Chapter 5
Vegetative state.
It hit Edward and Margaret like a ton of bricks, weighing heavily on their hearts.
It meant Dad had become a shell of a man, someone who needed care twenty-four seven.
He needed help with everything, even eating, drinking, and using the bathroom.
And the real problem? Keeping him alive would drain money nonstop.
Breathing machines, IV nutrition, meds, round-the-clock nursing...
Every single thing was a money pit.
Margaret swayed, nearly collapsed on the spot.
Edward caught her, his face went paler.
He looked at the doctor, his voice trembling.
"Doctor, what about the... the costs?
"How much is that a day?"
The doctor glanced at him and gave a figure.
"The ICU, plus all the treatments and meds, will cost at least one thousand dollars a day.
"Once he's moved to a regular room, with a caregiver and rehab, that's still going to be five thousand dollars a month."
That was over sixty thousand dollars a year.
Edward fell silent.
His inheritance might seem like a fortune.
But most of it was locked away in a downtown apartment.
The cash he had left would burn out fast with expenses like these.
His gaze landed on me again, almost instinctively.
Gone was the accusation and arrogance.
Now, there was a hint of pleading and that familiar, entitled dependence, like he expected me to help, as if it was only natural.
"Andrew..." Edward said, his voice dry and strained.
"Look, Dad's like this now...
"We... we're brothers.
"The three of us should pitch in together," Edward said, almost pleading.
I nearly burst out laughing.
"Brothers?
"Edward, did you forget? When it came to splitting the inheritance, it was just you and Michael.
"I wasn't even included.
"But now that there's responsibility to share, suddenly you remember you have me, your younger brother?
"Edward, aren't you a bit too thick-skinned?" I said, my tone cutting.
Margaret regained her composure and immediately jumped in to back him up.
"How can you talk to Edward like that?
"He's your brother, no matter what!
"Your dad raised you all these years, now he's sick, shouldn't you be paying up?
"That's so heartless!" Margaret yelled, her voice shaking with fury.
Margaret started cursing me out with every vicious word she could think of.
I watched her go completely hysterical, and whatever shred of warmth I still felt for her disappeared for good.
"Mom, filial piety goes both ways.
"You've treated me like a stranger, so don't expect me to be loyal to you.
"Not a single cent. Don't even think about it.
"You guys have two million dollars, more than enough to cover the medical bills.
"Whether you sell the big downtown apartment or those two condos, that's your call."
My words stabbed right into their sore spot, sharp as a blade.
Edward exploded in rage.
"Sell the house? That's easy for you to say!
"That place was left to me by Dad! Why should I have to sell it? It's mine!
"Andrew, I've finally got you figured out, you're nothing but an ungrateful jerk!"
Just then, Michael, who'd been missing the whole time, strolled over with a takeout bag in hand, looking totally unbothered.
"What's going on? Why's everyone yelling?" Michael asked.
He took in the tense atmosphere, still not quite getting what was happening.
When Margaret spotted Michael, it was like she'd found her lifeline, and she grabbed him and pulled him over.
"Michael! You need to be the judge here!
"Your dad's in this state, and Andrew refuses to pay a dime!
"He's even telling your Edward to sell the house for Dad's medical bills!" Margaret shouted.
Michael paused, stunned, and turned to look at me.
"Andrew, is... is this true?
"Dad's in this state, how can you just turn your back on him?"
I looked at him, my little brother who'd been spoiled rotten since we were kids.
There was that naive, almost childlike cruelty on his face.
"Michael, listen.
"Dad gave you one million dollars. How much of that are you actually willing to put towards his treatment?"
Michael looked away, mumbling awkwardly, "I... I was planning to use that money to start my own business.
"Besides, Edward can handle it, can't he?
"Dad's always lived with Edward anyway."
He instinctively wiped his hands clean of any responsibility, dumping it all on someone else without a second thought.
Look at that.
This was my wonderful little brother.
When it came to grabbing the cash, he was quicker than anyone, but when it was time to step up, he vanished faster than anyone else.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Did you hear that, Edward? Mom?
"That's your precious golden boy.
"Even he won't cough up a dime, so what gives you the right to ask me, someone you treat like a stranger?" I shot back, my voice cold.
I grabbed Julia's hand and turned to leave.
"The hospital bills? That's your problem now.
"Don't call me again.
"From now on, I'm done with the Sullivan family. Whatever happens, it's got nothing to do with me," I said, my voice cold and final.
Behind me, Margaret's hysterical cries and Edward's furious roars echoed through the hallway.
I didn't look back.
Not even once.
As I stepped out of the hospital, the sunlight was almost blinding.
I took a deep breath.
It felt like I was finally shaking off thirty years of shackles.
Even though I felt battered and bruised, I was free at last.
Julia squeezed my hand tightly.
"Let's go home.
"I'll make your favorite barbecue pork ribs."
I nodded.
"Okay, let's go home."