Irene was a blotchy ss as she kept wailing while trying to talk to her elder sister. She hugged Leslie tight while crying on the latter’s lap.
"W-when did you wake up? Sob sob... Big Sister... I missed you so much..."
"I thought... sob sob... you wouldn’t wake up at all... sob sob..."
"Waaa! I wanna kill Sarah! How dare she do this to you?!"
"Ah! You know what, many things happened at ho."
Being shocked was an understatent. Irene never foresaw interacting with her elder sister when she requested to co here.
After three months, her beloved elder sister seed to lose so much weight. Her sunken cheeks and bony fra told Irene how sick she was.
Would her elder sister return to her healthy state?
When would it be?
How should she tell their parents once she got back later today?
Many thoughts swirled in Irene’s mind as tears continued rolling down her cheeks.
Leslie felt bad but, Irene’s crying antics amused her. Slowly running one palm at the back of the teenager’s head, she listened to Irene’s mumbling with a helpless smile curved on her lips.
Aiya, what to do?
This was Leslie’s first ti interacting with Irene as Charlene but, she had already adored this young teenager with all her heart.
Perhaps, Charlene’s affections played a role in this matter. But, Leslie couldn’t deny how loveable Irene was.
Irene was still young but, she dared to fight against her parents to get justice for her elder sister. Her grandmother’s imposing presence did nothing to scare her away.
Irene might be quite sickly but, her fiery heart for righteousness beca the driving force for her to achieve what she desired.
’She’s indeed different... than my brother.’
In her previous life, Leslie had a vain and selfish younger brother. Thankfully, she was blessed with a kindhearted younger sister in this new life.
How could she not want to spoil this adorable sister?
"There, there..." Leslie continued stroking her fingers through Irene’s long hair. Laughing faintly, she said, "I woke up... around three weeks ago..."
"W-what?"
Irene sprang up her head, staring at Leslie with her eyes widened. The shock was apparent on her face ssed with tears and snot.
Curling up her lips, Leslie apologetically explained, "Sorry, Irene... I wasn’t ready... to tell anyone yet... Aside from the people... in this house... only the doctors and dical... personals know..."
Blinking her tear-laden eyelashes, Irene looked at Leslie for one mont longer before she stiffly turned her neck, intending to find the answers from Calix.
Only to see sothing she hadn’t expected.
"Brother-in-law... what the heck are you doing now?"
Once she started crying and hugging her elder sister earlier, Irene didn’t pay any attention to her brother-in-law. Little did she know he was doing sothing unexpected.
The man stood not far from the couch, holding his phone horizontally.
Grinning, Calix stared at Irene’s blotchy ss of a face on the phone screen. He was recording a video, capturing both Leslie and Irene through the lens.
"What am I doing? I’m docunting this heartwarming reunion between you two ah. It’s a perfect way to immortalize this touching mont."
What the...
Irene made a face, scowling at Calix. Staring deadpan at her brother-in-law, she remarked, "That’s a blackmail material, huh? To embarrass later?"
"Bingo! Sister-in-law, why are you so smart?"
Irene gritted her teeth. Calix’s smirk fueled the fire in her heart. If possible, she wanted to lunge forward and snatch the phone out of his hand.
Leslie laughed again, amused by Irene and Calix’s interaction. Reaching out for the teenager’s arm, she said, "Ignore your brother-in-law... there, Irene... wipe your face... we’ll have lots to talk, en?"
"Okay, Big Sister..."
Irene grabbed so tissue from the box on the coffee table. Glaring at Calix, she roughly wiped her face and blew her nose.
"Tsk tsk, you better go and wash your face ah," Calix clicked his tongue. Tapping on the red button on the screen, he finished recording the video, "Are you a three-year-old?"
"Hehe, stop teasing her..." Leslie pretended to glare at Calix, "Go get so tea and snacks... for us..."
"Aye, aye, ma’am."
Calix spun on his heels, imdiately heading to the kitchen under Leslie’s words. Irene watched the short interaction between the spouses in wonder.
"Big Sister, are you already comfortable with my brother-in-law?" asked Irene, her reddened eyes had traces of awe, "Does he treat you well?"
Irene was aware that Calix was a good man. But, she still couldn’t wrap her head around Leslie’s sudden marriage to the heir of the Xu family[1]. More so because it was done during her sister’s comatose period.
Softening her smile, the light in Leslie’s eyes llowed. She sensed the sincere worry in Irene’s tone. The teenager didn’t an anything badly by bringing up those questions.
"We’re good... Your brother-in-law... treats well... He gets good doctors... for my rehab... I’ve started with my... treatnts..."
Under Irene’s curious look, Leslie explained further despite talking slowly. She told the young teen about what Calix had done to her, including converting his gym to her rehabilitation treatnt room and spending ti with her whenever he was not busy.
"Our marriage... ca as a shock... to too, but... he has been... treating well..."
Leslie hoped to soothe Irene’s concern through her words. From now on, they would et more often whether with Rowan and Bianca’s presence or not.
The teenager might still worry about her elder sister if Leslie didn’t try to convince Irene.
"Thank you for your concern... you’re a good sister, Irene..." Leslie lifted one hand, gently stroking one side of Irene’s face, "I’ve made you worry... right? Your brother-in-law... told everything..."
Irene blinked, choking back on her sob. She held back from crying like earlier. She didn’t want her elder sister to think of her as a crybaby.
"You asked him... to look for the... culprit, en? You’ve done well... Irene..."
Charlene was no longer here to say those words to her beloved younger sister. Leslie was determined to be a good role model of an elder sister to this younger teenager.
"Big Sister... sob sob... don’t make cry again..."
Her resolve wavering, once again Irene hugged Leslie. Her small fra trembled against the latter’s. Her sobbing echoed in the lounge, prompting Leslie to chuckle more.
"Hehe, cry as much... as you want... but, let’s... talk and laugh... soon, en?"
"Sob sob... yes..."
Irene didn’t realize that Calix had returned with a two-tier food trolley. He stood at the entrance of the lounge, watching his wife comforting her younger sister.
Leslie noticed Calix’s appearance. Looking up slightly, their eyes t before they exchanged a smile.
Calix perceived relief in Leslie’s gaze. Her previous nervousness was gone, replaced by a sense of comfort.
Getting Irene to be the first person in her family to know about Leslie’s current state was an excellent choice.
Now...
He needed to set up a perfect stage for all of them including his family to et Leslie.
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Author’s Note:
1 - I actually wanted to use Charlene in this context but, ended up with Leslie’s na. There might be slight confusion in the later Chapters about using Charlene/Leslie’s nas during certain scenes/monologues.
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