44 | Z A C K

For a long moment, I debated against my conscience. Should I apologize or drive straight to Daisy's place and demand an explanation from Jenna. Because that girl is sick in the gut. She claimed Cole was the neighbor when he was the brother all along. I was super confused at that moment I thought my brain wasn't functioning well.

"You might believe me but I know you're confused. Take a look at this photo." She said, hading me a photo.

I parked the car by the side of the road and took the photo. It was the photo I didn't get to see thanks to Jenna's interruption. In the picture was Daisy looking about a year or two younger smiling with her arms wrapped around a blond guy. My heart fluttered in my chest when I observe the resemblance.

They look strikingly similar except he looks a bit more older and his manly looks was different from Daisy's feminine features. But they have the same fire and stubbornness in their eyes they could almost pass as twins. And Cole's nose is crooked a little as if it was broken before. They look happy and I know they're very close to each other.

"He's my brother and he still thinks it's his duty to protect and take care of me. He lives in Detroit but comes here very often. He's currently managing a small but benefiting business with a group of his friends." She explains with a joyful glint in her eyes.

I gave her the photo back, unable to recover from the shock. "I'm so sorry about Andrew. And about Cole. I'm so sorry I treated you badly. I shouldn't have trusted Jenna and believe in her lies. I'm so sorry." I took her hand and kissed the back of it continuously.

She ran her fingers through my hair and pecked me on my forehead with a smile. "It's okay. I'm over it. It isn't your fault, Zack. I unintentionally made a deal and the deal was that she gets to do whatever she wants to me at home and I get to do whatever I want to her at school. But I guess she's winning both. She's trying to give me the bad, wicked reputation than I already have while she plays the innocent angel."

I tighten my grip on her hand as I try to calm down my temper. A wave of guilt hit me hard. I felt guilty for bring oblivious to the truth and treating the wrong person badly. I don't believe Jenna is mentally stable. What kind of a sixteen year old does that to his siblings?

"She accused Cole and made me believe he's the bad guy..." I gnawed out, my breaths suddenly turning into pants. "She lied about everything."

"But don't worry, it wasn't just you. She didn't lie to you only about what Cole did to her. She lied to our parents and they called the cops on Cole." she sighed deeply. "And no, Cole was only arrested but he wasn't jailed. Cole please not guilty and requested one last chance to prove it. So the judge agreed. He set her up and made sure it was just the two of them. When he asked her why she did what she did, she said she wanted him out so she could... have me to herself."

"It was being recorded and all charges were dropped against Cole. That was why Cole left and our parents didn't even care it wasn't his fault. The cops suggest that Jenna needs a psychologist but our parents refused to do so. That is why every single thing I did, they say I need to visit a psychologist." Daisy shook her head and look into my eyes.

"I don't want to go further into details because there are a lot of things you don't know and it's better I keep it that way. I don't care about what Jenna would do next to me. All I care about is my baby and my studies. We have exams to focus on now."

Fuck no. I don't want Jenna to hurt her and the baby. If Jenna is capable of accusing her brother of sexual assault and sending him to jail, I know she's capable of doing anything. And I can't seriously let anything happen to the wellbeing of Daisy and the baby.

"But Daisy..." I started to explain but she cut me off by placing a finger on my lips.

"Be a good boy and forget about this. Please, don't ever bring this up. I don't want to think about Andrew, Jupiter or any of the things my parents and Jenna did to me. They're all in the past and I want us to think about the future."

I wanted to argue further but I know it isn't the right time. Daisy just lost her best friend and I don't want to stress her than she already is. I back down and try to calm myself. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Daisy sigh in defeat. Gently, she got out of her seat and pressed her lips against mine. Her very scent flood my senses and swept away my anger. It was a soft, reassuring kiss that calm down my nerves and made me forget about my current issues. I gladly kissed her back before we broke apart.

"Take me back home." she muttered and I nod my head.

"With pleasure."

***

DAISY

When he parked the car, he told me to wait. I watch as he got out of the car, round to the passenger door and open it like a gentleman. I smirk when he offered a hand and I willingly accept it. I got out of the car, the freezing air hitting me hard even though I have Zack's sweater on. You looks unaffected with no sweater as his intense eyes stare into mind.

He brought the back of my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. In a rare moment of joy, I felt my face flush. He took a step forward and caged me in. We stare at each other what felt like hours before he leans down and closes his eyes. I didn't resist him when his lips ascend down to mine. I kissed him back, enjoying every moment of it.

