When I Got My Senses Back

Chapter III: You Call Me A Fool But, You Are The Real Fool! (3)

"Go on, little fool, go see your wife, Christine." Rihanna gave a dismissive snort.

Her face brimming with certainty as she was so convinced that the man standing before her was still the same ridiculous fool she had molded with her own hands. She had no idea that he had already awakened. He was no longer a puppet to be toyed with.

But just as her voice faded—

The sound of steady, synchronized footsteps echoed outside the door.

With a loud bang, the door flung open. Christine Alexander strode in, a storm of fury in her eyes, followed by a man in a gray suit.

That man was Garrett Belmont.

At the sight of Reginald, he shuddered, as if struck by a chilling wind.

"Christine," he murmured, "I’m truly scared for you… What if he hurts you…?"

Christine gently patted her husband's stepbrother in reassurance before casting an icy glance at Reginald.

"Reginald Belmont," she said coldly, "You dare mention divorce to me? Do you really think the Belmont family is ready to bear the disgrace… of having their ‘fool’ return with his name intact?"

She really looked down at her so-called "husband," even as she spoke, her voice dripped with obvious disdain, and with fierce protectiveness for another man.

Rihanna’s face turned grim.

She hated this sight of her own son clinging to Christine like glue, even though Christine actually favored him. Why couldn’t she just keep holding on to the fool and give Garrett up?

She quickly changed her expression, smiling with feigned remorse. What a snake!

“Christine, please don’t take it to heart. He’s just… still that fool. What he said to you, maybe he picked it up from some maid, or helper, or nurse in your house. You know how it is.”

Garrett tightly clutched Christine’s sleeve, his eyes full of fear as he glanced at Reginald. “It’s true, Christine. I’ve lived with my brother’s nature for eleven years. I’ve never understood why he harbors such deep hatred for me. But it’s fine, truly… as long as he doesn’t hurt you, as long as you’re not dragged into it too.”

Christine lowered her gaze and looked at him so softly as he continued:

“Even when we were children, he often bullied me… Now, he’s become even more dangerous, and still, even after all the years we’ve cared for him, I don’t hate him. After all, he is my brother. You shouldn’t hate him either.”

Garrett gently placed a hand on Christine’s shoulder, sighing with pain in his eyes. “Christine, my older brother has always been proud. Even when he was a child, he dared to speak rudely to elders. Perhaps even now, though he’s become dull, he hasn’t truly changed. It’s still him… just more foolish.”

He sounded like he was pleading for Reginald’s sake, but every word portrayed himself as innocent, while subtly condemning Reginald as cruel and unreasonable from childhood until now.

Reginald, watching Garrett’s pitiful act, sneered. This man, knowing full well Christine was his wife, still tried to come between them. What now? Was he trying to play the role of the virtuous, filial son? The righteous man?

Did he think no one could see through his petty tricks? He really did inherit his mother’s craftiness.

Since Garrett wanted to accuse him of being rude and dangerous, then fine, he’d show him how dangerous he could be.

With slow, deliberate steps, Reginald approached Garrett. Then, without warning, he grabbed Garrett’s hair and yanked it hard.

“Home. wrecking… third party… steal. ling… some. one’s… wife!” he growled, speaking with the sluggish tone everyone assumed a fool would use.

“Aah… you… help!” Garrett yelped, tears spilling as Reginald tugged harder. He cried out in real pain until Rihanna stepped forward, pushing Reginald away from her son.

Reginald, weak and emaciated, stumbled to the ground. Yet even as he lay there, he looked up at the mother and son weeping over strands of pulled hair, a cold smirk playing on his lips. “Home-wrecker… in-tru-der… wife-thief…”

Christine’s eyes darted between the unhinged Reginald and Garrett’s tearful face as he picked up his fallen hair. In a low voice, she commanded, “Reginald Belmont, apologize!”

But Reginald didn’t move.

Who was this little woman to order him around? Did she not understand her place? This was a matter between family brothers so what business was it of hers? Stranger!

“You little…” Rihanna began, but stopped herself. She couldn’t call him a fool in front of Christine. Christine believed they all doted on Reginald, loved him despite his dullness. If she saw them bullying him, wouldn’t she believe they handed her a worthless man they didn’t even respect?

“Reginald, apologize to your younger brother!” Rihanna ordered sharply.

Reginald scowled. “He… is not my brother… bad… man…”

“Then I will punish you, as I would do to any who disobeys in this house,” Rihanna declared. She struck him across the face real hard. “Apologize to your brother. This is your last warning!”

Reginald remained unmoved. Let her try. He wanted to see just how far she’d go.

Rihanna’s face darkened. She reached for the whip on the table used for discipline. All the while, her gaze flicked toward Christine to see if she would intervene.

“In this house, my word is law. To disobey is to defy the Belmont family itself! So I ask one final time, will you apologize?”

Reginald’s face was blank. He had been insulted, humiliated. They called him a fool, and when he played the fool, they beat him for it. Was this his life these past eleven years?

“He… not… my brother! He… bad man!”

The whip came down, again and again. Strikes laced his body with crimson welts. Though clothed, the blows tore through fabric, skin, and pride. His thin frame bore the pain in silence. His legs suddenly gave way, and he collapsed to his knees.

Yes, he was proud. But pride would come later. For now, he had to let them think he was still a fool.

Christine looked down at Reginald’s broken form. Bloodied, trembling yet she could see something remained unyielding in his eyes.

How had this fool learned to resist? How had the man who once apologized so easily grown such quiet defiance?

But Christine said nothing. Reginald chose to run from the house to come here. He brought this on himself.

She walked past him coldly.