My Brother Never Gave Me a Home Chapter 10
Leo’s body crumpled.
I tore that consent form in half.
“Leo Ashford. I never wanted to cling to your family. You’re the one who begged me. You said you wanted to bring me home.”
He dropped to his knees in front of me. Eyes wet.
Before he could say a word, my father came storming out of the house.
He’d heard everything. The part about marrying me off.
His foot slammed into Leo’s shoulder.
Leo flew back several feet.
“You animal. I felt sorry for you. I swallowed my pain and gave my daughter back. You swore you wouldn’t
mistreat her. And now you’re going to sell her off in some marriage deal for that fake brat?”
“Disgusting. She’s my daughter. You don’t get to destroy her. You’re nothing.”
“Get out. Now. Don’t let me see your face again.”
Dad was shaking with rage.
He grabbed me and Mom and hauled us toward the house.
Leo clutched his chest. Staggered up. Stumbled into my path.
A thin trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
In that moment, he finally understood how catastrophically wrong he’d been.
He’d just wanted to keep his sister. He’d just wanted family by his side.
He’d thought ignoring Chloe would be a betrayal.
He’d never realized that his version of fairness had gutted the one person who was actually his blood.
“Joyce. I was wrong. I was just trying to pacify her. I never meant any of it. I know you can’t stand her. I’ll send her away. She won’t come back. She won’t keep occupying your place anymore.”
“Come home with me. Please. We’re siblings. Mom and Dad wanted us to take care of each other. You can’t
cut me off.”
“I’ll fix everything you said. I swear I’ll never do it again. Just give me one chance. Please.”
“This pendant. Mom and Dad said it was yours. You’ve never even worn it.”
His eyes were earnest. Begging.
The same look he’d had three years ago when he’d pleaded with me to come back.
I’d believed him then.
It bought me three years of drifting. Three years of cold neglect.
I had no reason to repeat that mistake.
I tightened my grip on my parents’ hands.
“I don’t have a big brother. Just a younger one.”
“That was true three years ago. It’s still true today.”
“I don’t remember any of what you’re talking about. I don’t have any impression of it. What I do know is I don’t
make the same mistake twice.”
“Mr. Ashford. You should be happy. Someone finally did what you always wanted to do but couldn’t.”
“As for the pendant. Give it to whoever still needs it.”
I pulled them inside and shut the door.
Through the wood, I heard him sobbing.
Quiet at first. Then escalating into raw, ragged shouts mixed with the sound of fists hitting walls.
Eventually, a neighbor complained. Got building security to drag him out.
And that was it.
The most perfect ending I could’ve asked for.
In the days after, Leo didn’t come around again.
I started my program at the research institute.
The workload was brutal. I couldn’t wander around campus like a normal college student. Couldn’t go out on
a whim.
One day off a month. That was it.
On those days, Mom and Dad would prep mountains of food and come with Ethan to visit.
Time flew.
Next time I saw Ethan, he’d already finished the SAT.
He looked harder every time. Older. Sharper.
He scanned the campus.
“Damn. Your life now is more brutal than my senior year. This place is a prison.”
Mom smacked his head.
“Shut up. What prison? Your sister’s going to be a national asset. You think you compare? If you were half as trouble-free and half as accomplished, I’d be thanking the heavens.”
“Enjoy your happiness while it lasts. When scores come out, you better not wipe the smiles off our faces.”
He shrugged. Smirked. Stole a rib and wandered off to eat it.
Mom and Dad rolled their eyes and got back to shoveling food at me.
Mom was slipping the last peeled shrimp into my mouth when I saw him.
Out the window.
Leo.
