Chapter 184 I Have a Sister Now

Chapter 184 I Have a Sister Now
Jacob's POV

I ran my fingers over this worn album, touching a photo—Aaron's chubby cheeks beaming with a smile, looking exactly like Luke as a child. My throat tightened as decades of guilt and helplessness weighed heavily on my heart.

My voice came out hoarse. "I know this was wrong—dead wrong. But our family was already shattered—Luke had lost his leg, lost his mother, and was barely hanging onto life... I was completely powerless then, couldn't fix anything."

I looked up at Jane, her face pale, eyes filled with shock and grief.

A wave of intense regret washed over me as I slowly shook my head, my voice cracking. "I'm sorry, Jane. I'm so sorry. We never meant to hurt you or Thomas... but we were desperate then, and we made this terrible mistake."

Jane opened her mouth but couldn't speak. Her eyes were red-rimmed, tears pooling, and I could see the confusion and heartbreak churning beneath—anyone would be lost when the truth they'd believed their whole life suddenly crumbled.

David's arm tightened around her waist, pulling her close protectively as he looked at me with steady eyes, silently urging me to continue.

David spoke first, his tone calm but puzzled. "But in the photo, Luke is standing. I thought he... couldn't walk anymore."

I sighed heavily, that memory stabbing at my heart like a needle. "He couldn't walk—those were prosthetics."

Remembering how Luke looked then, I managed a bitter smile. "He told me he couldn't even stand steady, that he wasn't worthy of Sarah. But Sarah always said she wanted photos, wanted to capture those beautiful moments forever. So we pooled all our savings and found a doctor to fit him with prosthetics. When he stood up again after all those years? He smiled like a kid opening Christmas presents, spinning Sarah around and around. They were both stumbling, but laughing with pure joy."

My eyes grew moist as I turned to the next page. The photo showed them clearly—Luke holding Sarah tight, his face lit with carefree laughter, the brightest expression I'd seen since his accident.

Sarah nestled in his arms, her eyes gentle and bright, radiating pure happiness as if she'd finally found her missing half. I gently traced the photo's edge, my fingertip following Luke's smile.

Jane drew a soft breath beside me. I glanced at her and saw her eyes brighten with tears finally spilling down her cheeks. She said nothing, but I could see the dawning understanding in her eyes—how much Sarah loved Luke, how much they'd both suffered, how much hidden heartache lay within this tangled fate.

My knuckles went white gripping the album, trembling from the strain, my voice filled with desperate anguish. "But the good times didn't last long... Sarah was killed in action during a mission."

The words seemed to drain all my strength as I gasped for air, tears flooding out again. "Luke had been battling depression and pain his whole life, and after Sarah died, he completely broke down. Not long after, he... he took his own life."

I buried my head, my aged shoulders shaking violently, my voice carrying endless regret and self-blame. "I'm sorry, Jane. I know we're deeply guilty, that we ruined your life and Thomas's too. I didn't dare die in the first half of my life because Luke's mother's killer was still out there—I couldn't let them leave with that injustice unresolved, couldn't add another regret to Luke and Sarah's story..."

Before I could finish, Jane's voice interrupted. She looked at me, her eyes full of bitterness and brokenness, tears streaming down her face as she asked hoarsely, "What about Aaron? Is he still alive? Where is he?"

Hearing Aaron's name, I felt my last bit of strength drain away. I sighed heavily, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Two years ago... he finally found the killer."

My throat choked up, each word carrying blood and tears. "The killer was our old business rival who held a grudge from years of commercial competition and murdered Luke's mother out of spite. When Aaron found him, they fought, and he was trying to avenge his grandmother. In the end... in the end, they both died together."

A lifetime of accumulated grief and despair exploded in that moment. I completely lost control, collapsing to the ground in broken sobs, my cries hoarse and piercing like a dying animal's wail. Years of suppression, guilt, and loneliness poured out with my tears.

I cried for what felt like forever until my voice gave out, then barely lifted my head to look at Jane through my tears, lips trembling. "I'm sorry... I... I'm so sorry to your family..."

"Don't apologize!" Jane suddenly cried out, her voice heart-wrenching, tears falling like broken pearls. "This isn't your fault, and it wasn't Aaron's fault either..."

I knew she was just trying to comfort me, but tears kept streaming down my face. "Actually... Aaron always knew about you."

My voice caught with emotion, remembering that thoughtful child made my heart ache more. "He used to secretly go see you, and he'd come back grinning like a fool, telling me 'Grandpa, I have a sister now, I'm someone who has a sister too.' But he didn't dare meet you—he was afraid of disrupting your life, more afraid you'd hate him. I didn't dare either. I couldn't even look at your photos—we owed you too much, we had no right to appear in your life."

Jane covered her mouth, choking so hard she couldn't speak, tears like a bursting dam soaking her clothes.

I sniffled and continued, my voice full of heartache for Aaron. "Aaron was always such a kind, understanding child. I just wanted to take good care of him, let him live out his days in peace, didn't want him carrying all that hatred."

"But later he found Luke's diary and learned about his grandmother's murder and how his father spent his whole life searching for the killer. From then on, finding the killer became his mission—he said he couldn't let his father and grandmother die with unrest."

With trembling hands, I pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from the album's inner pocket—Aaron's final words. The paper had yellowed with age, but I'd treasured it all these years.

I carefully unfolded it and handed it to Jane, my voice shaking uncontrollably. "This is his last message... he actually predicted he might not survive and specifically wrote you a few words."

Jane tremblingly took the note, her gaze falling on the handwriting as tears blurred her vision—

I'm sorry, Jane. My father's obsession back then forced you to endure so many bitter days in a loveless home, and I have no excuses. If someday you could set foot in this place that holds all our regrets, I wish I could tell you in person—I'm sorry.

I owe you far too much, from the time you didn't know I existed to when you bore the coldness of family alone. I didn't dare offer even a greeting, much less make amends. But I really wanted, so badly wanted, to call you sister.

Sister, this feud spanning two generations should end with me. I'll die to seek justice for Grandmother and Father, and die to atone to you. You don't need to forgive us, don't need to forgive this family that caused you so much pain. I chose this path myself. I'll carry all the sins and walk willingly into hell, only asking that your future days be free from this pain, that you live well.

The moment she finished reading, Jane completely lost control, letting out a heart-wrenching cry as she collapsed into David's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.