by Lannah Smith
"Don't fucking lie to me, Evans. I know that look on your face. And the only person who could put it there is your asshole of a brother."
That's when I found it, it wasn't very far. It slid into my skin, giving me that bolster of courage, the cool ice princess that I was known for.
I looked at him. Regardless of what he'd seen, he was no more part of my life as I was to his anymore.
"Mind your own business," I replied frostily, staring him down.
It was then, to my shock, that John leaned forward, his fingers lifting to wrap themselves around the back of my neck.
"Don't push me away," he murmured gently. "You keep pushing me away, Terry."
I drew in breath.
Still with a soft voice, he said, "You're a real pain in the ass, you know that? But I still find myself wanting more of you. Pathetic, right? "
No. He wasn't pathetic. He could never be pathetic to me.
He didn't give me a chance to respond, he kept talking, "You never really said you loved me," he said in a sad voice that made my heart hurt. "Sophia told me she loves Leon but the girl who I love didn't even say it to me. Not even once."
I didn't answer. How could I?
"And I have so many things to deal with right now. Rohan's problems, Leon's depression, Skull's hotheadedness... not to mention my family's bullshit. I keep trying to sort them, I'm so fucking busy trying to resolve them. I've been thinking about it, Terry. I've been thinking about how I treated you. And you were right. I couldn't make you first place. So maybe you're right about dumping me."
He pulled me closer, both hands on my neck, his eyes glittering.
"But I don't want you to hate me," he pleaded.
My throat locked. "John..." I whispered.
"I never wanted you to hate me."
"I don't hate you, John," I told him.
"So let me help," he said fervently. "Let me help you. Let me at least do that for you. Let me fix things for you."
I couldn't cry. Not in front of him.
Pulling his hands from me, I shook my head and said, "You can't help me, John."
"I can at least try."
"There's nothing you can do."
"I can protect you," he said, sounding angry. "I can protect you even from Haru."
I'd had enough. No more. If he keeps on talking, my control would crumble.
"I don't need your protection." My head came up and I looked at him. "I don't need you."
His eyes flashed.
Then he let me go and got out of the car.
"Did you even cry when you broke up with me?" he asked before he closed the door and my heart panged. "Looking at you, I'm betting you didn't."
Shutting my eyes tight, I listened to the slam of the door and his footsteps fading away.
Oh, if you knew, I thought bitterly.
If you only knew.
Chapter 31
Three years ago, Terry at age fourteen
"Come, Terry. I want you to meet someone."
Terry didn't want to be presented to company. She had far more important things to do with her day. Like studying for her exams next week. Like hiding from her brother, who was visiting from Japan.
"She's still in middle school," her father was explaining to someone in the room as she entered. "And you won't have trouble teaching her. She's very clever and catches on quite quickly."
Her brows knitted together as her father put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. A young handsome man who looked barely a day over twenty stood in front of them. He smiled at her in a polite manner and she forced a smile on her face, wondering who he was and what her father meant about him teaching her.
"This is Ethan Cameron, Terry," her father began the introductions. "He's going to be your tutor."
Terry was sure her eyes had bugged out.
A tutor? Why was her father hiring a tutor? She wasn't doing badly with her grades. In fact, she had always made the honor roll since grade school.
Her father went on, "Ethan, this is my daughter, Terry."
"Hello, Terry," Ethan murmured. "It's nice meeting you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Cameron," she found the words to say.
Some movement caught her eye and she glanced at the sofa. Haru was sitting there, watching everything in silence. There was distrust in his eyes everytime he looked at Ethan Cameron, displeasure too. Terry briefly wondered if this was because their father hadn't shared this him. After all, their father had always made sure to tell Haru of his decisions and to tell him of his plans.
But soon, Ethan Cameron won Haru over.
Because he was genuinely friendly, honest and most of all, loyal, traits that were hard to find in a person in their circle.
And soon, Ethan Cameron won Terry over.
Simply because he was the kind of person she wished her brother would be.
Ethan had changed.
Ever since that dinner in his home, he had changed.
Gone were his easy smiles, his quick laughter.
Gone was his happy-go-lucky nature.
Could Haru see what he'd done to him? I wondered as I snuck a peak at him. My family, with the exception of my mother, was eating dinner in a restaurant with Ethan and his parents. I was guessing yes. Haru could see what he was doing to his friend. But he didn't care as long as he got what he wanted.
