They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Her voice broke slightly at the end, an emotional crescendo that seemed genuine to anyone unaware of her true feelings

Somto's eyes darkened momentarily, but he schooled his expression, suppressing the sharp words threatening to escape. Instead, he spoke with controlled calm. "I'm sorry, Ebere. I was busy with something I couldn't afford to abandon at the time." His tone softened, his apology sincere. "I'll try to be there for you next time."

Ebere glanced up at him, her eyes glistening with what seemed to be tears, but a faint, satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she turned her face away.

Somto sighed inwardly, acknowledging his fault in this situation. He understood that Ebere's resentment toward Nnenna likely stemmed from his perceived favoritism.

Trying to justify his actions would only add fuel to the fire, so he opted to defuse the tension with a simple apology.

"I'm really sorry, okay?" he said, his voice laced with sincerity.

Ebere tilted her head slightly, her expression softening, but only on the surface. Deep down, she smirked, knowing that Somto had backed down to keep the peace.

She wouldn't press the issue now, doing so might ruin the sweet, caring sister persona she worked so hard to maintain. Instead, she mentally resolved to deal with Nnenna directly when the time came.

"You promise?" she asked sweetly, her voice light and innocent as if she had already forgiven him.

Somto nodded firmly, his commanding tone returning. "Go on now. Get ready quickly. We're leaving soon."

Ebere nodded obediently, her sweet smile still in place. But as she turned her back to him, the warmth faded, replaced by a cold determination. Let's go see that girl, then.

Somto's sharp eyes lingered on her retreating figure until she disappeared around the corner. Something about her demeanor felt off, like an undercurrent of malice she was trying to conceal.

He hesitated, debating whether to follow his instincts, but quickly brushed the thought aside. This was his sister, he had no reason to distrust her.

With a shrug, he turned and headed toward his youngest brother's room, still intent on gathering everyone for the visit.

He found his younger brother, the youngest child of the family, in the study, deeply immersed in solving a set of challenging questions.

The boy's focus was remarkable, his hand moving swiftly across the pages of his workbook. Seeing this, Somto hesitated to disturb him, reluctant to interrupt if this was truly important. But after a brief moment, he cleared his throat and called out gently, "Chidera, how are you?"

The thirteen year old boy looked up, his expression calm but curious. Somto studied him carefully. Despite his youth, Chidera had an undeniable air of potential. He was a bright boy, showing signs of developing into a great man someday.

Yet, as Somto stood there, he couldn't help but feel a weight in his chest. He had always tried to be a good role model for his younger brother, guiding him and setting an example.

But recent events had forced him to reevaluate his approach. He couldn't afford to be complacent anymore, not after what had happened.

His shock after hearing the news flashed in his mind, Chidera pushing their sister down the stairs during an argument. It wasn't just an accident. It was deliberate, impulsive, and reckless. The very thought made Somto's stomach churn.

The boy, barely into his teens, froze as soon as he heard that voice. A chill ran down his spine, and his hands trembled slightly, betraying his fear. 'What's he doing home already?' Panic surged through his mind. 'That girl isn't awake yet. I can't let him find out.'

His thoughts raced uncontrollably as the sound of footsteps drew closer, accompanied by a voice that was calm yet chilling in its precision. "Are you okay?"

Chidera jumped from his seat as if burned, instinctively putting a few feet of distance between himself and Somto. "I'm fine! I'm fine. Everything's great," he blurted out, his tone high pitched and defensive.

Somto raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze studying the boy carefully. Something was off, his little brother's behavior was far from his usual confident self.

He nodded slowly, but his voice carried an undertone of suspicion. "Alright. I was just wondering…" He paused deliberately before continuing, "I walked past Nnenna's room, but I couldn't find her. Do you know where she is?"

The question hit Chidera like a bolt of lightning, sparking an immediate flare of guilt and fear. For a brief second, his eyes darted away before he composed himself, though the effort was visible. "How am I supposed to know?" he snapped, his tone turning sharp and defensive. "Am I her caretaker?"

Somto let out a soft scoff, the sound sharp enough to cut through the tense air. Chidera's words echoed eerily in his mind, a chilling resemblance to Cain's infamous excuse after killing Abel in the Bible.

The similarities were too striking to ignore. Am I my sister's keeper? Somto thought bitterly, his jaw tightening. Chidera clearly knows what happened, yet he dares to deny it with such flimsy excuses.

Taking a deep breath to steady his rising frustration, Somto fixed his little brother with a steely gaze.

His tone, though measured, carried the weight of authority that left no room for argument. "Alright then," he began, his words deliberate and cutting through Chidera's fragile composure like a blade. "Here's what you're going to do."

Chidera swallowed hard, his confidence crumbling under Somto's intense scrutiny.

"You're going to get ready," Somto continued, each word landing with precision. "We're visiting her in the hospital."

Chidera's eyes widened slightly, panic flickering across his face before he could mask it. "W-what? Why?"

Somto's gaze didn't waver as he took a step closer, his voice now cold and unyielding. "Because I heard she's awake," he said, his tone sharp enough to leave no doubt that he was done playing games. "And you, little brother, have some apologizing to do."