"You still remember you''re neen, huh?"


    "Like I''d ever want custody of my own kids, let alone want you, Lysander''s little brother?!"


    The mention of "little brother" felt bizarre, like a relic of a lost family hierarchy. M was at a loss for words, her mind going nk for a moment.


    Suddenly, she remembered what Leonard had saidst night—


    "Ma''am, it''s best if you keep your distance from Mr. Eugene. He''s not right in the head, might identally hurt you."


    Whether he''d cause harm was uncertain, but his mind was certainly something else!


    No wonder he''s Lysander''s brother... the Montgomery family truly had a knack for producing extraordinary individuals, far beyond the reach of ordinary people like her.


    ...


    M was contemting how to respond when she heard a violent coughing fit on the other end of the line. It was so intense that her heart skipped a beat.


    "What''s wrong with you, Eugene?"


    "...I''m fine," came the weak voice of the young man. "Just thirsty, and when I tried to drink some water, the surgical wound suddenly hurt, so..."


    He could barely finish before he started gasping for air, the coughsing in


    waves.


    M quickly urged him to call a doctor, and he agreed, then added, "Sister-inw, could youe see me? I''m all alone in the hospital and feel so lonely."


    M hesitated for only a moment before the coughing resumed, softening her resolve. Worried he might really be in trouble, she promised to visit after work. "Thank you, sister-inw. You''re the only one who treats me well."


    M sighed, "Please stop calling me sister-inw, I..."


    "I understand," he cut in promptly. "Sister! I''ll wait for you at the hospital."


    Before M could say more, the line went dead.


    M: "..."


    Was this habit of abruptly hanging up a Montgomery family tradition?


    Moreover, why did she feel like she was being yed?


    ...


    Nevertheless, she''d made a promise to Eugene.


    Once her work was wrapped up, she left the office right on time that evening, heading straight for Metropolitan Hospital.


    Knowing hospital food was nothing to rave about, M arranged for a hotel to prepare dinner, including a light soup for Eugene, nning to keep himpany for a meal before leaving.


    However, upon arriving and opening the hospital room door, she was momentarily stunned.


    Inside, Lysander was seated by the bed, engaged in conversation with Eugene, whoseplexion didn''t look great.


    Both turned to look at her as she entered.


    Eugene''s face lit up with a smile upon seeing her, his handsome and deep-set features brightening despite his illness, "Sister, you made it."


    See, someone dide to visit you!


    M took a deep breath. Since she was already there, she brought the food inside and began setting it out.


    Lysander watched her without any visible expression, but at Eugene''s words, his brow furrowed.


    He fixed Eugene with a stern gaze. "She''s your sister-inw."


    Eugene smiled, "You''re my brother; what''s wrong with me calling her sister?"


    Lysander''s brow knitted tighter, ready to argue, but Eugene continued, "Besides, she told me to call her that."


    An ufortable silence settled over the room.


    M wasn''t sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt a chill run down her spine.


    Before she could finish setting the table, her arm was gripped tightly, and she was pulled abruptly out of the room.


    Left half-leaning against the hospital bed, Eugene''s sickly face lost all traces of its earlier smile.


    His unnaturally dark eyes fixated on the door that swung gently, his long, pale fingers clutching the sheets so tightly they wrinkled under his grip.