Guarded response
Despite his pleas, I remained guarded, suspecting they were using my brother’s plight to manipulate my emotions.
I nodded and smiled where appropriate but kept my responses vague. ‘I’ve had some good opportunities,’ I said noncommittally.
His continued probing only solidified my suspicions. They needed something from me, and my brother’s struggles were merely a convenient excuse.
The chasm between us felt more like a tactical maneuver than a genuine familial bridge.