Chapter 8 The Strange Brother
1657 Words
Upon hearing this, Augustus was overjoyed. Sophie’s willingness to give up the engagement was just perfect. He spoke calmly, “However, you injured Ethan and must be punished. Considering that you’re voluntarily giving up the marriage, the original punishment of fifty lashes can be reduced to thirty.”
Sophie replied in a mocking tone, “Lord Sterling, do you think I’ll accept your punishment? While I’m still in a relatively good mood, you’d better agree to my conditions quickly. Otherwise, I’ll go to the Everly family and tell Lord Everly that it was Isabelle who killed Lydia!”
Augustus’s face instantly darkened. “Are you planning to frame Isabelle? How could you be so vicious?”
Faced with Sophie’s threat, Augustus found himself helpless. He had no choice but to have someone bring a paper and pen.
Sophie quickly wrote a short statement declaring that she would give up the engagement and consent to Isabelle marrying Damien.
At that moment, Isabelle knocked on the door and entered.
The instant Sophie saw Isabelle, memories from her past life flooded her mind.
She had treated Isabelle so well back then, gifting her countless jewels and luxury cars—nearly all her precious belongings.
Whenever Isabelle was bullied, Sophie stepped in to avenge her, even going so far as to kill those responsible.
Yet in the end, Isabelle had orchestrated Sophie’s death, poisoning her and causing her demise.
Outwardly gentle and kind, Isabelle was in fact a ruthless viper.
Isabelle looked at Sophie and spoke gently, “Sophie, please don’t be angry, and don’t upset Father.
“You shouldn’t have hurt Ethan. If you feel wronged, you can tell Father. He’ll certainly seek justice for you! Don’t cause trouble and break his heart.”
Augustus let out a cold snort. “Isabelle, Sophia is not my daughter anymore. Don’t defend her. Sophie is nothing but an ungrateful wretch.”
Hearing this, Sophie finally understood everything.
Every time Isabelle spoke up for her, supposedly pleading on Sophie’s behalf, it only fueled the Sterling family’s anger, ultimately turning them against Sophie.
Sophie sneered, “Isabelle, what are you pretending to be? Stop disgusting me.”
Isabelle shook her head, “It’s not like that, sis. I’m sincere to you. Please don’t be mad at me.”
“Get lost. Don’t call me your sister. I don't have a sister,” Sophie said mercilessly.
Isabelle turned to Augustus and pouted, “Father, Sophie didn’t mean to shoot Ethan’s legs. Please don’t be angry.”
Upon hearing this, Augustus grew even angrier. “Sophie, if there’s any permanent damage to Ethan’s legs, I’ll break your legs too. But for Isabelle’s sake, I’ll let you off today. From now on, do not dare harm anyone in this family.”
Sophie looked coldly at Isabelle and asked, “Where is the bracelet I gave you?”
Isabelle smiled and replied, “What bracelet? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sophie turned to Augustus and said icily, “You previously said that Isabelle would return the bracelet to me.”
Augustus sneered, “When Isabelle doesn’t want that bracelet anymore, she’ll naturally give it back to you.”
Seeing Isabelle unwilling to return it, Sophie’s eyes grew colder. Although she couldn’t take a second performance-enhancing pill right now and her physical strength wasn’t yet formidable, her resolve remained unchanged.
Isabelle noticed Sophie’s reaction and said with a smile, “Sophie, there’s an auction next week. I heard they have pills made by Freedomland’s top medical team. Those pills can cure any illness.
“There will also be many other valuable items at the auction. Let’s go together—Damien will be attending too.”
Sophie responded indifferently, “I’m not interested.”
Without another glance, she left.
She would have her revenge on Isabelle, but now was not the time.
The Winter family was a powerful clan in Freedomland, stronger than the Sterling family. Damien adored Isabelle and always protected her. So for now, Sophie couldn’t touch Isabelle.
But in the future, Sophie would kill Isabelle with her own hands to avenge the Sophie of her past life!
Augustus said lightly, “Isabelle, just ignore her.”
Isabelle nodded with a gentle smile and walked up to Augustus, saying softly, “Father, I heard Ethan is unconscious. Let’s go see him. If his legs are seriously injured, we'll have to do something about it.”
Augustus, worried about Ethan’s condition, hurried to his son’s room.
Ethan had already woken up, and the family doctor had removed the bullets from his legs.
His legs were not seriously injured; with some rest, his wounds would heal.
Yet Ethan’s expression remained grim and cold.
When Isabelle entered the room, she met Ethan’s icy gaze and trembled fearfully.
Why was Ethan looking at her like that?
