CHAPTER 353: RESTRAINED DESIRES

"Guilt... She felt insufferable guilt."

Caressing Brandon’s abdomen with the soap, Elize spoke "You know, she actually hated you in the past."

With a nod, he replied "Yeah, I do remember... since you lost your powers and influence to raise me, she was angry at me."

"Calling me worthless, and if not for me, you would have a better life."

With an exhale, Elize spoke "Hmm... She was a child too, Kael. Angry at everything, especially at herself. Losing her status, her training... watching me give up power just to raise you... she didn’t understand it then."

"But that day... she was surprised to see the boy she openly loathed for years... giving his all to protect her."

"She was ashamed and... hated herself."

"However, at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to suddenly act like a good sister in front of you after hating you for years."

"So, she buried her desires... Her desires to be a good sister to you, to pamper you, to take good care of you."

Her voice softened even more, "But emotions that strong don’t disappear, Kael. They find their way out, one way or another."

"After restraining it inside her for so long with no way of pouring it out, it manifested into a personality..."

"A possessive desire to be a great Big Sister for you and spoil you."

His gaze quivered upon hearing this because he had a vague idea that the scar could be the main thing when she asked him to show her the scar the other day.

(A-n: It was Chapter 320)

He frowned "Then... her personality, which loves me."

Elize’s hands slowed, the sponge gliding lazily across his shoulder before she chuckled softly, her breath brushing the back of his neck "Yeah... that one."

"Kael, listen," she murmured, leaning a little closer so her voice came near his ear, "it’s not one of her personalities that loves you. She herself loves you."

Brandon leaned back into her arms "You mean... even when she switches, it’s still her?"

Elize nodded faintly, her fingers brushing through his damp hair before continuing down to his collarbone, tracing small circles with the soap. "Mhm. Every version of her that you see, they’re all Charlotte."

"Different personalities, yes, but not strangers. Just pieces of her heart that she tried too hard to separate."

Brandon’s throat tightened.

Elize smiled gently, watching the shift in his expression. "You see, she spent years suppressing how she felt. Her affection, her regret, her guilt... they all had nowhere to go."

"So her mind gave them their own forms. It’s tragic... but also kind of beautiful, don’t you think?"

He blinked, glancing back at her. "Beautiful?"

Elize tilted her head, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. "Because even after everything... no matter how much she fractured herself, every part of her still leads back to you."

He let out a soft sigh and then he remembered something "So when she... when ’that side’ of her tried to kiss me. I shouldn’t feel guilty? That the real Charlotte wouldn’t have wanted it?"

Elize’s smile deepened "No, Kael. Don’t be guilty. Because there’s no ’real’ or ’fake’ Charlotte. It’s all her."

"They’re all pieces of the same woman who loves you far more than she’ll ever admit."

Her gaze quivered as she leaned forward to hug him "That’s why I didn’t mind when you guys were on the bed that day and even today."

"Kael... you know how happy I was when I saw her laughing today like a child; it’s been so long since I saw her like that..."

Her voice softened with nostalgia "It reminded me of when she was little... that tiny girl who used to cling to me wherever I went."

Elize’s breath touched his neck as she whispered, "Somewhere along the way, she forgot how to smile like that. She became... colder, quieter, too burdened by everything she couldn’t say. But when she’s with you, Kael, she changes."

"You are the ’cure’ to her personalities. Only you can contain her... you need to give her what she is starving for... the attention she desires and spend some time with her."

Upon hearing this, his gaze softened and a smile appeared on his lips "Yeah... I will."

---

Sitting inside the private ethercraft, Charlotte gazed quietly through the oval window, staring at the clouds.

Then, almost absentmindedly, she raised her hand and caressed her neck as a quiet smile graced her lips.

"Kael..."

A faint ache stirred in her chest, and her eyes softened as memories from years ago began to resurface.

Four years ago...

The morning after she became an Empyrean... the second youngest in history, ascending to SSS rank at the mere age of twenty-eight.

Reporters had camped outside the Awakener’s guild headquarters.

Congratulatory calls flooded her comms.

