Chapter 524: Michale Shaw Side Story (15) The Truth, Heartache Suffocates

Inside the hospital

The Carter Family was anxiously waiting, Michale Shaw was quietly accompanying them.

About an hour later, a doctor came out to explain the situation, “The patient’s condition is temporarily stable. Considering her age and high blood pressure, we will first adopt conservative treatment. The specific surgical plan will be discussed with other department doctors after detailed examinations like imaging.”

“Alright, thank you,” George Carter thanked the doctor.

“You brat, if anything happens to your grandma, I won’t forgive you!” William Carter glared at his son.

Archer Carter glanced at his uncle and father, muttering quietly, “I didn’t expect grandma to hear, and besides, was I wrong for saying those things? This…”

Considering the public setting of the hospital, Archer stopped himself, still looking sulky.

But he cast a deep glance at his cousin, as if he had something to say.

“Get out of here! I don’t want to see you,” William Carter said sternly.

“I…”

Tobias Carter gave his brother a look, and he reluctantly turned and left.

The old lady’s accident was so sudden, the Carter Family was panicked, so some specifics of the hospital stay were arranged with the help of Michale Shaw.

He handled everything well, greeted everyone once done, and then gave Tobias a deep look.

He only said, “Goodbye.”

Turning to leave.

Tobias nodded stiffly, but his hand unconsciously clenched at his side, his eyes were brimming with pain, his throat was dry, but when turning to face his family, he restored his usual expression.

George Carter looked at his daughter, “The one you like…”

“Is it Michale Shaw?”

Tobias breathed heavily and just smiled, “Dad, Michale and I are not like that. Why did grandma suddenly fall down the stairs?”

The Carter Family elders exchanged glances, their eyes on her filled with pain and helplessness.

**

Michale Shaw’s car had just driven out of the hospital when he saw a familiar figure at the bus stop. Archer Carter recognized his car, waved at him, and waited for it to stop before getting in.

“Bro, can you take me in for the night? I’m afraid I’ll be beaten to death if I go home.”

Michale didn’t say anything, drove him to a place where he occasionally stayed, close to the company.

“Make yourself at home, I’m going to take a shower first.”

He had gone out happily, but being rejected left him feeling really bitter.

Both sour and bitter.

Even the hot water felt cold on his body.

That feeling was different from when Hannah Johnson had rejected him.

It was like his heart was being pricked by needles,

repressed, painful, unable to breathe.

His upbringing told him that since he had been explicitly rejected, he should not pester any further. It would make things awkward for himself and troublesome for the other person. But thinking about never seeing her again…

It felt like his world was gradually collapsing.

Seemed like it was going to fall apart any moment.

He took a deep breath and, after his shower, was stunned when he walked into the living room.

The coffee table was filled with different types of alcohol.

Did Archer empty out his hidden stash?

Seeing him come out of the shower, Archer waved him over, “Bro, come drink with me.”

“You drink less!” Michale frowned.

“But I’m in pain, my heart hurts, do you know that feeling?” Archer’s face was tearful, he even walked up to Michale, grabbed his hand, and placed it on his chest, “Do you feel it?”

“What?”

“My heart is broken.”

“…”

Michale regretted bringing him back.

“Bro, really feel it,” Archer pressed his hand to his chest.

Michale withdrew his hand in disgust.

Gross!

What the hell is this?

“Bro, have a drink with me, or do you want to scold me and hit me too?” Archer had already drunk half a bottle, his face was flushed, especially the side that had been slapped, it was still swollen, “Come on, hit me, just kill me!”

“Archer!” Michale said helplessly. His heart was also heavy, he had no mind to comfort him, didn’t have the patience, he simply sat down and drank two glasses with him.

They say alcohol can drown sorrows, at least being drunk might lessen the pain.

Oddly enough,

he usually had a low tolerance.

But tonight, he didn’t feel drunk after a few glasses.

Archer began to recount the grievances he had suffered at home over the years, “…I know I’m stupid, my grades were bad in school, but I tried. However, intelligence is something that doesn’t improve with effort.”

“Bro, do you also think I’m dumb?”

Michale pursed his lips, “You’re not dumb, you’re just… not very smart.”

Archer paused, looking seriously at Michale, “Bro, do you really like my sister?”

“Yes.”

Michale nodded without hiding it.

“Then why don’t you marry her?”

“It’s not that simple,” given that he had just been rejected.

Archer paused for a few seconds and then began wailing, “Oh, my poor sister…”

Michale’s ears buzzed. He thought, “I’m the one like an untended little cabbage, okay? I’m not even crying, why are you making such a fuss?”

“For your and my sister’s happiness, I fought the entire family, got slapped, and I didn’t give up…”

“And now you say you don’t want to marry my sister.”

“Michale, you are the ultimate scumbag! How could you repay my effort like this?”

Michale was getting a headache, “Don’t tell me, tonight’s incident happened because of me?”

“Do you know? I actually had a cousin, named Tobias Carter,” Archer said.

Michale frowned, remembering the household registration he checked, “He’s now…”

“Dead!”

“…”

“He died twenty-three years ago, kidnapped, the kidnappers demanded five million. The police got involved, the ransom was paid, and he was sent back.”

Michale’s breath hitched.

The rumored kidnapping was true.

“If he was sent back, then why…” did he die?

“He was brought back in a suitcase,” Archer said with a pained expression.

This made Michale’s scalp instantly go numb.

“He was brilliant, very smart since childhood, loved and protected my sister and me. The whole family had high hopes for him, especially our grandparents. And the first one to open the suitcase was grandma.”

“I only heard that he had been horribly tortured before death. It was summer, to prevent the body from emitting odors or leaking blood, the kidnappers did some special treatment. You can imagine the shock to my grandma.”

“She was in a daze after waking up.”

“The doctor said her heart needed special care. The family considered, my sister and Tobias were born of the same mother, looked alike…”

“Cut her hair, put on his clothes, and grandma hugged her calling her ‘sweet grandson.’

Michale’s fingers tightened, “She just became Tobias?”

Archer took a sip of wine, “Because on the day Tobias was kidnapped, he deviated from his routine to buy liquor chocolates for my sister.”

“Initially, it was just meant to last a few days to stabilize grandma, but the doctor said we chose the worst way.”

Michale took a deep breath, “From the start, she shouldn’t have pretended to be Tobias.”

“Yes,” Archer gave a bitter smile, “It was wrong from the start…”