"It's time to prepare some shares for Noah's coming-of-age ceremony. After all, he's our biological son."
"The Medina family's been pushing hard in the market lately. A marriage alliance would stabilize things. Luckily, their daughter doesn't seem opposed to meeting him. Let's see which of the boys' fate favors..."
In the dark hallway, Felix's fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white.
A vicious smile flickered across Felix's face—the kind that only appeared when he'd made up his mind to do something unspeakable.
Over the next two years, both he and Sheila seemed to turn over a new leaf.
They stopped provoking us.
They even began to act friendly.
Sheila often chatted warmly with my brother, saying that once he got into university, she'd personally teach him how to manage the family's business.
Felix became the picture of a dutiful younger brother—obedient, polite, full of flattery.
On our eighteenth birthday, they were especially sweet. Gifts, blessings, smiles that seemed almost genuine.
Just before the banquet began, Felix suggested taking us to the mountaintop to see a "surprise fireworks show" they'd prepared just for us.