I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I yanked my hand away, my eyes red.
“Was he giving me that watch out of kindness or malice? Renata, can’t you really see it? I’m your real brother! You already sent me to prison once. What more do you want?”
“It was for your own good!” Her voice turned cold. “If you dare to steal, you must be punished. If not, you'll never learn to fix that bad habit? Should I just watch you make mistakes and let you walk down the wrong path?”
Her words hit my heart like a hammer. Since I was young, when had I ever stolen anything? Why would I steal Leonhart’s watch? Why couldn’t she think more carefully about this? Why wouldn’t she believe me?
Tears fell. Three years of pain and hopelessness washed over me again. I gave up trying to explain once more.
Looking at my buzz-cut hair, she finally softened her tone, like she was admitting defeat. “Rein, everything I do is for you. Yes, you were in prison for three years, but I already prepared a future for you.”
“My company will be yours one day. I only wanted to give you a small punishment. It doesn’t really hurt anything. So, come home with me. Don’t run around anymore.”