*NOT EDITED*

⇢Important A/N at the end of the chapter, please read!

Chapter 31

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Cameron didn't have time to explain how or why she was here when Elyse sprinted down the stairs to check if I was kidding or not. Once she saw that I was serious, the image of Cameron in the flesh standing by the door made her hold on to the stair railings. She slowly walked over to us, her eyes wide as an unbelieving expression was drawn on her face.

"You came back, oh, my God. Honey, I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry," Elyse said, her voice trembling as she took her in a hug.

"Please don't apologize. I miss you so much." Her voice cracked and was thick with emotion as she spoke.

Cameron was the only biological daughter of Elyse and dad, and after she was born, Elyse had fertility complications that unfortunately prevented her from getting more kids. That resulted in adopting Damon and I as newborns. I had no idea of who my biological parents were, and I had no intentions to find out. It was never a big matter to me.

Cameron, Damon, and I were as close as can be with her being five years older than us. I was thirteen when Cameron went to college and she was still dating that low-life guy that she met in high school, Warren. We all told her to stay away from him, but she was 'madly in love' with him. I still had my suspicions that he did drugs, though.

So anyways, she went to college with Warren but really, he was pretty much failing every class in college until he dropped out. Yet, Cameron still didn't leave his side and supported his dream of being in a band. We told her that she best stayed away from him because he will influence her but she didn't listen.

And soon enough, he was convincing her to drop out of college as well and move with him to New York City. We thought it was just a foolish thing and she'll snap out of it but she didn't. Things were starting to go out of hand as her grades dropped and all her attention was on him, so Elyse and dad threatened her that if she didn't leave him they'd kick her out of the house. Of course, they were bluffing and they never dared to even think of doing that, but I guess Warren took that as a chance to steer her against us and with him. So they took off to New York City without a word and this was the first time we saw her ever since.

Our parents regretted making that threat every single day since it happened even though Damon and I tried to explain that it wasn't their fault; it was that skunkbag's, Warren.

We took Cameron upstairs with me rolling her bag behind her. Weirdly, she only had one bag with her and it didn't seem that full. I decided not to question her about that or about her reason to being her in the first place—not that I minded at all—since she looked very exhausted with dark circles under her eyes.

Cameron was the exact mixture of Elyse and dad regarding her looks. She had a square chin, blue eyes, strawberry blonde hair, and a curvy body that I sometimes envied. Cameron was the star student of her class, joined almost every school club, captain of her cheer team, and was the valedictorian of her grade with her always perfect ponytail. That's why it was a wonder when she started dating Warren.

Damon walked in to dad and Elyse's room where we were sitting with Reece following him.

"Cameron? What happened?" he asked incredulously and sat down next to her.

Just as she was about to answer, dad walked in the room as well. His eyes widened and he rushed to envelop her in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're here. I'm so sorry, you can stay with Warren and do whatever you want but please just don't leave us again," dad pleaded.

A sob racked through her body and she covered her mouth with her hand. "I can't, I can't."

Reece furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?"

"I-I'm," she took a deep breath to calm herself, "I'm . . . pregnant."

No one said anything as I shared a look with Damon and Reece. Warren did all of this—he took her away from her studies, her family, her future, everything.

Elyse opened her mouth but no words came out. Everyone was as speechless and all I could do was stare down at my hands.

"When did this happen?" dad asked, his voice strangely calm.

"I found out last week. He-he said that if I didn't abort it, he'd l-leave me." Another sob racked through her body, destroying the wall she tried to build of staying calm.

   Elyse wrapped her arms around her and rocked back and forth. "It's okay, it'll be okay."

   The tears were now streaming freely down her cheeks as well as mine. I furiously wiped mine as I felt the anger bubble within me. I hated crying. This was all his fault. That bastard ruined her.

   "Where is he?" I cleared my throat, "where's Warren?"

   "He's staying at the nearest hotel from here."

   Damon and I shared a look once again and I saw that he had the same anger as mine.

   We will ruin him just like he ruined her, even if it's the last thing we do.

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   The house was very crowded, especially when Cameron moved in temporarily. There was Elyse, Sarah, dad, Damon, Reece, Cameron, and I. Yes, our house was pretty big with five bedrooms but so many people can fit in one. Sarah had her own room, and Reece slept in my room. So that meant that Cameron would have to sleep on an air mattress with Sarah.