But instead of celebrating with her peers, Charlotte found herself standing silently before an old two-story house nestled in a quiet street.

She stepped out of her car and paused for a moment as her blonde hair swayed lightly in the wind, brushing against the white collar of her coat.

Gripping the handle, she opened the front door.

The faint creak of the hinges was immediately drowned by a voice from inside.

"Oh, my baby boy..."

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed slightly as she entered the living room.

There, in the center of the hall, Ravene was wrapping her arms tightly around Brandon, who looked far too flustered for his own good, as she crushed his face in between her breasts.

He was still in his high school uniform with his tie slightly loosened and his dark hair messy as ever.

"Ugh, Aunt Rave..." he grunted, trying to breathe under her suffocating embrace. "Much gentler, please..."

Ravene only laughed softly, brushing his cheek like an overaffectionate aunt "How can I? You’re growing so fast, I barely recognize you anymore!"

But when Brandon’s gaze flickered past her shoulder, he froze, and seeing his reaction, Ravene also turned her head.

Charlotte.

"Charlotte..." Brandon murmured, and he quickly straightened up.

Ravene also let him go, forcing a small, uneasy smile "Oh, Charlotte. You’re... early."

Even though she is very close with Elize, she is not close with Charlotte at all.

It was always... awkward.

Charlotte’s gaze slowly moved down to where Ravene’s hands had just been on Brandon’s shoulders.

She clenched her fist, and for an instant, the faint shimmer of blue ether crackled behind her green irises.

She exhaled gently, restraining the impulse to speak her thoughts aloud ’This fucking thot.’

At that moment, Elize’s footsteps echoed from the hallway, followed by her gentle voice. "Char?"

When Elize entered the room and saw her little sister, her face lit up instantly. "You really did it."

She walked over with a big smile, opening her arms in warm welcome "Char, congrats on becoming an Empyrean!"

The tension in Charlotte’s shoulders eased ever so slightly.

Turning toward her elder sister, she returned a small but genuine smile and gave a nod "Thanks, Big Sister."

Elize reached out, brushing her hand along Charlotte’s cheek with affection "You’ve made me proud again, Char. Really proud."

Standing a few steps away, Brandon watched quietly.

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something... maybe to congratulate her, to tell her she looked amazing, or simply to acknowledge the bond that still tied them together despite years of cold distance.

But the memory of her sharp words from the past "You ruin everything you touch." echoed faintly in his mind.

His gaze dimmed and hesitated... then quietly closed his mouth again.

Smiling softly, Elize spoke "Come join us for breakfast."

With a nod, Charlotte walked to the dining room.

As she disappeared around the corner, Elize exhaled, rubbing her forehead.

Then her eyes fell on Ravene, who still had her arms draped possessively around Brandon’s shoulders.

The woman was grinning, resting her chin on him as if he is her favorite plush toy.

"Also, Ravene," she said with a sigh, "stop hugging him and spoiling him like that..."

Ravene blinked innocently and tilted her head, "What’s wrong with spoiling my baby?" she asked, tightening her arms slightly.

Brandon’s shoulders tensed in embarrassment. "A-Aunt Ravene..." he muttered in a muffled voice as she pressed her cheek against his hair.

Elize raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "This baby is in high school, so that kind of hug is not necessary."

Ravene pouted dramatically, releasing an exaggerated sigh before pulling back just enough to look at Elize "Tch, you’re no fun. You used to be like me once, remember? You’d scoop him up every morning and pepper him with kisses."

"That was when he was ten," Elize replied, reaching out to pinch Brandon’s cheek lightly before Ravene could do it again.

"Now, he’s nearly grown. You’ll embarrass him like that."

Brandon groaned, rubbing his cheek where she pinched him "Both of you are doing a good job already..."

Ravene chuckled, her dark hair sliding over her shoulders as she leaned in close again "Oh, come on. He likes the attention." she teased, giving him a playful nudge.

Elize gave her a deadpan look, then turned toward the dining room with a faint shake of her head "Honestly, dealing with a bitch like you is impossible..."

Ravene hurriedly closed Brandon’s ears "Language, Elize."

Elize: (●__● )