Previously, Ethan had always been gentle and considerate, never saying a harsh word, pampering her as if she were a prized treasure. Today, he was even willing to kill Sophie for her sake.
Isabelle took a deep breath, approached him, and asked with concern, “Ethan, are your legs okay? I heard Sophie injured you. Don’t be angry with Sophie.”
Ethan shoved Isabelle away and said coldly, “Don’t come near me!”
Augustus frowned in displeasure, “What are you doing? Why did you push Isabelle?”
Ethan retorted, “She’s not my sister. Sophie is my sister.”
Upon regaining consciousness, Ethan suddenly recalled all the memories of his previous life.
In that past life, Ethan had always cherished Isabelle like a precious jewel. Under Isabelle’s instigation, he developed a deep misunderstanding for his biological sister Sophie, often bullying her and even ultimately abandoning her, resulting in her death.
However, after Sophie’s death, Isabelle joined forces with Damien to seize all of Sterling family’s wealth and power.
Moreover, at that time, Isabelle drugged Ethan and had his limbs broken due to which he died in agonizing humiliation.
It was not until the moment of his death that Ethan learned Isabelle’s heart had always been filled with hatred for everyone in the Sterling family. Her true purpose in staying with the Sterlings was to exact revenge.
Before Ethan died, he hadn’t been able to reveal Isabelle’s true nature to his six younger brothers. He knew that after his death, those brothers would also meet a tragic end.
Ethan recalled the phone call Sophie made before she died. On that call, he had told her to go die. He could never forget Sophie’s despair at that time.
Remembering all of this, Ethan felt intense regret.
Fortunately, he had been reborn, and this time he had a chance to make amends for how he had wronged Sophie. He decided to cherish this opportunity and do everything in his power to atone to her.
Hearing Ethan’s words, tears welled up in Isabelle’s eyes. She said in an aggrieved tone, “Ethan, it’s me, Isabelle, your most beloved sister. Are you mistaking me for someone else?”
Isabelle couldn’t believe Ethan would say such a thing.
She was certain Ethan was confusing her with Sophie.
Ethan glared coldly at Isabelle, “I’m not mistaken. I have only one sister, and that’s Sophie. You’re nothing but an adopted daughter leeching off the Sterling family all these years. Why don’t you just go die?”
Augustus was shocked by Ethan’s words. “Ethan, how can you speak to Isabelle like that?”
Augustus, furious, raised his hand to strike Ethan’s face.
Isabelle immediately lunged forward, tightly gripping Augustus’s arm, and pleaded urgently, “Father, Ethan’s legs were injured by Sophie, and he just woke up. He’s not thinking clearly. Please don’t be angry and let him rest.”
Hearing his beloved daughter’s plea, Augustus temporarily suppressed his anger. He glared coldly at Ethan, “Reflect on your behavior and don’t become as morally corrupt as Sophie.”
Ethan lowered his head.
Sophie had once been so gentle, calling him “brother” in such a kind manner. When he was injured in a car accident and hurt his legs, Sophie stayed by his side day and night.
Sophie had never been morally corrupt.
Ethan raised his head to look at Augustus.
In the previous life, his own death had also been gruesome. Isabelle had drained all his blood, cut off his head, and his corpse was eventually eaten by wild dogs in the outskirts.
Ethan pressed his lips together, ultimately saying nothing.
Even if he spoke, his father wouldn’t believe him.
Isabelle had not yet revealed her true colors. Ethan couldn’t let her know he had been reborn.
In this life, he would protect Sophie, expose Isabelle’s true nature, and eventually eliminate her.
Ethan held his head and said quietly, “I hit my head, and my mind’s a bit fuzzy. I need some rest. Please, both of you, leave.”
Relieved, Isabelle comforted him, “Ethan, get some good rest. Father and I will leave now.”
It seemed Ethan was indeed mixing her up with someone else. He still loved her.
After Augustus and Isabelle left, Ethan immediately ordered someone to carry him to Sophie’s bedroom door. He knocked lightly, waiting anxiously for Sophie to open the door.
Not long ago, Ethan had aimed a gun at Sophie’s chest, intending to end her life.
He was utterly despicable. Fortunately, Sophie was unharmed; otherwise, Ethan would never have forgiven himself.
Sophie was about to go out to buy medicine. When she opened the door and saw Ethan standing there, she frowned, “What are you doing here again? Have you figured out a new trick to kill me?”
Ethan met Sophie’s cold gaze and felt a sharp pang in his heart. His voice unconsciously softened, “Sophie, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have insulted you. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but please give me a chance to make it up to you.”
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