Chapter 243

S21 73. A Brother’s Love

“I don’t know exactly how you feel. Our situations are different. Mom and I are not as familiar as both of you are. But….” Frank stole a glance. His gaze turned sad.

“From what I’ve heard, the closer a relationship is, the more painful it is to be separated. So, I guess you’re suffering a hundred times more

than me.”

Barbara swallowed hard. Her throat was dry. She couldn’t get out the words. Only her eyes spoke. She couldn’t believe that Frank really

noticed her.

“You know the others are worried about you, right?” Frank continued.

Barbara turned away from him, worried that her emotions would

escape.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I’ve actually tried to forget about it, to be fine. But apparently, it’s not easy.”

“Then don’t.” Frank turned around, facing his half-sister. “Don’t pretend to be fine. Let out all your anger. Since the circumsta cannot be changed, we can only manage what we can control.”

Barbara shook her head. One of her hands was clenched in fron

her chest. “I can’t control myself.”

“That’s because the pressure you bear is too great. Just let it go. Y can be angry, you can be disappointed. But after that, you have to contain what’s left, including hope.”

“Mom has no hope of returning to the way she was before.” Barbara’s voice turned raspy.

“That’s not what I meant. I talk about the hope for you to move on

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with your

life. Don’t you want to start a new chapter? You said you wanted to be independent. You want to be successful in your own

way.”

Barbara’s cry stopped.. Out of the corner of her eye, she studied Frank.

“So, what do you want me to do? I really don’t know what to do. It’s hard to even breathe.”

Suddenly, Frank bent down and grabbed Barbara’s shoulders. “I want you to stop relying on yourself to deal with this trauma. You are my little sister and I am your brother. So, like Emily and Louis, you can cry in my arms.”

Barbara’s lower lip trembled faster. No matter how hard she bit, the pressure in her chest remained unbearable.

“Shouldn’t you hate me? I’m your half-sister. All my life, I’ve robbed you of Mom’s love.”

Frank smiled wryly. Pulling Barbara against him, he patted her back.

“Yes, I didn’t like you for a while. But recently, you have proven that you are a weak, helpless creature. I can understand why Mom showered all her affection on you. Fairness is not always equa adjusted to the portion required. Maybe Mom thinks I’m too independent and great.”

Sobbing, Barbara blinked uncertainly. Her hands hung, not kno

whether to welcome the hug or not.

“Are you mocking me again?” she asked hoarsely.

Frank’s smile turned crooked. “I’m saying the truth. Even my childr are worried about you. They think you are fragile even though in r opinion, you have one thing that can be considered your strength.”

Barbara looked up, not caring if Frank saw her red nose. “What?”

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“Even in unstable condition, Mom still remembers you. You haven’t really lost her, Barbara. You just need to meet her through a different path. Her love for you is intact.”

Barbara’s tears suddenly thickened. The rise and fall of her shoulders became faster.

She realized that she was thinking too much about what she lost, that she forgot to be grateful for the things she still had, something that her brother had never felt.

“Why? Are you moved? Do you want to cry?” Frank rubbed Barbara’s head as if she were a child. “Then cry. Pour out all your worries. The others are upstairs. No one can hear you except me.”

In an instant, Barbara burst into tears. She didn’t know what she was really sorry for. Was it her mother’s condition, her anguish, or Frank’s misfortune? Everything stirred her heart into chaos.

“Forgive me.” She finally hugged Frank. “Please forgive me.”

Frank didn’t know why Barbara apologized. However, he was relieved that his sister had finally broken through the defense. And for th time, Frank enjoyed the role of an older brother.

st

“Is this how Jeremy and Louis always feel?” he thought with. smile. “No wonder they are proud to call themselves a big bro feels warm.”

Meanwhile, behind the door, Louis, who was eavesdropping, sud scratched his ear. “Did Daddy just say my name? My ears are suddenly itchy.”

Emily glanced over and shook her head. “No. The only sound I he was Auntie crying.”

A second later, the little girl straightened up. Her hand tugged at t shirt of the man next to her. “Philip, Auntie will definitely feel bett

after this. You can propose to her soon!”

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“Yeah, how about you propose to Auntie tonight?” Louis clenched his fists. His eyes flashed with enthusiasm.

Philip rubbed the back of his neck. “Should I do it tonight?”

Kara smiled faintly. “Don’t rush, Philip. The proposal must be

prepared carefully.”

“Actually… I have prepared everything, Madam.”

Kara widened her eyes. “You really can’t wait to propose to Barbara, apparently. I thought the twins were exaggerating.”

“We’re not exaggerating, Mommy,” Emily waved her tone.

“Yes, we are honest and innocent children.” Louis nodded slowly.

After laughing briefly, Kara whispered again, “So, when is Philip going to propose?”

The man blushed. “Tonight? But I need your help.”

“No problem. We’re always ready.” Louis put four fingers to his temples.

“Then, let’s discuss it somewhere else. Auntie has stopped cryin afraid she’ll come out and find us here. She might get suspiciou

Philip and Louis agreed. Then, the three of them went to plan.

Meanwhile, Kara was still waiting. When the door opened, she gas because Frank immediately ran to hug her.

“What’s wrong, Frank? You seem really happy.”

Instead of answering, Frank showered her with kisses. “Thank y very much, Kara. Thanks to your support, I can become a good b brother.”

“You ar

late.”

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a good brother, Frank. You’re the only one who realized it too

Smiling brightly, Frank shook his head. “Still, this could happen because of you. My relationship with Barbara can improve because of your hope.”

Tilting her head, Kara finally sighed, “Okay. Let’s celebrate it later. Now, we have to help Philip. He plans to propose to Barbara tonight.”

The curve of Frank’s lips suddenly faded. His eyes widened. “This fast? Isn’t that too hasty?”

Kara shrugged. “His determination is made. Barbara’s getting much better, right?”

“I think so.”

“Then,” Kara hugged Frank’s arm, “let’s join them. The kids are very excited.”

Suddenly, Frank grumbled, “I just officially had a little sister. Now, she has to belong to someone else?”

Kara laughed at the joke. “She’ll still be your little sister, Fran let’s hurry.”

Frank stopped dragging his steps. While smiling mischievou lifted Kara with his strong arms.

“Frank!” Kara screamed, muffled. “We have to join the meeting!”

“What? I just want to exercise. Going up the stairs, I mean. And are the ideal weight.”

Kara sighed faintly. “But you have to drop me off at the door. I do want the twins to get excited and have their conversation disturbe

“I intend to put you on the table and then eat you whole.”

“Frank!”

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The man laughed. Even though he now had a younger sister, Kara

was still the number one on the list of people he enjoyed teasing the

most.