My Brother, My Wife, and Their Son

A buzzing sound filled my ears, and my vision went dark. I steadied myself against the edge of the table so I wouldn't fall to the ground. Then, I stared fixedly at the seven-year-old boy in Tabitha Palmer's arms.

He was two years older than my daughter, Arlene Wilder, which meant Tabitha had already betrayed me a long time ago.

"Adam, don't hold it against Tabitha. Your mom and I decided together not to tell you," my father, Ivan Wilder, said from where he sat on the couch. His voice was calm, but it cut through me like a knife.

"Do you remember why I postponed the wedding back then?" Tabitha asked airily. "It's because I found out I was pregnant, and I couldn't possibly get married while pregnant. So, I used business trips abroad as an excuse.

"I gave birth to my son, Clarence Wilder, overseas. By birth order, Clarence is Arlene's elder brother."

Arlene clutched my sleeve tightly and looked up at me innocently.

"Daddy, am I going to have a brother?"

I snapped back to my senses and forced out a bitter smile. Then, I gently pressed both hands over Arlene's ears.

After taking a deep breath, I looked at the four people in front of me and asked, "Why did you choose today to tell me?"

My mother, Agnes Osborne, looked embarrassed.

"Adam, we didn't want to do this either. But Clarence is already grown now—we can't just keep him away forever."

Before I could speak, my younger brother, Glen Wilder, dropped to his knees in front of me with a thud.

"Adam, if you're going to blame anyone, blame me. Tabitha and I had both had too much to drink back then. She mistook me for you, and that's why… I know it's my fault, but Clarence is innocent. He was born premature and has always been in poor health. All he wanted was to see Tabitha."

As Glen spoke, he kept groveling at my feet.

Numbness spread through my hands as they hung at my sides. I let out a cold laugh and asked, "Glen, have you no shame?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Glen's face, then his eyes went red at once.

The next second, Dad slammed his glass hard onto the table, sending shards of glass shattering everywhere.

"That's enough! Is that any way to talk about your own brother?"

Mom hurriedly pulled Glen up, then looked at me with displeasure.

"What's done is done. We sent Glen abroad for seven years, and he's spent all that time atoning for it. What more do you want?"

As I took in the sight of Mom and Dad protecting Glen, my eyes stung with a bitter ache. I tightened my grip on Arlene's little hand.

"What about Arlene? Where does that leave us?"

Tabitha was stunned for a moment, as if she had only just remembered she still had a daughter.

Even though Arlene was still young, she could sense the tension in the air. She timidly tugged at Tabitha's hand and called out softly, "Mommy."

When Clarence saw this, he reached out and slapped Arlene's hand away. Then, he glared at her viciously.

"This is my mommy! You've had her all to yourself for all these—give her back to me!"

The slap landed with a crisp crack, instantly reddening the back of Arlene's hand. She burst into loud sobs and started grappling with Clarence.

Clarence clutched his chest and gasped for breath. This sent Tabitha, Mom, and Dad all into a panic.

Tabitha strode forward and shoved Arlene away.

Arlene fell to the ground, dazed, as if she never expected the mother who had always doted on her to push her.

I frantically scooped her up, only to find her palm was a bloody mess. The shards of glass still scattered on the floor had cut deep into Arlene's palm.

Off to the side, Mom continued her tirade of criticism.

"Arlene is being completely unreasonable! Clarence has a congenital heart disease—what if something happens to him?"

Glen tenderly held Clarence's hand, his eyes glistening with tears. He then turned his head and glared at me.

"Adam, you've gone too far. I know I've wronged you, but that doesn't mean you can just let Arlene beat up Clarence!"

A chill spread through my heart.

Blood continued to ooze from Arlene's palm, yet not a single soul paid it any mind.

Tabitha never once spared me a single glance through it all.

She picked Clarence up and said, "Let's get to the hospital first. I'm worried that Clarence's heart condition will flare up again."

They rushed off in a flurry, leaving only me and Arlene at home.

"Daddy, do Grandpa and Grandma not like me anymore?"

Arlene's words brought a sharp sting to my nose.

Mom and Dad once doted on Arlene like a little princess. In fact, even the slightest bump or scrape would cause them unbearable heartache. But now, all they had eyes for was Clarence.