I remembered how agonizing it was that night.
"Terry! How delightful to see you again."
How torturous it was to enter the Cameron house, knowing that these good people were being toyed by my brother and his greed for more wealth and power.
"Not as delightful as I am to see you again, Mrs. Cameron," I said, putting on a practiced smile on my face as I stepped into her foyer.
How I felt like I'd gone to hell.
"Oh, none of that Mrs. Cameron stuff," The regal woman in front of me admonished gently as she kissed my cheek. "That's my mother-in-law. Call me Mona."
My throat tightened and I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. God, how I wished I wasn't here. Anywhere but here. Fight if I could so I could be free.
"Alright, Mona," I told her, taking good care not to let the smile drop from my lips.
Mona linked an arm through mine and chuckled. "So did you see my son?"
I nodded. "He's coming with Haru."
"Your father should have come," Mona regretfully sighed as she led me to the living room. "What rotten timing that he had to go to Japan."
"It can't be helped. He had to meet some government officials and he couldn't postpone the meeting."
"Hello, Terry," Mona's husband, Patrick Cameron, rose from the sofa when we entered and walked up to us. "Welcome to our home."
"Thank you for inviting me, sir," I told him.
"None of that sir business, dear. Call me Patrick."
Mona laughed. "That's what I said."
Taking a deep breath, my eyes searched around the elegant but simple living room. The Cameron family was high above the social circle of the rich but, like the Gideons, preferred a simpler lifestyle. They were good folks but they were too trusting. If they weren't, they wouldn't have let Haru manipulate them.
"We're here," a voice rang out and I turned. Ethan had arrived and following closely behind him was Haru. "Sorry, we're late. We had too much fun playing tennis that we lost track of time."
Haru quietly exchanged greetings with Ethan's parents and shook their hands. All the while, his eyes were on me, as if searching for any signs of me misbehaving.
"Did you win?" Mona asked as she kissed Ethan's cheek.
"Of course!"
"You let him win, didn't you Haru?" Patrick asked with a wide grin.
"I let him have one game," Haru replied and Ethan's parents laughed.
Ethan rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Are you well, Terry?" he asked me.
Everyone's eyes were on us. Mona and Patrick's expressions were delighted while Haru looked calmly at us.
"Yes, Mr. Cam - I mean, Ethan," I
answered quietly.
"I heard you got in the student council. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry to disturb you guys but I think dinner is ready," Mona interrupted with a huge smile. "We can continue the talk while we eat."
Involuntarily, I clenched my fists and Haru noticed. His gaze darkened, giving me a silent warning, and I relaxed my hands.
Dinner was a happy affair, at least for the three oblivious people in the room. Dinner was pure misery to me while for Haru, dinner was a game of chess. After it was over, Haru made me stay behind in the living room while he talked to the three of them in Patrick's library. I didn't know what he said, but when the four of them came back, they all had varying expressions on their faces.
Mona and Patrick were both elated.
Haru was triumphant.
And Ethan was dumbstruck.
He met my eyes, could perhaps see the concern in them, because he made a smile just for me. Then he and Haru took me home while the both of them went somewhere.
Since then, Ethan didn't tutor me anymore. When I asked Haru about it, he said I was too old for one. Whenever I met him at school, he'd still smile and greet me but there was something in his features that made me sad. I liked him, considered him as a friend and even an older brother. I tried to speak to him. I didn't know what exactly I'd tell him but maybe if I could find out what he thought of this whole affair then I'd be satisfied. But it seemed he was avoiding me.
"I wonder what happened to the Russos," Patrick spoke and I looked at him. "They used to be in every event in the city two years ago. Then suddenly, they just up'd and left."
My muscles locked and my fingers clenched around the silverware.
Haru noticed, put a hand on top of mine and squeezed with warning.
"I've heard they've put their fortune in the wrong hands and went bankrupt," Dad answered him, picking up his wine glass.
"Weren't you in a relationship with their son, Terry?" Ethan asked me. "Lucas Russo, wasn't it?"
Haru's hand squeezed tighter and I swallowed before answering, "We broke up."
Mona's eyes turned concerned. "I'm sorry to hear that."
I wasn't. Not in the least.
"I was too young to be in a relationship anyway," I explained. "And I wanted to focus more on my studies."
"He was a polite boy, I remembered," Ethan thoughtfully and unhelpfully supplied. "And brilliant. But not as brilliant as John Steele if he applied himself. Or Haru, for that matter."
