After I Died, My Brother Cried Until His Eyes Turned Red — Novel

About

In a world where blood ties dictate worth, Aliyah finds herself suffocated—not just by mud, but by the weight of rejection. The Monticello family, who once welcomed her as their long-lost daughter, have made their true feelings clear. When a catastrophic landslide threatens her life, all she longs for is her brother Adrian’s help, but his choice stings with betrayal. His desperate attempt to save her sister Madilyn leaves Aliyah gasping for breath, both in the mud and in the heart-wrenching realization that she is nothing but an outsider in her own family.

With every moment that passes, Aliyah’s hope dwindles. What will it take for Adrian to see her as more than just a shadow? As the days stretch into an agonizing search, her only ally, Tristan, battles his own demons, determined to find her—alive or dead. Can love bridge the chasm of neglect, or will familial loyalty seal her fate forever? In a tale of survival, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, Aliyah must confront her past and fight for the life she deserves. Will she rise from the depths, or will she be buried beneath the weight of expectations?

After I Died, My Brother Cried Until His Eyes Turned RedChapter 1

Madilyn, the fake daughter of the Monticello family, had invited me to explore the mountains, and that's when everything went wrong. The ground shook, and before I knew it, a landslide had buried us in thick mud. Panic surged through me as we both tried to free ourselves from the heavy earth dragging us down.

When Adrian heard what happened, he came to rescue us. But when he arrived, his eyes were only on Madilyn. I could barely move, my body was weak, and I watched in disbelief as he made his choice. Desperate to save Madilyn, he pushed me further into the mud.

"Brother, please help me!" I screamed, my hands clawing at the slick earth, trying to hold on to something or anything.

But he didn’t listen. "Enough, Aliyah! Maddy is your sister too! If I leave her behind, she’ll die!" His voice cut through me, filled with urgency, but no concern for me.

With those words, he turned his back on me, not once looking back as I sank deeper. He probably never realized how little time I had left—or maybe he just didn’t care.