The Brother I Could Never Call Again Chapter 07

The Brother I Could Never Call Again Chapter 07

To everyone’s surprise, Grant didn’t go overseas for college.

In my previous life, he had studied abroad.

Even then, he flew back to Ashbury several times every month.

He always brought me gifts. Studied with me. Tutored me.

But this life was different.

He enrolled at Ashbury University instead.

He stayed in the city. He even continued living at home.

It was almost as though nothing had changed since high school.

Before long, my senior year arrived as well.

One warm winter afternoon, I received a call from an unfamiliar number.

Silence on the other end.

I frowned, thinking it was some kind of prank.

I almost hung up.

Then a thought struck me.

“Scout?”

Rapid tapping came from the other end.

It really was him! It was Scout!

I smiled.

“One tap means yes. Two taps means no.”

Just like when we were kids.

Back then, neither of us knew sign language. Neither of us could write.

So we’d invented our own way of talking.

“When I get into college, we can… where are you? Are you already in college?”

Scout was two years older than I was.

By now, he should have been a university student.

[Tap. Tap.]

No.

It didn’t matter.

As long as he was alive. As long as I’d found him again.

“Can I come see you?”

[Tap. Tap.]

“Are you married? Do I have a sister-in-law?”

[Tap. Tap.]

Most of my questions were answered the same way.

Finally, I asked the last one.

“Have you been okay all these years?”

[Tap.]

In the end, I gave him my Instagram handle.

“Since I can’t see you in person, at least let me follow you somewhere.”

[Tap.]

That night, I waited for hours.

Finally, a new friend request appeared.

The name read: Miles Bennett.

It was a good name. Scout had a new name now.

[When I leave the Whitfields after college, I’m coming to find you.]

A few seconds later, a single reply appeared.

[Okay.]

Christmas came around again.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield spent most of their time overseas. They rarely came home anymore—not even for the holidays.

Nora flew abroad to celebrate with them.

Grant stayed behind in Ashbury. He was busy with some new business venture.

On Christmas Eve, Grant gave gifts to all the housekeepers. Myself included.

After he left, two maids chatted:

“The young master is so handsome. Rich too. I wonder who he’ll end up with.”

“He’s never had a girlfriend, has he? Except his sister, there’s no girl around.”

He’d been the same in my previous life. He had poured all his attention into me.

Until one day, that affection turned into hatred.

As I drifted off in thought, one of the maids suddenly nudged me.

“Ivy, do you like the young master? Would you want to marry someone like that?”

I couldn’t help laughing.

I’d already experienced what it was like to marry Grant Whitfield.

Once was more than enough.

Seeing that I didn’t answer, she pressed on.

“What if Young Master wanted to marry you? Would you say yes?”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

“I’d rather die.”

The room fell silent. Both maids stared at me in shock.

I opened my mouth, about to explain.

Then a familiar voice came from behind me.

“So… marrying me would be worse than death?”