Chapter 7

One month had passed, with weeks and days slipping away. The younger one always remained silent in the presence of the Elder, his so-called father, and Mrs. Alit. It wasn't fear that held him back, but rather an unfamiliarity with their company. Ederic's mother, despite taking medicine, seemed to grow weaker by the day. The medication appeared ineffective, possibly due to her frail body.

When Ederic and Aaron returned from school, she would greet them with a warm smile at the doorstep. The younger one appreciated this gesture, but Aaron did not. Nonetheless, seeing her smile every time they returned made the atmosphere feel warmer, even though Aaron tried to maintain a cold demeanor.

Ederic, being naive, failed to notice his mother's declining health. However, one couldn't blame him; he was the innocent and pure soul of the mansion, always wearing a smile, even in the face of heartbreak.

Whenever the younger one spotted Aaron at school, he would go out of his way to avoid him, which started to irritate Aaron.

AT NIGHT:

After dinner, everyone retired to their rooms. Ederic's mother took on the task of washing dishes. Once finished, she retrieved the pill bottle, hidden among various jars so that Ederic wouldn't find it. She didn't want her beloved son to worry about her.

Just as she was about to close the bottle, a noise from the kitchen startled her. The pills spilled onto the floor. Turning to the person in the kitchen, she nervously asked, "Oh, Aaron, do you need something?" He walked over, knelt down, and began picking up the pills, placing them back into the bottle, surprising her.

"You haven't been well. Why do you insist on doing all the work?" Aaron voiced his concern, revealing that he knew about her heart disease.

"It's nothing serious. I'm fine," Ederic's mom replied, smiling gently.

"Don't think I'm worried about you. Your son is too naive to handle everything on his own," Aaron's pride prevented him from fully expressing his concern. But deep down, he did worry, knowing that Ederic was too innocent to handle everything alone. He felt a sense of responsibility for his younger brother.

"My days are numbered, Aaron. Since you know about my illness, I don't want to hide anything. He's still a child and doesn't know the harsh realities of society. If I'm not around, please take care of him. I know you hate me and Ederic. We never intended to disrupt your life. We're still a hindrance to you and your mom. Please don't hate him because of me. He is innocent," she pleaded with him. Aaron was taken aback. He did harbor some resentment, but not to the extent he initially thought.

Things had changed in this one month. He refrained from bothering his little brother, even though he wanted to tease him at times. Nevertheless, his thoughts shifted to the pale woman standing before him.

"He should learn to fend for himself," Aaron said, walking away. She remained speechless; this new generation seemed to hold grudges against people for no apparent reason. Perhaps Aaron was one of those affected by the harsh realities of life.

In his room, Aaron sighed and lay down on his bed. "Both mother and son are annoying. Arghhh..." he growled, though deep down, he couldn't deny being touched by her warm smile every evening.

"Hope you get better, at least for your foolish son," he mumbled before closing his eyes, exhausted from the day. It was a tiring time for Aaron, as he was in his last year of school and had to devote more time to choosing a university. He had already aced his entrance exams, earning top ranks and invitations from numerous institutions eager to have Alit's eldest son. No one dared to speak ill of the Alit family; they wielded power, and Aaron's exceptional IQ made him a formidable presence, ruling the school with his intellect and astonishing everyone.

He, Aaron Alit was undoubtedly a unique individual from birth.

Two days had passed since Aaron last spoke to Ederic's mom. Whenever they crossed paths, he purposefully avoided her, not wanting to engage with her at all.

"Ed, why don't you go to your Hyung's room and play with him? You're always staying in your room," Mrs. Alit expressed concern for the little one. Ederic hesitated for a moment, not wanting to upset his brother.

"It's... it's okay... I'm fine being alone," Ederic replied, before quickly running away from the situation. His heart pounded heavily in his chest. He hadn't done anything to Aaron, yet his brother seemed to harbor resentment towards him. Ederic desperately wished for Aaron's affection and admiration, but it seemed like an unattainable dream.

He knew all too well about Aaron's temper; the elder often lost his cool over trivial matters. The mixed feelings of yearning for his brother's love and fearing his temper caused him pain. Unbeknownst to him, his own feelings towards Aaron had changed.

Curiosity got the better of him, and Ederic decided to visit Aaron's room after Mrs. Alit mentioned it. As he approached the door, he saw it open, revealing Aaron standing inside.

"Hyung," Ederic called out nervously.

"What are you doing here?" Aaron asked bluntly, causing Ederic to tremble. He didn't understand why Aaron was angry with him; all he wanted was his brother's affection.

"I... Mrs. Alit told me to play with you..." Ederic stammered, unable to call Mrs. Alit "eomma" yet, finding it difficult to address her that way.

"Mrs. Alit..." Aaron sneered, leaving Ederic shivering in response to his cold nature. How could someone be so cold, especially when faced with the innocence and vulnerability of a younger sibling? Aaron moved aside to allow Ederic to enter, not because of his brother, but because Mrs. Alit was watching nearby. Though annoyed, Aaron at least allowed the younger one into his room.

As soon as the door closed behind Ederic, Aaron's demeanor changed, becoming stern and cold.

"You want to grab attention? Well, congratulations, you won," Aaron's words pierced Ederic's heart. How could his brother speak to him in such a hurtful manner? Ederic had been happy when Aaron let him in, but now he felt like a burden.

"It wasn't like that, Hyung," Ederic's voice wobbled. In response, Aaron slammed him against the wall, trapping him in a vulnerable position.

"Hyung," Ederic's eyes filled with silvery tears, his heart breaking into pieces.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Hyung. I won't disturb you in the future," he broke down into tears, which only seemed to annoy Aaron further. The elder one dragged Ederic to a corner of the room, which Aaron used as a storage area, and locked him inside. The room lacked light and proper ventilation.

"Hyung, please open the door. I'm scared, it's dark in here," Ederic pleaded, knocking on the door continuously, his whimpering echoing inside.

"Reflect on yourself in that room. How weak... You're not fit to be an Alit," Aaron coldly uttered, plugging his earphones in to block out Ederic's cries. He started listening to his favorite song, drowning out the younger one's voice.

After some time, Aaron went downstairs for dinner, leaving Ederic alone in the dark room.

"Where is Ed, Aaron?" Mrs. Alit inquired.

"He said he didn't want to eat dinner, Mom. Don't bother me about him," Aaron's voice sounded irritated. Mrs. Alit was suspicious but refrained from saying anything.

"This kid doesn't know how to take care of himself," Mr. Alit sighed. Ederic's mom remained silent, sensing that something was amiss.

Thanks to the mansion's solid construction, Ederic's screams couldn't be heard from the outside. After finishing dinner, Aaron returned to his room. Silence now filled the room, but Ederic's whimpering still reached Aaron's ears. He put aside everything and slipped under the blanket, feeling disgusted with himself for bullying his vulnerable brother. Nevertheless, every time he saw Ederic, annoyance still managed to creep up inside him.