   That day, we all went to sleep early because of the exhaustion. Cameron especially was very tired from traveling and being pregnant wasn't helping.

   The next morning, no one said anything or acknowledged Cameron's pregnancy just like yesterday. I quietly flipped pancakes as the sizzling sounds filled the void silence of all seven of us.

   Sarah cleared her throat. "So, we should all go on a family dinner since we're all finally reunited."

   "That would be a great idea," Reece said with enthusiasm in her voice, trying to make better of the situation, "but I'll stay at home."

   My eyebrows furrowed. "Reece, you're part of the family. You can't stay home alone."

   "I know, but this time I'll stay at home." She sent me a silent message through her eyes that I understood. Cameron was finally back after four years, and the news she delivered wasn't something small.

   I nodded before turning back to the pancakes. After cooking them all, I gave each of them their orders on a plate.

   "Food's amazing," Cameron said as she devoured her second plate of pancakes and bacon. I watched her licking her fork as I slid the third plate towards her. The pregnancy hormones were kicking in and she was eating like me except a hundred times worse. Not a wild beast, but a wild Ash.

   After breakfast, I went upstairs to take a shower and took my time in doing so. I scrubbed my body thoroughly with my magnolia shower gel and washed and conditioned my previously greasy hair properly. I enjoyed the feeling of the hot water beating at my back and untying the knots under my skin. It was a soothing feeling and I could've stayed there all day, but the hot water was starting to run out so I had to step out of the shower.

   I wrapped a fluffy white towel around my body and put everything back in its place before stepping  out of the bathroom. I left the door slightly ajar to make the heat escape and the bathroom cool down.

   "Hello," a familiar voice said, making me almost drop the towel and spin around so fast, I got dizzy.

   My eyes widened as my eyes caught Ryder lying on my bed with his hands behind his head.

   "What the hell," I said incredulously, tightening the towel around my body, "are you doing here?"

   He gave me a lazy loop sided grin. "I missed you."

   "I'm half naked!"

   "I am aware of that. I like the new look." I didn't miss his eyes racking my body.

   "Eyes up here, you perv. Ryder, please get out," I snapped.

   "I promise I won't look," he said.

   "I promise I'll use the Chlorox in my bathroom if I have to," I threatened and he finally left the room with a huff.

   After I was sure that the door was locked, I took my time in putting on my clothes and applying lotion on my arms and legs. I unlocked the door and gestured to Ryder to come in.

   "About damn time," he grumbled and walked in.

   I smirked as I sat down and started brushing the knots in my long thick hair. It had its perks but when it came down to brushing and washing it, I wanted to shave my head off.

   "So, my sister came," I said and looked at Ryder through the mirror. He was lying on his side with his head resting on his hand, staring me. I watched in amusement as he almost choked on his spit, his head slipping from his hand.

   "Sister? Wait, are you talking about Reece or a sister-sister?" He sat straight up again.

   "Cameron is my sister-sister," I said and explained everything to him from the beginning.

   An expression of shock played on his face. "Why did I just find out that you have a sister?"

   I shrugged. "I guess it never came up."

   "That Warren dude seems like a total jerk face."

   I tied my hair back and walked over to the bed before sitting next to him. "He is. And I need your help."

   "In what?"

   "In making him regret ever being alive."

   He watched the dark expression on my face and slowly nodded. "As long as we don't end up with murder charges, I'm all yours."

   "Don't worry, I won't kill him. He doesn't deserve to rest in peace."

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Author's Note:

Hey, guys! I'm sorry this chapter didn't have a lot of humor in it, but things needed to be laid out clearly. This was more of a filler-in chapter, and I hope any confusion was cleared up.

So, I got comments on the last chapter about Cameron and just to be clear: this was her first appearance in the book. You guys didn't forget any characters or anything. Also, I imagine Cameron as Shailene Woodley :)

Now that we got everything straight, what did you think about the chapter? Their sister? And please know that I'm open to constructive criticism so feel free to comment your thoughts.

Don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, and SHARE!

Much love,

MD ❤️