Chapter 23: Don’t come to me
Karla’s voice reverberated, a tempest unleashed as she confronted Conrad with burning intensity.
Her origins were humble, hailing from the rustic countryside with a family of meager means. A stroke of fortune led her to college, where she crossed paths with Conrad. Conrad, the embodiment of affluence and charm, a beacon of opulence. Karla pursued him relentlessly, orchestrating strategic “chance” encounters, delving into his passions, and allowing affection to bloom. Their intimacy grew, an illusion of camaraderie blossoming into love’s embrace.
Yet fate dealt a cruel hand, thrusting Conrad into a fiery ordeal, forever altering his visage in a single night. From a campus heartthrob, he emerged a disfigured figure, his past allure diminished.
But for Conrad’s Watson lineage and his gentle demeanor, Karla might have abandoned him in his altered state long ago.
In this charged moment, Julia entered the scene.
need for decisions, don’t underestimate my brother’s intelligence. When he shone brightly, you were meek and tender. Now that he faces adversity, your words turn bitter and mocking. Is your love genuine?” Julia’s words were like daggers, slicing through the tension.
Karla began to protest, but Julia’s unyielding voice continued, unperturbed. “Don’t claim love; it’s the Watson family’s title that captivates you. You’re a snob, nothing more.”
Karla’s face reddened, her anger uncontainable.
Julia remained relentless. “You protest, yet know this: my brother won’t return to the Watson fold. His title as the eldest heir is history. Should you continue by his side, expect a life of hardship. No more designer bags or lavish clothing. If you stay, you’ll be a partner in our family’s struggles. Marriage would demand mutual contribution, including homemaking chores.”
As Julia spoke, Karla’s expression shifted like colors in a storm, betraying herinner turmoil.
“Brother,” Julia turned to Conrad, her younger sister’s gaze seeking his.
The choice was his to make; after years of engagement with Karla, it was Conrad’s
-heart that would decide.
Karla had seen Conrad’s external conditions, but his commitment ran deep. What began as companionship evolved into a genuine bond, a marriage agreement that was more than just words.
After a brief struggle, Conrad met Karla’s gaze with solemnity. “If breaking up is your desire, then let it be so.”
Karla stared, disbelief etched across her features. Conrad’s decision was far from her expectations.
She, a radiant bloom, and he, an altered form. She hadn’t abandoned him out of kindness, yet he met her decision with grace, relinquishing the ties that bound them. Shouldn’t he have begged for mercy, knelt at her feet?
“Conrad, do you truly wish to end this?” Karla’s voice quivered, her heart gripped by an unexpected sensation.
Conrad’s sigh lingered in the air, his gaze steady upon Karla. “I won’t return to the Watson domain, as Julia stated. I choose to start anew. Will you share this journey of hardships?”
Start from scratch? The idea seemed ludicrous, her beauty a testament to her rightful claim to an easier path.
“Very well, let it be a breakup then,” she responded, her voice a blend of resignation and defiance.
Karla’s actions held a theatrical edge, a dramatic flourish as she unclasped the token of their entwined past and hurled it at Conrad. The ring soared through the air before landing with a telltale thud upon his person. Her departure was punctuated with a pause, her back turned but her resolve palpable.
“Conrad,” her voice sliced through the air like a sharpened blade, teeth clenched in bitter determination. “You’ll rue this, mark my words. Even on bended knee, my heart! won’t yield to your pleas.”
The weight of her harsh words eased a suffocating tension, granting her a fleeting breath. Julia, an observer of the showdown, held her gaze coldly, an icy specter hovering nearby. Her words cut through the room like an arctic wind, foreshadowing the revenge she foresaw.
“Karla’s bitterness was a necessary exhale, lest she suffocate on her bitterness,” Julia mused, her gaze following the departing figure.
Julia’s eyes held a calculated chill. “You’ve been repaid in kind for my brother’s sufferings. In time, should he rise to heights unimaginable, even if you crawl before him, your pleas will fall on deaf ears.”
A defiant retort echoed as the door slammed, a discordant symphony of her exit. “Such a lack of decorum within these hospital walls. One might think she’s forgotten. the plight of other patients,” Julia remarked with a nonchalant shrug.
Her brother’s resolve, however, was unwavering. “Rest assured, Julia, your expectations shall not be dashed. I’ll rise anew from this ordeal, fashioning a prosperous life for you.”
A citrus offering exchanged hands, a silent symbol of belief. Julia extended an orange to her determined brother, a token of confidence.
“I have faith in your abilities,” she affirmed.
Conrad’s history of dedication to family and work validated her trust.
“In fact, brother, what do you intend to do now?”
His reply was steady, marked by a fervent determination. “We shall embark on a business venture, yet the coffers…”
Conrad’s vexation was evident; his financial quandary a palpable concern with only a mere pittance to his name.
“Fret not, for I shall address the capital dilemma,” Julia reassured.
“Julia, you-”
From her bag emerged an enigmatic black card, handed to Conrad. A revelation that left his mind reeling, a cascade of emotions jostling for prominence.
“Stay calm, dear brother. This card is no purloined treasure, but a gift from my revered
mentor
Conrad grappled with his disbelief, his mental gears grinding to a halt.
Minutes ticked by before coherence returned to him. “Is… is this card authentic?”
Julia’s smile held a certain knowing grace. “My mentor is an esteemed healer, a paragon of virtuous intent. Trust that her gift holds true value.”
Skepticism concerning Julia’s apprenticeship dissolved in the face of the card’s authenticity.
“It is an offering from my mentor’s hand, suitable for our use.”
Conrad’s reservations were gently soothed by Julia’s persuasive tones.
“If guilt gnaws at you, consider it a temporary loan. Return it once our endeavor flourishes and funds abound,” she suggested.
With reluctance, Conrad relented, swayed by Julia’s words.
Starting anew sans capital presented a daunting challenge. Conrad’s grit would sustain him, yet he refused to subject his sister to such hardships.
He aspired to become her stalwart guardian, a towering tree beneath which she could find refuge.
“You’re right,” Conrad acquiesced, his grip firm on the card. “This card shall bolster our ambitions.”
Julia’s eyes lit with pride as her brother’s resolution solidified.
“Before we embark, let me unveil your progress,” she interjected, delicately unwrapping the gauze that obscured Conrad’s countenance.
Gently, layer by layer, the bandages fell away, revealing a transformation Julia had anticipated. The mirror, a truth–bearing oracle, awaited Conrad’s gaze.
With measured trepidation, Conrad met his reflection, and in its revelation, he
glimpsed the promise of a rekindled life.
