Chapter 77 Punishing My Brother
As I look at Clair with helplessness, she blinks her eyes in assurance.
She walks over to the table and pulls out a syringe from her kit before approaching us and giving Alice a shot in her arm.
After a few seconds only, she falls unconscious in my arms.
“I’m sorry. I have no choice because she wasn’t letting me touch her. It was necessary to make her unconscious for her treatment.” Clair clarifies, and I just stare at Alice, dejected.
“I can understand. You just give her the best treatment. I can’t see her like this.” I shed silent tears, fixing my gaze on Alice.
“I can only treat her physical wounds, Alexander. She is emotionally damaged.” Her words break my heart.
“I understand, Doctor.” I reply, my voice filled with a mix of despair and determination. “But please, do whatever you can to help her. I’ll do everything in my power to heal her emotional wounds.”
Clair nods empathetically. “I’ll do my best, Alexander. It’ll be a long road to recovery, but with time and the right support, she can heal.”
As the doctor checks Alice’s wounds, I hold her close, feeling the weight of her pain and trauma. I stroke her hair, whispering words of comfort into her ear. “You’re safe now, Alice. I’m here for you, and I won’t let anyone hurt you anymore. We’ll get through this together.”
Alice clings tightly to me, seeking solace and reassurance, and her body trembles with fear. Although she is unconscious, her fear still lingers, and my heart aches for her.
I’m filled with determination to bring back the bright, cheerful Alice I know and cherish.
Clair finishes treating Alice’s physical wounds and carefully covers her with a warm blanket.
She steps back and meets my gaze with a gentle expression. “Physically, she’ll heal with time. But her emotional scars run deep. I recommend seeking professional help for her, someone specialised in trauma and healing.”
I nod, acknowledging her advice. “I’ll do everything I can to find the right help for her.”
She gives a comforting smile before gathering her equipment. “Remember, healing takes time and patience. Just be there for her, and together, you can overcome this.”
I just blink my eyes in response, Alice’s terrible condition has shattered me to the core.
She places a hand on my shoulder. “You’re doing everything you can, Alexander. Remember to take care of yourself as well. It’ll be a challenging journey, but don’t lose hope. Alice needs your strength.”
“I’ll do my best to heal my love.” I vow, my eyes glued to Alice.
“Take her somewhere else, away from the memories of the torture.” She suggested before leaving.
I stare at Alice with deep guilt and wonder.
If I had stayed with Alice instead of leaving her, she wouldn’t have endured the torment inflicted upon her by my brother in my absence. I am overwhelmed by profound remorse for considering the idea of leaving her for my cruel brother. I want to make Edward suffer more than he made Alice suffer.
A knock on the door pulls me back to earth. I take a deep breath to compose myself before speaking, “Come in.”
Mia enters the room, fidgeting with her fingers. “I have just come to check on my friend.” She stammers, afraid of me.
“Alice told me about Edward’s torture, and I’m sorry for what he did to you.” I approach her and apologise, feeling ashamed of my brother’s actions.
How could he do something so despicable and force any woman?
She gives me a slight nod in response before strolling towards Alice.
Even though I don’t want to leave Alice alone even for a moment, I have to teach my monstrous brother a lesson. I feel ashamed to even call him my sibling.
“I’ll return after dealing with Edward. Stay here until I come.” I instruct Mia before storming to his room.
As I enter his room, I find him still lying on the floor, bruised. I march towards him and startle him by kicking his stomach.
“I’ll kill you, Edward. Why did you do this with her? Why?” I lean over him and choke him by grabbing his neck.
A fleeting memory of the bond we shared flashes before my eyes-when Edward and I were close before his darkness took over. He was never been like this. It hurts so much.
As much as I despise him for what he’s done, I can’t let myself become a monster like him.
I take a deep breath before loosening my grip on his neck and stepping back. Although I won’t end his life, I will ensure he suffers the same pain Alice endured.
He coughs and struggles to catch his breath, his face battered and bruised from my blows. “I didn’t know that you loved her, Alexander.” He chokes out between laboured breaths, reigniting my anger.
“No matter what the situation was, you had no right to treat any woman in such a cruel manner, Edward.” I snap back, my voice tinged with anger and disappointment.
As Alice’s wounds flash in front of my eyes, I yank out my belt and thrash him with it, causing him to yelp.
“I’m your… brother, Alexander…”
“You lost the right to call me ‘brother’ when you became a monster, Edward.” I yell, my voice dripping with disgust. The pain Alice endured, the betrayal I feel fuels each strike of the belt.
His pleas and cries fall on deaf ears as I unleash my fury. He struggles and tries to shield himself, but I am relentless. At this moment, he’s not my family; he’s the embodiment of evil that hurt someone I love.
I lower the belt for a moment, catching my breath, and glare at him. “You will pay for the trauma you’ve inflicted on her, for the scars that will haunt her.”
He struggles to form words, his voice trembling. “Alex, please forgive me.”
My grip tightens on the belt’s handle, my knuckles white from the pressure. “I’ll never forgive you because you didn’t care about the pain you were causing, the life you were destroying.”
As I continue to strike him with the belt, he scurries out of the room to protect himself.
“We were ready to sacrifice our happiness for you. I thought you loved her. Edward, I didn’t expect this from you. I want to kill you for torturing Alice.” I chase him to the hall and thrash him, recalling my Alice’s suffering.
Everyone in the house witnesses me unleash my wrath upon my brother. I never thought that I would treat him with such cruelty. I’m hurt and angry because he ruined everything between us.
As the cops enter to arrest him, I push him on them after hurling the belt on the floor.
“Now you will rot in prison till your last breath, Edward, and I’ll make sure you suffer there every day.” I snarl as a police constable handcuffs him.
“I’m sorry-”
“Apologies won’t suffice. Take him away, out of my sight…” I thunder, causing everyone to flinch.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
As they lead him out of the mansion, his eyes meet mine for a moment, a mixture of anger, fear, and perhaps a glimmer of regret flickering in them.
I slump on the floor and howl, “Why did you do this, Edward? Why?”
I compose myself because right now Alice needs me; I need to be strong for her. The pain I feel is nothing compared to what she endured. My focus is now solely on helping her heal, both physically and emotionally.
As I return to the room, I find Mia sitting beside her, holding her hand. She looks at me with concern. “Is he…?” she trails off, her voice barely a whisper.
I nod, my expression heavy. “He won’t hurt anyone anymore.” I approach Alice’s bedside and reach out to clasp her hand, my touch gentle. “Alice, I won’t let anyone hurt you anymore. I promise.”
“She’s been through so much…” Mia whispers, staring at Alice, concerned.
“I know,” I murmur, my heart aching. Then I brush a strand of hair away from her face. “She’s strong, Mia. She’ll heal.”
Mia nods, her eyes welling up with tears. “I’m here for her too.”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help Alice find her strength and light once again. Mia, I’ll take her away from this place, away from the memories of her torture.” I tell her, fixing my sorrowful gaze on Alice.
“I’m sure it’ll help her.” She speaks before quietly stepping out of the room, leaving me alone with Alice. I sit by her side, taking her hand in mine, my eyes moist with tears.
I gaze at her with determination to heal her. I may not change the past, but I can shape her future by standing by her side and helping her rebuild the shattered pieces of her life.