Ah. A true pretentious brat.
Trying to guilt-trip and manipulate everyone in one move? Not on my watch.
Smirking, I activated my full "poison tongue" mode.
"So you're the adopted son, Felix? Oh—excuse me, my mistake. I just thought some shameless idiot was playing swing indoors."
I tilted my head innocently.
"Wait, were you trying to hang yourself? Using the crystal chandelier? With a slipknot that unties itself the moment you twitch? Be careful—if the lamp falls, you'll end up killing someone else instead."
Noah got up from the floor and chimed in enthusiastically, "Yeah, super dangerous! Luckily, I jumped in—uh, I mean, kicked in—at the right time."
Everyone looked up at the ceiling.
Sure enough, the chandelier chain was already half-loose, swaying ominously.
Uncle James' face went black as thunder.
"Ridiculous! What if you smashed it on your brother's head?"
Seeing his melodramatic act and guilt-tripping tactics both fail, Felix turned back to me, still pretending to cry. "I'm sorry, Brother... I really didn't mean to cause trouble..."
I smiled sweetly. "You've got the wrong person. I'm your foster brother. He's the one you should be apologizing to."
I gently pushed Noah forward. "Go on. Try again."
But Sheila immediately jumped in, shielding Felix protectively.
"Dad! Felix just wanted to make amends! It's Noah and that Lenon kid who made him fall! They have no manners at all!"
My temper flared instantly.
Damn it—curse me all you want, but insult my brother? Not happening!
"Sister," I said with a sneer, "I get that you want to play the protective big sister, but could you at least make up believable nonsense?"
"How is Noah ‘ill-mannered'? Didn't you lose him back then? You're the reason he suffered in an orphanage for years—how dare you lecture him about manners?"
"His young master status was stolen by your precious thief of a brother. What kind of ‘manners' were you expecting from him?"
"Honestly, listening to your talk is painful—do your intestines connect straight to your brain? Even a dung beetle would need to pop open your skull just to check the flavor!"
"If you can't talk like a person, then don't—sit with the dogs instead!"
When I finished my verbal barrage, the entire room went dead silent.
Only my brother grabbed my hand, eyes brimming with tears.
"Bro," he whispered hoarsely, "you're the best!"