TTMKC 18

Chapter: 18

Confession Is Hard When You’ve Got Too Much Karma

Thanks to Dorothy’s mediation, it seemed like the siblings’ fight had finally come to an end.

After calming her voice and taking some time alone to think, Rose naturally came to understand her younger brother.

He must have had a hard time.

The Chairman was a dangerous man.
There was no way her brother didn’t know that.

He knew—and still chose to endure it.

Thinking about how steadfastly he must have held out made her chest ache.

But understanding him didn’t mean they had reconciled.

Making up was a million times harder than fighting.

“Good morning, Sister.”

When she woke up in the mornings, she would sometimes run into him.
Each time, Brandon greeted her with a faint, unreadable smile.

Was he still angry?

She couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Hmph.”

So Rose chose avoidance instead.

In truth, even though she wanted to make up with him, it wasn’t as easy as she wished.

“What? You still haven’t made up?”

Dorothy was shocked when she found out.

She had assumed they would have reconciled by now.

But they were still in a cold war?

“It’s been quite a while since you fought.”

“Oh, whatever! Since when was I ever close to him?”

Rose almost gave up on reconciling altogether.

“We grew up apart, so we were never that close. It’ll probably just stay like this.”

“But things are different now from when you were little.”

Dorothy calmly pointed out the key issue.

“Unlike before, you spend a lot of time together now.”

“You look naive, but you really know how to hit the nail on the head, don’t you?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Never mind….”

Rose pressed a hand to her forehead as Dorothy tilted her head in confusion.
Her head seemed to be throbbing.

“You made up last time you fought, didn’t you?”

“This time’s different. The intensity was different….”

Rose grumbled.

“I threw clothes at him, and I said all that nonsense about ‘raising’ him or whatever.”

Her voice grew smaller the more she spoke.

“And come to think of it, even last time, Brandon was the one who spoke first….”

“Ah-ha!”

After listening, Dorothy neatly summarized the situation.

“You’re too proud to apologize, but it’s awkward to just talk to him like nothing happened—right?”

“Hey!”

Rose shouted, her face turning bright red.

“What? Was I wrong? Which part was wrong?”

Dorothy blinked innocently.

“…No.”

Rose was at a loss for words.

“Ugh, you’re right about everything. I can’t even argue back.”

In the end, Rose clutched her head.

“Why does apologizing to my own brother feel harder than apologizing to you?”

“Apologizing to family is usually the hardest.”

“Ugh… this is driving me crazy. I don’t even know where to start.”

Dorothy thought for a moment.

Maybe it was because they had lived apart for so long.

Their relationship creaked at the seams, and there were many moments when they felt like strangers.

But one thing was certain—Dorothy wanted them to be happy.

“There is one way.”

For their sake, Dorothy offered a simple plan.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Well, this is unexpected. You’re actually having dinner in the dining room, Sister.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dorothy’s plan was simple:

Have dinner together.
And if there was something Brandon liked, serve him some.

Could something so small really improve their relationship?

It wasn’t even a formal reconciliation—just dinner.

“I eat in the dining room sometimes too, you know?”

Still awkward around him, Rose found sharp words slipping out before she could stop them.

“Oh? Is that so?”

She knew she shouldn’t act like this.

But because of her pride, she kept saying things she didn’t need to say.

“Just eat.”

“Yes, Sister. Enjoy your meal.”

Rose barely touched her own food as she watched Brandon eat.

She had to do that “serving him food” thing.

As she observed him, she naturally learned his eating habits.

True to his love of appearances, even his table manners were impeccable.

He made no clattering sounds with his utensils and ate neatly.

Then she realized something they had in common.

He eats little, just like me.

Rose also didn’t eat much because she disliked eating alone.

So you were the same.

Suddenly, her throat felt hot.

It became hard to swallow the food in her mouth.

Maybe she had been too harsh with him.

She noticed that Brandon often reached for the duck dish.

Summoning her courage, she served him some.

“Hey, if you like this, eat more.”

“…”

His eyes widened in surprise.

When their eyes met, it felt even more awkward.

But she didn’t want to stop talking.

“Eat more. You’ve got to eat well to grow taller.”

“My growth period’s already over, Sister.”

Brandon grinned.

“Seems like you’re still in yours.”

“I just mean don’t pick at your food. If there’s something you like, tell me.”

Rose stammered.

“I’ll tell Hill to make it more often. And if there’s anything else you want to eat, just say so.”

“Thank you, Sister.”

Maybe it was because he thanked her.

For the first time, instead of clinging to her pride, she apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“…What?”

“About throwing the clothes at you. And for saying that stupid stuff about raising you.”

“…”

“I don’t even know anything about you.”

Once she started, the apologies kept pouring out.

“And I’m sorry I wasn’t by your side all this time. As your older sister, I should have protected you… and even now, I can’t even leave the house, let alone stand beside you.”

“…”

“I’m really sorry I couldn’t be your strength.”

Her brother, who had been quietly watching her, replied with a blank expression.

“It’s fine.”

“Thank you for accepting my—”

“I never expected anything from you in the first place.”

“…”

“…”

“Hey, you little punk.”

The warm atmosphere shattered instantly.

But as if on cue, the two burst into laughter.

Rose clutched her stomach and rolled on the floor.

“Seriously, you have a real talent for ruining the mood.”

“You’re the one acting out of character, Sister.”

It had been a long time since they laughed together like this.

So long that she couldn’t even remember the last time.

“Still, I had to apologize.”

Even if he didn’t say it, she could feel that his anger had completely faded.

Ah, so this is why Dorothy told me to apologize.

I should have done it sooner.

She felt ashamed of herself for trying to avoid it instead.

We almost wasted more time without properly making up again.

She was deeply grateful to Dorothy—

For giving her the chance to take care of her brother now.

“Dorothy, right?”

“Hm?”

Brandon suddenly asked.

“She’s the one who told you how to apologize.”

“How did you know?”

“…I thought so.”

Brandon smiled faintly.

Rose pouted.

“Dorothy may be capable, but she’s my friend. Go find your own.”

“I know. I’m not planning on being Dorothy’s friend anymore.”

“What? Did you two fight? I thought you said you became friends.”

“Yeah, that’s right. But I’m not going to anymore. Friendship and all that—you can have that with her, Sister. I’ll cheer you on.”

Brandon smiled sweetly.

There was something ominous about that smile.

“If not friends, then what are you planning to be?”

“Who knows? I’m thinking of throwing all that aside and doing things my way.”

“What? Don’t tell me—!”

A chill ran down her spine.

That clueless idiot who hadn’t even known his own feelings…

Did he figure them out?

Her scalp prickled as she hurriedly tried to stop him.

“Just wait. It won’t take long. A guy like me isn’t exactly common, right? Don’t you think?”

He shamelessly showed off his confidence.

As expected of someone perceptive—he had already caught on to her feelings.

“Hey! No! Stop it!”

“I had a pleasant evening. See you next time, Sister.”

Brandon wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up.

“Before I really get started, I should probably buy some clothes. Maybe work on my skincare too.”

“Get started on what? What are you planning? Hey! Brandon!”

“Well then, excuse me.”

She reached out, but by then, Brandon had already left the dining room.