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Home / Rebirth Short Story / I Stole My Brother’s Destiny / Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

All Chapters of I Stole My Brother’s Destiny: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

7 Chapters

Chapter 1

There was a splash.The man walking a few steps ahead of me slipped and went straight into the water.My mind went blank, then flooded all at once. Memories from my past life crashed in, overlapping with what I was seeing now. I just stood there, staring at the same scene I had already lived through once.I had really come back to 1984, to the moment the old commander, Peter Howell, fell into the water during his inspection.My heart started pounding so hard that it felt like it might burst.I glanced toward the small patch of trees nearby. It would only take a few minutes to run there and find my brother, Joe Castro.However, I turned around without hesitation and jumped.The current wasn't strong, and the water wasn't deep.But Peter had already lost consciousness. That made everything worse.It took everything I had to drag him back to shore.Peter still wasn't waking up. I wiped the water from my face with the back of my hand, cleared his mouth and nose, and pressed dow

Chapter 2

Peter's gaze dropped to my clothes again.He hadn't looked closely before. He only noticed how thin they were.Now that he really took a good look, he saw they weren't just thin. They didn't even fit me. The sleeves were too short, the hem barely reaching where it should.His expression darkened.He had thought pretty highly of Joe, thinking the latter was young, capable, and promising. But what the hell was this?"This is ridiculous. Leaving his post is bad enough, but over a jacket? How much could that even cost? He's got money for fireworks, but not enough to get you something to wear? Come on. You're coming back with me. I've got a granddaughter about your age. You can change into something warm first. Don't catch a cold."I couldn't really refuse, so I followed him back to the compound.Once Peter's wife, Sarah Howell, heard what happened, her face softened with sympathy. She brought me a set of thick clothes and made me a steaming bowl of chicken soup.But I had been out

Chapter 3

Honestly, I didn't even know the answer to that myself.When my mother was still alive, Joe wasn't like this.He was the one who spoiled me the most. If I had asked for the moon, he probably would've tried to find a way to get it for me. Everyone knew he doted on his little sister like his life depended on it.But everything changed after our mother died.At her funeral, my father brought back a girl about my age and said she was his foster daughter.He had a long talk with Joe that day. After that, it was like Joe became a different person.He never looked at me the same again. He made me give up my room for Felicity. Even the little things he used to give me, all those random trinkets, he took them back and handed them to her.Back then, I was hurt and confused. I kept wondering what I had done wrong to deserve that kind of treatment.But after the way I died last time, beaten down by his own hands, I stopped caring.My brother who loved me was already gone.All I needed to

Chapter 4

Peter and Sarah were older, so I urged them to go home and rest. After some persuasion, I finally got them to agree.They still weren't comfortable leaving me alone, so they had Ben stay behind and told him to call right away if anything happened.I felt a little guilty. "Sorry, Ben. You already made two trips for me, and now you've got to stay and look after me, too."He shook his head, his smile easy and warm."It's nothing. My family couldn't even afford to feed all of us back then. If Commander Howell hadn't hired me as a driver, I'd probably still be hauling cargo down at the docks. I owe him everything. And you saved him. That puts me in your debt, too."With that, he picked up the empty cup from the table and went to refill it.The moment he stepped out, the door to the room was kicked open.Seeing me still lying there, Joe's expression darkened. He strode over and grabbed my clothes, yanking me up."Are you deaf? Get up! If Felicity's treatment gets delayed because of y

Chapter 5

Peter stormed in, anger written all over his face.Right behind him was Ben, who must've sensed something was wrong and rushed back to get help.The moment they saw me, both of them froze.Ben hurried over and helped me up, his voice sharp with anger."She's running a high fever, and this is how you treat her? Have you lost your mind?"Joe pressed his lips together, ignoring him completely. His eyes stayed fixed on Peter."Commander Howell, this is a family matter. We don't air this kind of thing in public. You don't need to get involved."Before, he never would've spoken to his superior like that. But now, convinced there was something between Peter and me, there was a bite to his tone.Peter didn't even hesitate. He brought his cane down hard against the back of Joe's knee."Family matter? I know exactly what's going through your head, you sick brat!"Joe winced, his leg giving out as he dropped to one knee.Felicity couldn't stay lying down anymore. She had already figure

Chapter 6

I had Ben pass a message to Joe for me.Just one line."Mom's death wasn't what it seemed."He must've started digging after that.Still, when he showed up in front of me with what he had found, it caught me off guard.Felicity really was William's child, just not in the way he had claimed.She hadn't been switched at birth. Her mother was William's first love. They ran into each other again and picked things back up.The only problem was that, by then, William was already married to my mother, and that woman had a husband of her own.Still, it didn't stop them. They carried on behind everyone's back like it was some grand romance.My mother got sick after finding out about them.William hadn't taken care of her the way he said he had. Instead, he hit her and yelled at her. He waited for her to die so he could make room for the other woman.But after my mother passed, that woman couldn't get free from her own marriage. So, William had no choice but to bring the child back fi

Chapter 7

Maybe the disgust in my voice had been too obvious.After that day, Joe never came to the hospital again.My life moved on, steady and quiet.After I was discharged, with Peter and Sarah's help, I got out of that house for good.A place that had felt more like hell than home.Once Peter's family heard that I had saved his life, they treated me like family, too.Everyone said I had gotten lucky, that I had caught Peter's eye and climbed my way up.Peter's granddaughter, Thea Howell, shut them up on the spot."If you're so great, why don't you save my grandpa's life? Who says Mae's climbing up? She's a great person. If anything, we're the lucky ones for having her join our family."Despite her standing up for me, the gossip didn't disappear. It just went quieter, more hidden.At school, people looked at me differently.On my way home, familiar faces would whisper behind my back.I knew exactly where it was coming from: the Castros.They told everyone I had turned my back on

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