"Hello? Ethan, can you hear me. What happened?"
Then Ethan finally spoke. His voice sounded rough.
"Where are you?"
"Why?"
"I asked where you are."
Julian glanced toward Rosalie.
"Why are you asking?"
Ethan remained silent for a moment. Then he answered coldly.
"I have a little problem."
Julian's expression darkened.
"What kind of problem?"
"..."
"Ethan."
"I'm fine."
"You called me while sounding like you're barely breathing, and you're telling me you're fine? Then why did you call me?"
"I need your help, brother Ju."
"Where are you?"
Ethan did not answer immediately. Finally, he gave him the location. Julian's expression became even more serious.
"Don't move, Ethan."
This time, Julian's voice carried the authority of a doctor and an older brother at the same time. Ethan went silent. Julian ended the call only after confirming the location. Rosalie watched him quietly. She did not need to ask. She already knew.
"He's hurt, isn't he?"
Julian slowly nodded.
"Yes."
"Badly?"
Julian looked at the phone in his hand.
"I don't know yet."
But from Ethan's voice, he knew that it was probably worse than Ethan wanted to admit. Julian looked back at Rosalie.
"I'm sorry."
Rosalie shook her head.
"Don't be. It's Ok, my love."
"Rosie..."
"Go and take care of your little brother."
Julian paused. Rosalie smiled gently.
"He's your brother."
Julian's eyes softened.
"I don't want to leave you alone."
"I'm not alone. I'll be fine."
She reached for his hand.
"Go and take care of him."
Julian looked at her for a long moment. Then he gently squeezed her hand.
"Thank you."
Rosalie smiled.
"Just come back safely."
Julian nodded.
"I will."
But neither of them knew that the phone call had just pulled Julian back into a complicated part of his life. A part involving Ethan and involving old wounds. And a bond that had never truly disappeared.
...
Inside a private room in the residence of the leader of Eagle Wings, Ethan lay on a bed with several injuries covering his body. He had not returned to the main mansion after the battle at Harbor 17. Instead, he had been brought to the leader's residence. The wounds on his body had been treated as much as possible by the group's medic.
But some of the injuries were far more serious. The bullet wound in his thigh had not stopped bleeding properly. A deep stab wound ran across his arm. Several areas of his body were badly bruised. There were also cuts across his face and shoulder from the fight.
The group's medic had managed to provide basic treatment. But Ethan needed a proper doctor, a skilled one. Someone who knew exactly how to treat damaged tissue and deep wounds properly.
........
Julian walked Rosalie to the parking lot and waited until she reached her car.
"Drive carefully,"
He said, standing beside her car door. Rosalie smiled at him.
"You too, Ju."
Julian nodded and watched as her car slowly drove away from the hospital parking lot. Only after her car had disappeared from his sight did he return to his car, got inside, started the engine, and entered the location Ethan had sent him. For a moment, Julian simply stared at the address displayed on his phone.
He had already guessed that Ethan's injuries were not the result of an ordinary fight. A bullet wound to the thigh and a stab wound to the arm. And, most importantly, the bleeding had not completely stopped. Ethan had been injured for hours, yet he had refused to go to a hospital. In fact, he had allowed an entire day to pass before finally calling Julian.
'Does he want to die?', Julian couldn't help but think. Ethan had always been like this.
He was a person full of secrets. Even when he needed help, he rarely asked for it. He would rather endure pain alone than reveal his weakness to someone else. Julian knew him well enough to understand that. He also suspected that Ethan's stubbornness had something to do with what had happened between him and Rosalie.
Ever since the incident at the vineyard, the two brothers had not spoken properly. Ethan had crossed a line. He had tried to force himself on Rosalie. And Julian had punched him because of it. That was something Julian had not regretted. Rosalie was his lover. No matter how much affection he had for Ethan as his younger brother, he would never ignore what Ethan had done to her.
However, Ethan was still his brother. They had grown up together. Julian had watched over Ethan since they were children. That bond had not disappeared simply because they had argued. And now, Ethan was injured. As a doctor, Julian could not simply ignore someone who was bleeding. And as an older brother, he could not abandon Ethan either.
But the severity of Ethan's injuries made Julian increasingly suspicious. A stab wound could happen during an ordinary fight. A serious injury could also happen in a violent confrontation.
But a bullet wound?
That was not something that happened during a simple street fight. Julian's eyes narrowed slightly as he continued driving. Rosalie had told him before about the Eagle Wings. She had also told him enough about Ethan's connection to that organization for Julian to understand that the matter was not simple.
Now, Ethan was asking him to bring medical supplies and come alone. That only strengthened Julian's suspicion. Something serious had happened and Ethan did not want Julian to know about it.
'What exactly have you gotten yourself involved in this time?'
Julian silently wondered. Nevertheless, he had no intention of involving himself in the conflict. He would treat Ethan's injuries. That was all. He would not ask unnecessary questions. He would not interfere with the Eagle Wings. And he certainly would not allow himself to become involved in whatever dangerous world Ethan had entered. However, he would still have to inform Isabella, Ethan's mother. And She was also Julian's stepmother.
Julian had always taken care of him like an older brother. That responsibility had never truly disappeared. If Ethan was involved in something dangerous, Isabella needed to know. More importantly, Ethan needed to be stopped before the situation became even worse.
Julian sighed softly. 'Ethan… you really are troublesome.' His voice disappeared into the quiet interior of the car.
The road gradually became quieter as he drove farther away from the busy city center. The area was one of the neighborhoods where wealthy families lived. Large mansions stood behind tall walls and carefully maintained gardens. There were almost no pedestrians on the streets.
Julian slowed down as he followed the location on his phone. At the end of the road, he finally saw a large estate surrounded by thick trees. The tall trees covered most of the property, making the mansion behind them almost impossible to see from the road. Julian glanced at the address again. The number matched. He drove closer to the entrance.