Chapter 546
The siblings were 12 years apart in age. After their mother’s death and their father’s subsequent disappearance, the vast Russell family empire was left without a leader and became the target of the extended family’s greedy ambitions.
At six years old, Stephan was ambushed. Imogen, without hesitation, shielded her younger brother.
A handful of poison powder caused her to lose her sight.
She was only 18 that year and in the prime of her youth, yet she suddenly became a blind woman who had once known light but would never see it again.
Yet she never once complained or expressed a hint of regret.
Over the next decade and more, the young child grew to shield his sister from storms, taking on the weight of the enormous Russell family empire. He became its fearsome leader, renowned for his iron fist and ruthless methods. His name struck terror into all who
heard it.
In all those years, Imogen had never once used her blindness to seek pity.
But this day, she brought it up. Her words, sharp and piercing, demanded an answer.
Had he lived up to her expectations? Did he remember why she went blind? Did he still have a conscience?
The world around them fell silent.
Stephan stood motionless as the wind swept past. He looked like a statue frozen in time.
It was as if a gaping hole had been torn through his chest. The harshest, most devastating words came not from an enemy but from his family member, stabbing straight into his heart.
Felicia sighed silently. She lowered her gaze and looked at the hand Stephan still had tightly clasped around hers.
He had large hands with long, well–defined fingers and veins running across the back. They were beautiful, almost artistic.
But right now, his palm was cold as ice.
Felicia pulled her hand away with force.
Imogen wasn’t hard to appease. All Felicia had to do was leave. If she just left, Imogen would put the knife down. She was prepared to leave.
Why prolong this? Why put everyone in such an awkward position and make it so difficult for him?
After all, she wasn’t unfamiliar with being abandoned. It wasn’t a big deal.
Time and again, in moments where choices had to be made, she had always been the one left behind. It had never been any different. Between her and Kayla, the Fuller couple chose Kayla; between her and the Fuller family, Sebastian chose the family’s reputation.
In moments of injustice and misunderstanding, others had always chosen to go against her.
Stephan could do the same.
He only needed to appease Imogen with a few words to calm her anger. The siblings wouldn’t be estranged, and the rift between them would close
But what Felicia didn’t expect was that just as she withdrew her hand, Stephan reached out and held it again. His fingers slid between hers, locking their hands together. Felicia tried several times to shake him off, but he just wouldn’t let go.
Seeing this, Johanna immediately whispered a description of the scene into Imogen’s ear.
“So, this is your decision, is it?” Imogen’s chest heaved in anger, her eyes reddening. She said recklessly, “I regret it. If I had known you’d treat me like this, I would’ve never shielded you back then!”
“Imogen…” Stephan’s voice, already hoarse, grew even raspler. His face, pale from blood loss and injuries, looked even paler. His tightly pressed lips trembled slightly.
With a smile, he said, “Imogen, I’ll repay your sight with my eyes, alright?”
