My Brother Makes Me Crazy

Chapter 4 The Secret Room

The next morning, Erin woke up and found that Brett was nowhere to be seen in the house, which made her breathe a sigh of relief.

After a simple breakfast, she started doing some housework. Brett's house was huge, with three floors, an attic, and even a basement with a wine cellar.

After exhausting herself cleaning the first floor, she turned her attention to the second floor.

Erin noticed that the door to the study was slightly ajar.

This study had been locked ever since Brett left for abroad three years ago.

She hesitated for a moment but couldn't resist her curiosity and pushed the door open.

As she entered, a musty smell hit her nose, making her cough. Thankfully, the windows were tightly closed, and the dust on the floor wasn't too thick.

Erin walked over to the large windows and pushed them open, letting the sunlight flood the room and chase away the gloom.

By the time she finished cleaning the room, it was already one in the afternoon. Exhausted, she collapsed into a chair, not wanting to move. Absentmindedly, she pulled a book from the shelf. As she opened it, a worn piece of paper fluttered to the floor.

Hurriedly, she bent down to pick it up. When she saw the writing on it, she froze. It was an essay she had written when she was in primary school, titled "My Brother."

'Why is this essay in Brett's study? And why has every mention of "brother" in the essay been blacked out with a pen?'

Before she could think any further, she heard footsteps coming from downstairs. Panicking, she quickly folded the paper and slipped it into her pocket. Just as she was about to leave the room, she bumped into Brett at the doorway.

Brett's eyes were cold as he sized her up. "Why are you here?"

Erin sighed and explained, "I was just trying to clean up a bit. If you don't need it, you can handle it yourself from now on."

She tried to leave the room, but Brett blocked the doorway completely.

"Move."

"I'll hire someone to clean. From now on, this isn't your responsibility. Just because you live here doesn't make you the lady of the house, got it?"

Erin shrugged. "Got it. I have other things to do."

Seeing that Brett had no intention of stepping aside, Erin had to push him. "Let me through."

Brett frowned. "Why are you so desperate for money? Have I ever mistreated you? Don't tarnish my reputation in front of the others!"

Erin smiled. "Thanks for all the care you've given me over the years, but I'm an adult now with a job. I don't need your help, and my work is honest, so how could I tarnish your reputation?"

Brett, irritated, grabbed her wrist sharply. "Erin, you..."

Her phone suddenly rang, and Erin shot him a glare. "Let go, I need to answer this."

Reluctantly, Brett released her, and Erin quickly answered the call.

It was someone from the hospital. "Ms. Watson, where are you? The department is swamped today. There's an emergency surgery. Come over right now!"

Erin responded, "I'll be there immediately."

After hanging up, she noticed that Brett had finally stepped aside, allowing her to pass.

When Erin rushed into the hospital and made her way to the operating room, she realized she was ten minutes late. The emergency patient had already been taken in, and someone else had taken her place as the lead surgeon.

Entering the operating room, Erin saw the surgeon in charge, Professor Remus Weiss.

Remus had known Brett for years and had even taught Erin during her university days.

During work, Remus was all business. After the surgery, he finally had a chance to greet her. "Long time no see. How have you and Brett been?"

Erin felt awkward. "We're... we're both doing well..."

Stretching his shoulders after the long surgery, Remus smiled. "I'm meeting Brett for dinner later. Why don't you join us?"

Erin quickly declined. "No, thanks. I've got things to do. You two go ahead."

Remus chuckled. "Come on, if I were him, I wouldn't feel right leaving you at home alone."

Erin wondered if all these years of academia had finally scrambled Remus' brain. Did he actually have no idea about the tension between her and Brett?

Remus sighed. "Brett's had a rough few years too. His father's sudden death, trying to get the overseas branch up and running—he wanted to come back but just couldn't."

At that moment, Brett appeared in the hallway and walked toward them. The moment Erin saw him, she wanted to turn and leave, but Remus grabbed her arm. "What's the rush? Afraid Brett will eat you?"

Erin couldn't help but roll her eyes, but before she could come up with another excuse, Brett spoke calmly, "Let's go. We'll eat together."

Erin was stunned. This was the first time in years that Brett had invited her to eat out. She couldn't believe he had agreed.

What was he thinking?

She glanced at the smiling Remus and guessed that Brett was just trying to be polite to him.

They ended up at a Mexican restaurant. Erin chose to sit next to Remus, knowing how much Brett disliked her and wanting to avoid any unnecessary trouble.

But Brett's expression grew even darker, and Erin found it inexplicable.

Remus didn't notice Brett's change in mood and kept chatting cheerfully. "Did you manage to take care of that? Why did you bring Karen to the Presbyterian Hospital...?"

Erin froze, looking in Brett's direction, her mind racing. 'Karen? The woman who is pregnant with Brett's child?'