Chapter 18
A stern–faced doctor was explaining Calvin’s condition to Nettie, who stood before him looking distracted
“Calvin suffered a mild concussion and has a fractured left leg. He’ll need at least a month of rest and recovery…”
But Nettie clearly wasn’t listening. Her eyes were glazed over, her mind elsewhere.X
“Miss Beaumont? Miss Beaumont?” The doctor had to call her name several times before she snapped back to reality, forcing a polite, knowing smile.
Once the doctor left, Nettie’s gaze drifted to the hospital bed behind the gloss.
What a shame. He actually survived.
Then a thought crossed her mind–letting Calvin die in that crash would’ve been letting him off too easily.!
She quickly summoned the dormant system in her mind. “System, I need to confirm something. If I want to send someone who’s hurt me straight to hell, does it have to mean their death?!
her revenge would be
The system responded right away, assuring her that so long as those who wronged her paid a fitting price, her complete.B
faint smile tugged at Nettie’s lips. Suddenly, she knew exactly how she wanted to make them pay. That evening, Calvin finally woke up to find Nettie fast asleep, her head resting on the edge of his bed. For a moment, Calvin’s gaze softened; it was as if he was looking at the Nettie from so many years ago. He remembered being hospitalized as a child–sick and lonely. Nettie had been so young then, easily exhausted by the long hours. Their parents would take her home in the evening, promising she could visit again in the morning. But Nettie, over the stubbom little sister, would always sneak back in with the help of the butler, curling up beside his bed and falling asleep there.
Every time Calvin woke and saw her sleeping by his side, his heart would fill with warmth–just like it did now.
Struggling to sit up, Calvin gently lifted Nettie and placed her on the nearby cot for visitors, tucking her in with care, Before he left the room, he brushed a hand lightly across her forehead, as if to chase away her nightmares and wish her sweet dreams, just as he used to when they were children
But Calvin didn’t notice what happened after he closed his eyes–a moment later, Nettie’s eyes snapped open. She wiped away the lingering warmth from her forehead with a look of disgust.”
For the next several days, Nettie remained at the hospital, dutifully caring for Calvin.
In front of others, she played the part of the devoted, thoughtful little sister–the perfect image of sibling affection. But when no one was looking, she watched over Calvin’s sleeping form in silence, her mind racing with ideas for revenge.
Unfortunately, Calvin’s bodyguards kept a vigilant watch on them around the clock. Nettie never found an opportunity to act before Calvin was discharged from the hospital.
Not long after he got home, Calvin’s birthday arrived.
Before she turned fourteen, Nettie had always gone out of her way to pick the perfect birthday gift for Calvin. He’d treasured each one, responding with genuine delight. But after Charis entered their lives, everything changed. No matter how precious or thoughtful Nettie’s gifts were, Calvin would set them aside without a second glance, while even the cheapest trinket from Charis seemed to become instantly cherished.
After that, Nettie stopped putting any real effort into
into Calvin’s gifts.
This year, though, Calvin seemed to be hinting that he wanted one of her special presents again–perhaps he was feeling nostalgic for the past.
Nettie hadn’t planned to get him anything at all, or maybe just something generic. But then, walking past a boutique one afternoon, she spotted an unusual aromatherapy candle that caught her eye.
So when Calvin asked again, fishing for clues about his gift, Nettie flashed him a sweet smile. “Don’t worry, big brother. I’ve picked out something truly special for you this year.
“I just hope you won’t mind what it is “R
