Chapter 18
From Matthew's Perspective:
Late at night, I closed the last document on my desk and let out a long breath, leaning back wearily.
I glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already 11:30 PM.
But somehow, even though my whole body ached and I was exhausted, I didn't feel sleepy at all. My mind was full of that phone call from the property manager.
"Mr. Brown, regarding your apartment at Emerald Crest Residences, Building 8, Unit 701, is someone living there?"
"My friend is staying there now. Is something wrong?"
"Well, there's a group of people banging on the door right now. We're not sure what's going on, so we wanted to check with you."
My first thought was that William was causing trouble again.
Sure enough, the property manager's description confirmed my guess.
I had no idea how William found out, but he'd tracked down Layla's current address and brought people to break down the door.
That bastard William, after spending these years hanging out with his bad friends, he now dared to ignore even basic laws.
I couldn't get involved directly, and I figured Layla probably didn't want William to know I was helping her behind the scenes.
So I lied and said I was out of town, and had the property manager take people to chase William and his group away.
The security at Emerald Crest Residences was among the best in the country - every guard was a military veteran, so I wasn't worried about Layla's safety.
What I was worried about was William!
When William was little, he always liked to follow me around, constantly saying things like "When I grow up, I want to be like you, Matthew."
Back then, William was really adorable, well-behaved, and sensible.
Even though I resented our mother countless times for favoring him and treating me like I was invisible, I still couldn't bring myself to hate him.
Later, as we grew up, we each had our own secrets and life plans.
I studied hard and got into a top university at sixteen. During the years I was away, William, under our mother's spoiling and his bad friends' influence, gradually went off track.
While I was abroad, I often heard from relatives and friends about the terrible things William was doing.
Like how William hung out with street thugs, started sleeping with women right after turning fifteen, and constantly hung around nightclubs and bars.
Then a woman named Layla appeared, and William started to change for the better. He focused on his studies and gradually distanced himself from those good-for-nothing rich kids.
I thought William had turned over a new leaf and found direction in life.
Unfortunately, a leopard couldn't change its spots. Just three years into his marriage with Layla, his true colors showed.
With mixed feelings, I looked at the family photo from William's wedding on my desk, unable to take my eyes off Layla with her bright smile and sunny presence.
I had to admit, Layla three years ago was truly beautiful.
She was like a fairy who had fallen to earth, radiating a fresh, sunny energy. Everyone who came near her felt their darkest, ugliest inner shadows being washed away.
I was no exception.
But over these three years of marriage, as an observer, I watched her smile gradually disappear, the light in her eyes fade, and even that sunshine and cheerfulness that was uniquely hers turn into loneliness and silence.
It felt like an invisible net was covering all her brightness, making her lose the ability to see her path clearly.
"You guys don't get it. Once you've got a woman hooked, you need to find ways to make her feel insecure, cut off all her connections to the outside world. That's how you keep her firmly under your control."
"Look at William's wife, a top university graduate, modern independent woman; hasn't William used these tactics to keep her at home like a decoration?"
"If you ask me, William's still too soft-hearted. Why marry a woman with that kind of background? Just buy her an apartment, give her some living expenses each month, and she'll behave perfectly, no fuss at all."
I overheard this conversation from some rich kids in the next private room at a business dinner.
That was when I learned that my seemingly reformed brother had been secretly suppressing Layla all along, turning her into a thoughtless appendage of his.
Maybe out of pity for Layla, or maybe because I felt she deserved better, I started quietly observing this "outsider" Layla.
Gradually, it was like I'd been poisoned; I couldn't take my eyes off her.
Layla's pretty face would appear in my mind and dreams from time to time.
Just like now, I couldn't help thinking about her, wondering if she was asleep, if she was safe there, if William was giving her trouble.
I knew this wasn't right, that I should cut it off and pull my attention away from Layla.
But I just couldn't control myself, neither my thoughts nor my body.
Right now, when I came to my senses, I'd actually driven to Emerald Crest Residences.
I stood downstairs, looking up toward unit 701. The lights were still on.
I frowned and checked the time; it was already 2 AM. Why wasn't Layla asleep?
Was she having insomnia like me?
I don't know what came over me. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I still unconsciously went upstairs.
The elevator stopped on the 7th floor. As the doors opened, I hesitantly stepped out.
Standing outside the door, I suddenly felt rather ridiculous.
I must be crazy, coming to my brother's wife's door in the middle of the night. If word got out, people would definitely call me a creep.
I smiled bitterly and shook my head, turning to leave.
Just then, a loud crash came from inside; it sounded like something heavy had fallen to the floor.
I stopped in my tracks, almost raising my hand to knock, but then felt my behavior was truly absurd. And if Layla asked, I had no way to explain why I was here so late.
But what if Layla was hurt?
As I hesitated, another sound came from inside.
This time, it was Layla's cry for help.
"Help..."
Oh no, Layla was in danger!
I immediately pressed my fingerprint, opened the door, and rushed in.
"Layla, we're legally married! Stop throwing a tantrum."
Hearing William's voice from the bedroom, my head suddenly heated up. Clenching my fist, I went in and punched him.
Seeing Layla with her hands tied, tears all over her face, and her clothes torn, my heart inexplicably ached.
I took off my jacket, draped it over her, and untied the necktie binding her hands.
Looking at William's split and bleeding lip, my anger didn't subside. I stood up and kicked him in the stomach. "William! How dare you! Dad just scolded you yesterday, and today you do this! Do you have any respect for Dad and the Brown family at all!"
William clutched his abdomen in pain, half-kneeling on the ground, but his eyes were cold as knives as he stared at me. "Matthew! Why are you here? What have you and Layla been doing behind my back!"
For a moment, I actually felt guilty, and my eyes involuntarily glanced toward Layla.