Shari sighed deeply.
âItâs tragic that your brother has passed.â
At these words, tears welled up in Dilanâs eyes once more.
Shari reached for some tissues and handed them to him, saying gently, âDry your eyes.â
As Dilan accepted the tissues, he listened to Shari continue.
âYour brother could have survived.â
Dilan paused, his gaze lifting slowly.
âWhat do you mean?â
A N G E L A âs L I B R A R Y
Shari replied, her voice steady but heavy with revelation, âI was there when your brother died.
He wouldnât have met his end had it not been for a shot fired at Mrs.
Hughes.
Your brother was nearby, and Brian-desperate to protect his wife-pulled your brother in front to shield her.
That decision cost your brother his life.â
His pupils contracted sharply as he shook his head.
âImpossible!â
âHow is it impossible?â Shari challenged, her eyes locked onto his.
âI saw it with my own eyes! They just handed you some money, right? And promised to look after you and your sister in the future, didnât they? Do you really think such wealthy people are that kind-hearted? If they werenât consumed by guilt, why else would they do this?â
Shariâs words pierced through Dilan, igniting a tumultuous surge of emotions within him.
Indeed, rich people were all self-interested.
Why would they take responsibility for someone elseâs life without any underlying self-interest?
Dilan remembered Rosalynnâs earlier statements that his brother was a good person who had saved her.
It turned out his brother hadnât stepped forward voluntarily; he was coerced by Brian to act as a human shield!
Overcome with grief and rage, Dilanâs eyes reddened, and his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
Shari, observing his distress, pulled out a stack of money from her bag-about five thousand dollars-and offered it to him.
âI met your brother in Boblyae.
We became good friends as we are both from Evanhua.
Iâm not wealthy, but please accept this money.
If you ever need anything in the future, donât hesitate to reach out.
As long as itâs within my means, Iâll help.â
After imparting her phone number, Shari departed, leaving Dilan to wrestle with his swirling thoughts alone on the sofa.
The room was silent.
Moments later, Dilanâs anguish transformed into fury as he struck the sofa, his eyes burning with hatred.
He swore to make Rosalynn and Brian pay with their lives for his brotherâs death!
The reunion night arrived four days later.
After some deliberation, Brian brought his father and grandmother to the Morenosâ house for the New Year celebration.
Barlow arrived with Haleigh and Karina in tow.