Page 77 of Bittersweet Legacy

“Damn it!” I kicked his cabinet with frustration and frowned when it moved backward. I knew I had the strength of a shrimp – there was no way I could push that thing with just a kick.

I kneeled and ran my forefinger on the edge, I could feel a little opening, like a fine crack. I pushed the cabinet and let out a little victory cry when it revealed a secret compartment.

“Gotcha!”

I got everything out and started to look through his treasure. First was a photo album, I shook my head at the sentimentality behind it and the fact that he felt compelled to hide it. There were a lot of photos of someone whom I assumed was our mother. The photos were quite badly damaged, some had been ripped and taped back together, some were lined after being crumpled and some others were darkened by what I believed was a failed attempt to burn them. I sighed, running my hand over my mom’s smiling face, a smile which didn’t reach her eyes.

The words from her journal resonated in my brain “When I stepped into Stonewood, Connecticut, I stepped into appearances and lies. I realised only too late that nothing was what it seemed.”

I turned the page and gasped as the next pages had photos of me from when I was a baby to now. Where did he get those photos? Did they ask Luke or did they take them?

I didn’t know if I should be pleased about that kinship or concerned about him getting the photos.

I turned the page and chuckled. “Yeah, brother, lie to yourself about not caring.” I muttered looking at Taylor’s face. Tay in a beautiful red dress for some event, Tay in her uniform laughing about something someone said.

Maybe he meant what he said at the party. He did claim her.

The next item was a drawing pad and, damn, he was talented. A few drawings were an older version of our mother, how he imagined she’d look now. In one of them, she was sitting between Archie and me, holding our hands as we looked at each other, a small smile on our faces.

I shook my head, feeling his longing. He craved this salvation as much as I did.

I turned the page to see a sleeping Tay, her features relaxed, the drawing was perfect, the details uncanny. It was a tell of how aware he was of her, of how much he looked at her.

At least I was not crazy, the attraction was there.

The next drawing broke my heart, Archie was standing straight, looking proud and cold just as I knew him but the floor-length mirror behind him was showing the reflection of an anguished pained boy, his face covered in tears as his hand reached out for me, my hands locked in manacles.

I looked up and blinked a few times to stop the tears from coming. I couldn’t hurt him, no matter what, I couldn’t.

I sighed in defeat, putting everything back into place. I had to find another way to save myself, but I vowed not to hurt my brother in the process, he had been hurt enough.

My beautiful boy, mom kept calling him in her journal. She was so sure he was going to be okay, she was sure she would be coming back for him.

Could I save him?I shook my head. No, I couldn’t, he didn’t want to be saved anymore.

I was about to exit the room when my brother opened the door.

I was frozen in the middle of the room, like a deer caught in the headlights.

“What are you doing in here?” He barked with a scowl looking around his bedroom.

I was about to find some kind of lie but the look on his face was different, his lines taught, his face paler than usual.

“What happened? Why are you back so early… weren’t you supposed to do stuff with Caleb?”

He took a deep, shaky breath, “Theo died.”

“No!” I wailed as sorrow crashed into me. “You,” I reached for Archie but stopped as the familiar burn of tears reached my eyes and for the first time since I’d arrived I didn't try to stop them. Seeking comfort from him would be foolish. “I-” I sat on his bed, unconcerned with his scowl. I’d only met with Theo a handful of times but he had been so happy, so luminous- It was impossible not to love him.

Nobody could not love Theo, even the coldest of hearts.I jumped up at the thought, Caleb, cool Caleb had to be devastated.

“How’s Caleb?”

Archie raised one eyebrow, visibly surprised by my concern. “Caleb… is Caleb, Esmeralda - nothing touches him.” It sounded a lot like a warning, yet again. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought he cared.

I knew better though. There was so much you could fake, but I knew deep down that not everything in Port Harbor had been an act, especially not his love for his brother.

I extended my hand toward Archie. “Can I borrow your phone?”

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