowned at Leah. “Leah, if you don’t want to take care of Quilla, fine. But you’re not allowed to behave like this again.”
Leah kept her head lowered, her throat burning painfully. She didn’t want to say anything.
Six Brothers. Zero Regrets
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She pulled the blanket over her head, hiding herself from their view.
She just didn’t want to see them anymore.
The hospital room was eerily quiet.
Leah opened her mouth, but no words came out. At this moment, words felt so insignificant. After all, she had explained herself countless times before, but her brothers never believed her.
Nathan’s throat moved, and he finally let go of her arm.
He looked at Leah with disappointment. “If you keep being this stubborn, when our eldest Brother comes back, I won’t be able to protect you anymore. Think about it carefully.”
After saying that, Nathan left the room.
Leah exhaled softly as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. She leaned back against the headboard, her expression bitter. What was there to think about?
Did they want her to, just like in her past life, bow her head, tiptoe around them, and ultimately be kicked out of the house and locked up in a mental institution to die a miserable death?
She had no intention of following that path again.
“Here.”
A cloth–wrapped ice pack appeared in front of her. Leah took it and placed it against the swollen side of her face. She glanced at the man beside her and spoke softly, “Thank you, just now.”
His voice was cold and indifferent. “Why didn’t you explain?”
Leah lowered her head, her lips curling into a bitter smile. “Do you think it would have made any difference? I’ve explained so many times before, even provided evidence. They still didn’t believe me. They just thought I was lying.”
A brief silence filled the room.
Leah didn’t feel the need to explain any further. No one, not even outsiders, ever believed her. They all thought she was a rebellious child who refused to listen.
“It’s hard not to believe.”
Leah’s heart skipped a beat. Did he… really believe her?
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acob took a step closer and gently placed his hand on her forehead “Your feser’s game door
Leah froze. His hand was cool and soothing, it felt surprisingly comforting and the immediately tera
little better.
She glanced down at his wrist. “Is that scar on your wrist from a car accident too?
Jacob froze for a moment, quickly retracting his hand. He removed the empty IV bag and wood will for a while before answering, “Yes, it’s from a car accident.*
He leaned against the table, his back turned to her, his face half lit by the light, making it hard to read his expression.
also have one, on my leg Leah raised the hem of her skirt slightly. “Here, it looks a lot like yours.”
Jacob turned to look at her leg. Her skin was pale, and the scar on her thigh stood out. But her skin had been pulled up too far, revealing more than he was comfortable with
He glanced at it briefly before quickly turning his head away. “Don’t lift your skirt in front of men
“But you’re a doctor,” Leah protested weakly.
Jacob’s throat tightened. “I’m still a man. Haven’t you been taught better?*
He continued, “That scar could be treated. Why don’t you take care of it?”
Leah’s expression darkened, and her heart tightened with pain.
Because her third brother, Xavi, once told her that scar on her leg represented their parents‘ death. He, promised to help her treat it when he had time.
She believed him.
But in the end, Xavi looked at the scar with disgust and told her it was a reminder of her parents‘ death–her fault. He said he would never help her treat it, and that she was to remember her role in ther
deaths forever.
She was crushed. She had thought it was her fault, and she began to serve her brothers even more neekly, hoping to gain their approval.
”
The memory of that moment was still sharp and painful, making it hard for her to breathe.