âAbel is my brother!â Emmeline exclaimed, her voice ringing out. âThis is my house; please leave!â
âHeâs your brother?â Adam shouted. âIâm his brother too!â
She stood tall and pointed firmly to the door. âI donât care who you are,â she declared. âThis is my house. If you want to see Abel, wait for him outside!â
Adam sneered and abruptly rose from his seat. âOh? You seem more like a boss than I do, bossing people around. Whose territory is this, anyway?â
Emmeline was infuriated and quickly grabbed her phone to dial the security room. In less than two minutes, four security guards rushed up the stairs, âWho let them in?â Emmeline demanded. âDonât they need to register?â
The security guard stammered, âThe gatekeeper asked, and he claimed to be Mr. Rykerâs older brother.â
âOlder brother?â Emmeline frowned, scrutinizing the man before her. âAre you Uncle Landenâs eldest son?â
Adam stood defiantly without uttering a word. Emmeline directed the security guards, âWait outside for now.â
The security guards hastily left, closing the door behind them.
âAre you Adam?â Emmeline asked again.
âYes,â Adam replied arrogantly. âRecognize me now?â
Emmeline shot back. âI have no idea who you are. I was changing clothes, and you barged in 2010 like this. Itâs utterly reckless!â
Adam snorted, âHmph! Country bumpkinâdo they have any manners?â
âJust wait, Emmeline said, her brows furrowing. âIâll call Abel and ask him to return home. promptly.â
âNo need to call!â The door swung open, and Abel entered with a stern demeanor.
âAbel, youâre back?â Adam asked, standing up from the sofa.
Abel ignored him and went to Emmelineâs side, gently holding her hand and asking. âAre you okay, Emma?â
Emmeline shook her head. âIâm fine, thankfully Only then did Abel turn to Adam and ask, âHow did you find this place?â
âI saw you on the capital TV program, Adam hastily explained. âThe entire village is abuzz; everyone knows youâve become successful. Mom sent me to find you.â
W success?â Abel smirked. Tm just working hard with everyone, barely making a livingâ
âThatâs not true,â Adam argued. âI saw youâve recently purchased a new car. It must be worth around thirty thousand, right?
âYes, it is,â Abel admitted. âSo what?â
âAbel,â Adam pressed on. âZahn has just graduated from middle school and didnât get into high school.
I noticed you already own several cars and bought a new one. Why not let Zahn drive it and be your driver?â
âThis car is for Emma, Abel sneered. âWhy are you so considerate?â
âArenât we brothers?â Adam reminded him. He pointed to Emmeline and added, âSheâs even more distant.â
Abel chuckled. âAdam, what defines closeness? What signifies distance?â
Adam said, âBeing raised by the same parents brings closeness, but being under Grannyâs care creates distance. Not to mention blood relations?â
âHmph!â Abel scoffed. âSo, am I considered close or distant as the abandoned child?â
âWhat do you mean âabandoned?â Adam furrowed his brow. âYou never returned!â
âThe Ryker family abandoned me when I was twelve!â Abelâs tone turned bitter. âIt was Uncle Maxwell who took me in!â
âThatâs all in the past. Why bring it up?â Adam felt uneasy.
âWhy not bring it up?â Abelâs expression darkened. âIf Uncle Maxwell hadnât taken me in, Iâd still be a homeless child. Now you come here to talk to me about blood ties. Adam, your reasoning astounds me!â
Adam stammered. âNo matter what, I am still your real brother, and Zahn is your true nephew!â
Abel forced a bitter smile and leaned in close to Adamâs face. âReal brother? Would you say that if I were still a struggling salesperson, uncertain where my next meal would come from?â
Adam was left utterly speechless, âWho do you consider close?â Abel sneered. âIs it wealth?â
Adam lowered his head, sweat dripping as he responded, âThatâs all in the past. Letâs establish harmonious relationship as brothers from now on. Wouldnât that be better than anything else?
Abel grew furious, pointing at Emmeline. âThis is my sister, and you made her cry as soon as you walked in!â
âWell,â Adamâs expression softened. âI didnât expect that, did I?â