Chapter 306 Too Late to Turn Back

+8 Pearls

Watching someone else dote on his little sister–when he, her real brother, wasn’t even allowed to be there–Owen felt like there was a hole in his chest. A hollow that let in nothing but cold air.

He was the one who used to bring Yunice surprises, who used to make herugh. He was her brother.

So how… how had he be the outsider?

Oscar’s voice echoed in his mind.

iNot /iithat /iiyou /iididn’t want /iiYunice/ii. /iIt’s ithat /inow, iYunice /iidoesn’t /iiwant /ibiyou/i/bbi. /i/b

She had cut him off.

She didn’t even want to be a part of the Saunders family anymore. She’d severed every tie with them.

She didn’t invite them to her wedding. They weren’t wee at her birthday.

From now on, he had no ce in any of the major events of her life.

Outside, fireworks lit the sky in a dazzling disy, but under those bursts of color, Owen slowly crouched down, burying his fingers in his hair.

He finally realized–Yunice hadn’t been throwing tantrums to seek attention, or trying to guilt him. Every so–called act of rebellion had been a cry for help, a signal.

A iwarning /iiI’m /iileaving/ii. /i

But now, even if he finally understood–it was toote.

His phone buzzed. Owen nced at it like it was a lifeline.

It was ba /bbcall /bfrom the Hotel Marcellus managerb. /b

Hope red in his eyes as he answered. bHad /bit all been a mistakeb? /bDid Yunice still recognize him as her brother?

But the manager’s voice on the other end said, “Sir, the missing child has been found. He fell asleep in the dressing room. He’spletely safe…”

Before the manager could finish, Owen’s hope plummeted.

He snapped, “What does that kid have to do with me? He can bsleep /bwherever he wants–why the hell are you calling me!”

Still, some part of him waited, hoping the manager would say something–anythingb–/babout Yunice.

But no. The call had been routine, just a hotel duty to rify ba /bsituation and ease a bguest’s /bconcerns.

Seeing bOwen /bwas in a foul mood, the manager apologized and ended the call.

“Sorry for the disturbance.”

The dead silence from his phone made Owen bwant /bto smash it.

But before he could even breathe, Lily’s call came in again.

He answered, annoyed, only to be greeted by her sobs. She cried that he needed to return to the hospital right away–Elsie had been beaten upb, /band the attacker was demanding five million. They didn’t have that kind of money.

Owen pinched the bridge of his nose. His mind was drowning in Lily’s endless crying.

Lily cried Elsie cried. Their lives were made of tears.

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b4:45 /bPM

Chapter 306 Too Late to Turn Back

He said coldly, “She borrowed the money. Let her figure it out.”

Lily gasped. “You know Elsie doesn’t have any money…”

+8 Pearls

“And?” Owen snapped. “She’s an adult. If she’s broke, let her solve it herself. Yunice lived in our house for years. Did anyone give her a cent? Did you?”

Lily fell silent.

Owen’s voice was ice. “If Yunice could survive it, why can’t Elsie?”

Lily cried, “Elsie came from nothing. I know all of you look down on her-”

Owen didn’t even let her finish. He hung up.

He’d heard this same sob story so many times over the years, it used to make his heart ache for Elsie. But now, it just made his skin crawl.

Yes, Elsie had a rough background. But none of them caused that. iSo /iwhy idid /iihe /iihave /iito /iikeep /iipaying /iithe /iiprice/ii? /i

The heaviness in his chest was unbearable. Deep down, he had a gnawing sense that maybe he had done something wrong- he just didn’t know what, or when, or how.

And like many people in that moment, Owen didn’t try to reflect or make amends. He numbed himself.

He ordered drinks and got himself ckout drunk under the exploding sky, finally passing out on the hotel room floor.

Meanwhile, back at the hospital-

Oscar also received a call from Lily.

She was his mother, and no matter how bitter he felt, he couldn’t bring himself to ignore her.

Through her sobs, she repeated Elsie’s situation.

She didn’t expect Oscar toe and take care of Elsie–she just hoped he could help cover the five million.

Tearfully, Lily wailed, “That woman bwas /btoo vicious! She beat up me and Elsie! If we don’t pay soon, she’ll kill usb!/bb” /b

Oscar replied calmly, “Elsie’s room is filled with luxury items. She can’te up with five million?b” /b

Send bGifts /b