“Get out of the way,” Max said coldly and flatly.
Hearing the unexpected voice, Julian looked up and raised an eyebrow. Without wasting any time, the man knelt before his little brother.
“I know that my mistakes are too big to be forgiven. It’s okay if you don’t want to. But please, just this once, listen to what I say. Go home, see Dad! He really wants to meet you.”
Instead of turning to his brother’s gaze, Max looked away and snorted. “Really inconsistent. Ten seconds ago, you begged me for forgiveness. Now, you’re asking for something else instead?”
“Because Dad’s condition is very critical, Max. I don’t want him to leave without seeing you as his son. I won’t be able to bear that regret,” Julian said with tightly clenched fists.
For the first time, Max witnessed his older brother putting his ego aside. For the first time too, the coward man managed to conquer fear. Realizing it, the younger brother didn’t know whether to be proud or ashamed.
“What are you willing to sacrifice in order to grant Herbert’s final wish?” Max asked defiantly.
“Whatever you ask, Max,” Julian said without hesitation.
Receiving the agile answer, the corners of the younger brother’s lips tilted up. “Is that true? Even if I ask for your life, are you willing to give it?”
The elder brother’s lips suddenly trembled without a word. Having succeeded in breaking the doubts, the man nodded. “Yes, I will.”
“Then jump into the sea and never come to the surface again.”
Julian’s eyes went wide. With a quick blink, he turned toward the door. “Now?” he sighed worriedly.
“Of course. You have to prove your point,” Max said, tilting his head.
For a while, the elder brother furrowed his brows and gripped his own knees. He didn’t think her brother would be that serious.
“I-is there another way?” Julian stammered.
Getting that kind of response, Max’s laughter almost escaped. “You’re such an idiot,” he mumbled before walking over his brother’s shoulder.
“Wait a minute, Max. I would give anything but my life. But, if I die now, I won’t be able to make sure you meet Dad,” Julian coaxed as he stood up hastily.
Not listening, the younger brother continued to walk towards the main door. He didn’t care about the fast pace that followed behind. What came out of Julian’s mouth didn’t really matter to him.
“How about I hand over the company?” the elder brother persuaded, still keeping his eyebrows arched.
“I told you, I don’t want it anymore.”
“My house and all my possessions?”
Max snorted lightly. “Do you think I’ve fallen into poverty?”
Julian suddenly ruffled his hair and grimaced. It had nothing else to offer. “What about Amber?” he asked doubtfully.
“I only need one woman and already have one.”
Realizing that the last suggestion did not make sense, Julian sighed.
“So, what should I give for you want to see Dad?” the man said in a desperate tone.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
A second later, Julian clutched his head and looked around. The man hoped to find a way. Unfortunately, none of that crossed his mind. Even, until a courier in a yellow vest arrived, Julian still wore the same expression.
“Your spaghetti, Sir,” the courier said as he handed Max two packages of food.
“Thank you, Waheed.”
“You’re welcome, Sir. But, if I may ask, why do you order a portion that is not spicy? Is Mrs. Gabriella not allowed to eat spicy food anymore?” the courier inquired with a high arched brow.
Getting the attention, Max raised the corners of his lips. “It’s not for my wife,” he said while tipping Waheed.
With a confused face, the courier glanced at Julian. A second later, his mouth rounded. “Oh, I understand. It’s definitely for your brother. Hello, Sir. I am Waheed, the number one courier on the island.”
In an instant, the atmosphere froze. With a stiff smile, Max tried to break the tension. “Why do you think that? He’s not my brother.”
“But you look alike, Sir. It’s just that you’re a little more manly,” Waheed said, whispering at the end of the sentence. “Well then, enjoy the meal. I have to continue working.”
After the courier left, the awkwardness grew thicker. Unable to handle the situation, Max sighed faintly and handed a box to his brother. Then, without saying a word, he went inside.
Receiving a gift from his brother, Julian’s red eyes trembled again. With furrowed brows, he tried to understand the situation.
“This is for me?” the elder brother sighed in disbelief.
As soon as he gathered the common sense, the man came in, following his younger brother sitting at the dining room. “You bought this for me?” Julian asked in a hanging tone.
“Don’t take it wrong. Gabriella asked me to feed you. She doesn’t want her husband to let other people starve,” Max mumbled as he grabbed a fork and started stirring the spaghetti.
Hearing such an answer, the elder brother’s heart became gloomy. In an instant, his chin twitched again. “Then, why did you buy the non-spicy one?” the man sighed, realizing that Max was still thinking of him.
“I don’t want my toilet to be clogged because of your weak stomach. Now, don’t be noisy! You make my appetite go away.”
Wiping his wet face again, Julian sat across the table. After picking up the fork, he started stuffing his mouth with the spiced noodles.
Seeing his brother eating while sobbing, Max furrowed his brows. Shaking his head in disbelief, he muttered to himself, “What a shame. How can I have this kind of brother?”
***
“What do you think they are doing?” Gabriella asked as she stepped on the wooden bridge leading to her house.
“I don’t know, Madam. I hope, they have had a heart-to-heart talk,” the secretary replied with slightly furrowed brows. After a few steps, the girl turned to the woman beside her. “Madam, may I ask you something?”
Gabriella’s eyebrows lifted lightly. “What’s wrong, Mia?”
“Mr. Julian has made your husband suffer. He has also slandered you. Don’t you hate him?”
At the unexpected question, the woman’s steps slowed down. Shortly after, she stopped. Her brain needed more energy to think.
“I hate him,” Gabriella said after finding the answer.
“Then why do you help me change Mr. Max’s mind?”
The corner of the woman’s lips suddenly stiffened. “Because I don’t want Max to get caught up in disappointment or regret. They’re brothers, Mia. And Herbert is his father. No matter how bad they treat Max, we can’t deny that they are family.”
A second later, Gabriella resumed walking while examining her footsteps. After a while, contemplation moved her tongue again.
“I used to live alone. It was very quiet. If they could mend the relationship, Max’s life would be fuller. He won’t be alone, like I once did.”
“So, you have also forgiven Mr. Herbert?”
The woman’s smile automatically turned sour. “No, I will never forgive him. He has killed his own grandson.”
Hearing the contradictory answer, the secretary shook her head. Knowing the confusion, Gabriella looked up and let out a breath.
“This is indeed difficult to understand. I am angry and really hate them. I even once expected something bad to happen to those bad guys. But, on the other hand, I don’t want Max to lose his family. So, I can only hope for peace and pray that they will not interfere with our lives again.”
Seeing the deeper wrinkles on Mia’s forehead, Gabriella let out a laugh. “Well, stop thinking about it. Actually, until this moment, I also don’t understand my own heart. Now, let’s check the house. I hope, no heavy work awaits us.”
While letting go of the unsatisfactory answer, Mia walked along with Gabriella. The secretary was curious too about what had happened to Julian. Had his boss managed to melt his brother’s heart or was he still on knees to fear?