"All you ever do is find ways to take my money!"


    M couldn''t stand to listen any longer and tried to shake him off.


    Hugo, although a bit timid around strangers, feared Charlotte''s disappointed gaze and harsh words even more. There was no way he was leaving empty-handed.


    "Sis, I was wrongst time, I shouldn''t have pushed you. But didn''t you also hit me on the head? So we''re even now!"


    He pointed to his head, still wrapped in bandages, shouting defiantly.


    M couldn''t help butugh at his audacity. "How much strength do you think I have? Come on, let me take a look."


    She reached out to pull at Hugo''s bandages, but he dodged, retreating towards the bed where a child was sitting.


    The child instinctively shrank back.


    "Stop right there!" M''s voice was sharp.


    Years of authority and memory made Hugo involuntarily freeze in his tracks. "Get over here!"


    She called him to a corner away from the child and motioned for Eugene tofort the little one. With a steely gaze, she fixed her eyes on Hugo.


    Hugo avoided her eyes and mumbled, "Sis, it''s about the dowry money again. Just help me out this one time. I know ten thousand dors is a bit much, but you and your husband aren''t strapped for cash. I''m your brother, after all. I''ll pay you back when I make some money."


    "Not a chance," M replied coldly.


    Expect Hugo to make money and pay her back? She might as well expect pigs to fly!


    Asking for money in front of others only to be rejected left Hugo flushed with embarrassment.


    He grew desperate, "Sis! Just help me this once. Charlotte is already pregnant with my child. Once we''re married, I promise I won''t bother you again."


    M was at a loss for words dealing with this fool blinded by love.


    Unmoved, she retorted, "When have you ever kept your word with me?"


    "And nevere again?"


    "You''re already a ck hole swallowing everything, and now you want to marry someone like that? How could that possibly end well?"


    "If you dare toe looking for me again, I''ll assume you''re asking for a beating!" She mmed her hand on the table, causing the fruit knife on it to tremble.


    Hugo instinctively stepped back, but the thought of Charlotte''s tearful face made him grit his teeth and persist, "Sis, consider it a favor."


    "If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t have escaped from home, gone to college, or met your wealthy, wonderful husband. You owe your good fortune to me. Without me, would you have what you do today?"


    "Consider it repaying a debt..."


    Before he could finish, a fruit knife flew past his face, its de grazing his cheek with chilling proximity, leaving him frozen and pale.


    M clenched her fist, restraining a low growl, "Get out!"


    Why did she run away back then?


    Because those so-called family members wanted to sell her off to some wealthy middle-aged man right after she graduated high school and got epted into Northpoint University. All to secure Hugo''s future, ensuring he''d be well-supported and carefree.


    He was one of the sources of her youthful torment and had no right to speak such words!


    Back then, thanks to a moment of softness from Hugo, her escape had been smoother. At the time, she didn''t resent him as much, ming her parents for their bias, believing her brother still had some decency.


    After graduating and finding sess, she helped Hugo on several asions, turning a blind eye to his constant demands for money, offering only a few scolding words.


    But Hugo had finally exhausted what little affection remained between them. "Don''t ever let me see you again."


    M''s face was emotionless, her eyes brimming with suppressed hatred and deep-seated disgust, yet her tone remained eerily calm.


    "My patience with you ispletely gone, Hugo."