We slowly pulled away before he plants those plump lips on my forehead. I inhaled his manly scent and almost melt. He gave me a knowing smirk and ushered me to go.

"See you tomorrow." He said with a wave and he lean against the car, watching me.

I turn to look at him as I walk the few steps. "What about your sweater?!" I called out.

"Keep it with you!"

I heard him say as I step on the porch. I stop to watch him go. He blew me a kiss and I playfully raise a questioning brow. He got inside his car and rode off. When I made sure he vanished, I opened the door and got inside the house.

"JARED! SHE'S BACK! GET THE PHONE!" was the first thing I heard when I enter.

Mom was sitting on the couch as if she has being waiting for my return. Immediately, she lurched herself on me like a predator on its prey. I was in so much shock I didn't even think about running. I horribly peer as Mom descend on me until we both fall on the ground with her on top of me. Thank God my hands supported me if not, I might have fall on my belly.

"Get off me!" I shrieked when I felt her heavy weight on me.

I heard footsteps descend down the stairs quickly. When I look up, Dad was glaring at me with Jenna behind him. That fake bitch was crying and I could vaguely see the pretence in them. I panicked in horror when I saw the phone in his hands.

"Mom, Dad, please listen to me! Don't do this to me! I swear I wasn't the one who stole the money! I have enough money!" I cried out in distress. All I want is to stay away from trouble no matter the cost. I want to focus on my exams and not shit about accusations.

"Well young lady," Mom spit out from above me. "This is your punishment. Do you think we're idiots?! We won't take your bullshit anymore. How did the money get inside your pack then? It got there on it's own?"

"Of course not, Mom! All I want to do is to focus on my exams and my baby. I promise I'll never interfere with your business anymore!" I vowed.

Dad let out a whoop of excitement. "You got yourself tangled in your mess, Daisy. Nobody dares to untangle it. You pick your pieces back all by yourself. I'm going to call the cops so they could give you a better punishment for abusing your sister."

In all my life, I've never shed tears in front of my family and that wicked bitch. But this is my limit. I'm human and I do have my limit. I know I have to let Jenna win again to go on with my normal life. I promised myself to bring her down but I can't anymore. I have to make the worse decision and submit to her to go on with my life.

"I'm so sorry, okay?" I searched through my brain for the ideal lie to save myself. I shut my eyes as I accept the defeat. "I took the money because Jupiter needed it. But when I went there, she was gone. Jupiter switched to another country for a better life! I lost my best friend."

The pain was back again. I couldn't help but tear up in agony. Never did I thought I'd experience this kind of heartbreak. I lost my second best friend again just like I lost Andrew. Why is my life falling apart again? At that moment, I wish that I had succumb to Cole's wish to take me into his custody.

"Dad, please don't call the cops. I told you it was out of guilt. I know my sister would never do that. Beside that point, she has the exams to focus on. Please Dad, don't call the cops. Please!" I heard her fake innocent voice begged Dad.

I don't want to go to prison or anything like and miss my exams. Going to jail while pregnant isn't exactly something good. It may also have an impact on any scholarship I would be given in the future. I was glad the cause of my problems aka Jenna has mercy on me.

"But darling..." Our parents started to complain but Jenna stuck up a hand.

"No Dad, I forgive her. She was desperate not to loose her best friend. When you're desperate, you are ready to do anything. Dad, Mom, please don't do this to her. She's also your daughter. It was a mistake she will never repeat. Right Daisy?" she purred with vileness I could only hear.

I gritted harshly. "Yes." I stare right into her devilish eyes. Satisfaction filled them when she heard my response.

"Alright. But you need to apologise to her. This will be the last time you abuse Jenna. If you do it again," Mom bends closer so that her lips were next to my ears. "You'll be thrown out just like your brother." her sinister in her voice sounded similar to Jenna's.

"APOLOGISE NOW!" Dad's voice echoed in the living room.

A shudder ran down my spine as I involuntarily gulped, unable to meet to look into Jenna's dark eyes. "I'm sorry Jenna, I'll never repeat that again. It was a mistake."

She took a couple of steps forward until her shoes appear just below my eye level. I was lying down with Mom on top of me like a servant bowing to a king. Jenna got exactly what she wanted. I look up to find her staring down at me with power radiating from her. A smirk was playing on her lips and she had her hands crossed behind her.

"It's okay, sister. You don't want to know what will happen next time you provoke me. Be a good girl and do the right thing."
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Pure evil😈

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