Crack. Crack.
The sharp sound of something shattering on the ground echoed through the narrow alley.
A crippled man stumbled backward as the door slammed shut in his face. His cane clattered to the stone path, followed by a flurry of old clothes, shoes, papers , his life, carelessly tossed out like garbage.
Quann Emerald sat in the dust, eyes wide, chest heaving. His fingers twitched to reach for his cane, but his body wouldn't respond fast enough.
Inside the house, voices rose. Laughter. Mockery.
The neighbors peeked from behind drawn curtains, some even stepping out of their homes, whispering among themselves. They had all heard the shouting. And now, they watched with hungry eyes, eager for the next act of the unfolding.
"Brother! Sister-in-law! What are you doing?" Quann's voice cracked as he struggled to stand. His knee buckled slightly, but his determination burned stronger.
His younger brother, Gwent, leaned against the doorframe with a smirk.
"Brother, didn't Mother sign over this house to me before she died? It's mine now. Rightfully."
Quann's breath hitched. "That's… that's not possible! Mother told us herself this house was mine! We even drafted the will before she passed! I built this house with my salary! I paid the debts! Brother, me and my wife took care of mother!I don't understand this..."
Mnariya, Quann's wife, rushed to his side, her eyes brimming with tears. She placed a gentle hand on his arm, steadying him.
But Gwent only sneered. "Don't you remember, Brother? You weren't the one with her when she drew her last breath."
Quann froze. He was Confused, he felt like he couldn't understand anything he said.
Papers rustled. Gwent tossed a folded document at Quann's feet.
"Here. Read it yourself."
Quann bent down, his fingers shaking as he picked it up. Mnariya helped him unfold it carefully. His eyes darted across the words.
"…the Old house belongs to the son in whose house I take my last breath in."
Quann's knees weakened.
He remembered.
Years ago, their mother had set a condition. Whoever took care of her to the end would inherit the house.
The document had been brought in by his younger brother. Trusting him without question, Quann signed it without reading it. As the eldest son, it was naturally his responsibility to care for their mother and he had never wanted to burden his brother with it. For years, Quann had quietly fulfilled that duty, tending to her needs and managing everything without complaint.
He had spent his entire salary to maintain the crumbling walls, repair the leaking roof, and cover his younger brother's school fees. He had even taken out loans to help build the new house for his younger brother when he married his wife Mia, where Gwent now lived comfortably.
And yet, when the time came when their mother was about to pass away Gwent had taken her to his house under the guise of "better care", saying that his neighbour is an experienced caretaker.
Quann never thought much about it just thinking that his younger brother missed his mother, Quann had called to visit his mother. But Gwent never answered his calls or even if he did he just came up with some kind of excuse to not let the visit.
Their mother died in Gwent's house and its only been 5 days since they are done with funeral and everything.
Quann's vision blurred. He swayed slightly on his feet. Mnariya clung to him, whispering, "Quann, let's go home. Please. You don't need to stand here."
But where was home now?
He stared blankly at the house he had poured his life into the walls he had painted, the floors he had scrubbed, the roof he had patched now turned into someone else's possession.
"Brother," Quann asked, "why are you doing this?"
Gwent's smile faded into something colder.
"Because, Brother… you're Fool. You've always been gullible since we are young and you're no longer needed by me."
By now, the neighbors had fully gathered outside, whispering among themselves.
"Did you hear? The eldest son is being thrown out!"
"I thought he built that house himself."
"Family dramas… they're always the same, aren't they?"
Quann was shocked to hear his brothers words, there was never a day when he didn't think about his brother since he was young.
Quann stood frozen, his heart sinking at his brother's cold words. There had never been a day , not one when he hadn't thought about his younger brother with warmth and care. Since childhood, he had protected him, supported him, sacrificed for him.
But now... this?
Just as he took a step forward, a sharp voice cut through the silence.
"Tsk, What a shame."
Mia, his brother's wife, tilted her head with a smirk, her perfectly manicured fingers curling around her husband's arm.
"My husband just got appointed as the Director of Jordy Construction ,one of the top companies in the city. Do you really think he can afford to be seen with someone like you?" she scoffed, her eyes scanning Quann with disgust. "A crippled brother in Old clothes? Please. Don't humiliate us. Leave and don't come back."
She turned to walk away, tugging Gwent with her. But then, as if recalling something deliciously wicked, she paused and looked over her shoulder.
"Oh, and one more thing," she said, her voice sweet but venom-laced. "Don't even think about dragging us to court or causing a scene. You know who my brother is, right? One word from him and your only good leg won't stay good for long."
Her smile widened maliciously."And let's not forget about your precious daughter. She's still lying in that hospital bed, isn't she? Maybe spend less time showing up where you're not wanted… and more time figuring out how to pay her medical bills this month."
With that, she turned around to go into the house with her husband, her heels clicking sharply on the ground, leaving the silence behind her laced with cruelty.
Quann's face flushed with shame. The weight of every whisper, every gaze, crushed him further.
He clenched his fists, trying to keep the tears from spilling over. His body trembled, but not from weakness from heartbreak.
Mnariya pulled at his arm. "Please, Quann. Let's just leave. We'll figure something out."
Taking one last, long look at the house, Quann straightened his back.
He turned to his wife and gave her a soft, broken smile. "You're right. We'll go. We'll start over."
As they walked away, the neighbors parted, some averting their gazes in guilt, others openly staring.
In the chaos of their departure, they only managed to leave with two bags. That was all they could carry.
They didn't look back.
Instead, Quann and Mraniya made their way to the only place that still belonged to them, their tiny roadside restaurant. It wasn't much. Just a small food stall with a few mismatched plastic tables and chairs set up outside.
To some, it looked like nothing. And maybe that's why Gwent and his wife hadn't even bothered to take it from them.
But to Quann?It was everything.A lifeline. A reminder that he still had something of his own.
The kitchen was small, barely more than a cramped room with a single stove, a rusted sink, and a shelf of worn utensils. Most days, Quann handled the orders and ran the stall alone, while Mraniya prepped the ingredients and cooked from home. It wasn't glamorous, and the profits weren't much just enough to get by. But it was honest work.
This afternoon, they didn't even bother opening the kitchen. The morning had been swallowed up by the confrontation at Gwent's house, and neither of them had the energy to serve smiling customers.
They walked in quietly, set their bags down in the corner, and sat for a moment in the stillness.
Quann hadn't spoken a word since they left. His eyes were distant, his thoughts lost somewhere between heartbreak and disbelief.
Mraniya glanced at him gently. She understood. He needed space time to absorb the betrayal, to breathe.
"I'll go pick up Quinir from school," she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "He might try to go home by mistake… the old house, I mean."
Quann gave no response, just a faint nod.
Mraniya walked to the school with a heavy heart, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts
How should she tell Quinir about everything that has happened?
She reached the school a little early and found a spot on a bench near the gates. The last period bell hadn't rung yet fifteen more minutes. She sat quietly, hands folded in her lap, eyes fixed on nothing. Her thoughts ran in circles.Should she tell him everything? Or protect him from the weight of it all… just a little longer?
Should she tell him everything? Or wait until he is done with his final exams? but he will still know about the house because they are going to live in restaurant from now on, just as she was lost in her thoughts.
The final bell rang.
Within moments, the school doors burst open as students poured out laughing, chattering, carefree.
And then she saw her son.
Quinir.