Haru smiled at him. "No one can match my top-notch brains."
Ethan shook his head, chuckling. "No one can match your top-notch arrogance either."
The table burst into laughter and I quickly lifted my lips into a smile. Ethan was trying to be alright. And I should do the same. For the both of us. Still I wished he'd let me speak to him alone.
"So when exactly will this marriage be?" Mona gushed excitedly and my eyes cut to her then to my plate.
Ethan shook his head at her question. "She isn't even legal yet, Mom."
"Sorry, dear. I'm just too excited to have grandchildren from you and Terry. It's too quiet in the house."
"Then make me a sister."
Dad laughed, loud and with great hilarity. "Maybe after she graduates from college, Mona," he replied when he was done, still chuckling. "As much as I want grandchildren, I want my daughter to finish her studies first."
Thank you, Dad.
Haru was watching me from the corner of his eyes. When I met his gaze, he looked as though he was about to laugh. I resisted the urge to stomp on his foot and let my eyes wander around the restaurant.
Then I saw John and my blood ran cold.
His face was crimson with fury as he stood at the door. His narrowed eyes were on Haru. Then they turned to Ethan.
My heart started thumping in my chest.
He heard.
Oh, God, he heard.
He started for our table, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. I was sure I'd turned to stone with terror. I'd even stopped breathing, I was too scared of what he was going to do.
But when he reached our table, he just took my hand, pulled me up and dragged me to the exit. My tablemates didn't speak in surprise, my father was startled at this sudden turn of events. Mona's and Patrick's eyes were wide as they stared after us. Ethan looked like he was about to either smile or laugh. And Haru, oh God, he was so angry.
All of these I saw at once as John escorted me out.
"Let me go, Steele," I snapped when we were outside. "What are you even doing here?"
"Shut up. Just shut up."
"Excuse me?"
"Please." We crossed the street, pausing to let a car pass before he walked with me in tow again. "Just stop talking."
I managed to wrench my hand from his grasp and with a growl of annoyance, he whirled around.
"Do I have to pick you up and sling you over my shoulder just to get you in my fucking car?" he snapped.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I returned.
"Do you want to go back there?"
"Y-yes."
"Bullshit." My heart began to beat faster but John wasn't finished. "You looked like you'd rather stick needles in your eyes then bear one more minute of that bullshit with Haru. I know he's involved in whatever mess you're in right now. And I wish you wouldn't put up with him."
I pulled in breath then let it go to say, "I'm fine, Steele."
"Bullshit."
"Stop saying bullshit!" I shouted, clenching my hands. "I don't need you to tell me I'm not fine. I told you I don't need your protection. I don't need you to save me from Haru."
"I'm not saving you, Evans. I'm saving him. From my fists!"
"You're not even making sense!
"You're the one who's not making any fucking sense!" he yelled and I winced. Fortunately, it was dark and there were barely any people walking on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, the people who were walking past us stared, wondering what was going on. "Did I hear right? You're getting married? To Ethan Cameron? You're getting married to him and having his babies?"
"I-it's an arranged marriage," I found myself whispering.
"Arranged marriage? Who the fuck even has arranged marriages anymore? This is the 21st century, Evans. Tell your brother and father they're fucking welcome to join us in this century anytime soon."
"John Steele."
My heart stopped beating faster and started slamming against my chest. Haru was coldly staring at us, so cold I shivered. My fingers tensed and the nails embedded deeper into the flesh of my palms. John pushed me behind him and in momentary terror, I let him protect me.
"Always a pain in the neck, I see," I heard Haru say softly, his voice awful. "I'd appreciate it if you'd return my sister to me, John."
"And I'd appreciate it if you return to whatever circle of hell you crawled out from," John shot back, his tone biting.
"I don't have time for your games. My sister and I don't. Now let her pass so we could go back to dinner with the Camerons."
I licked my lips and decided to do what I could do to defuse the situation.
Which meant apologize and quick.
Stepping from behind John, I started, "Oniisan, I—"
But John caught my arm and pulled me behind him again. "She's not going back there," he growled, his voice rumbling with fury that I feared he'd do harm to my brother. "Go back by yourself and tell your father she's not getting married to Ethan fucking Cameron. Seriously, Haru, you've always had a screw loose in your head but I'm beginning to think that screw is looser than I thought."
"I fail to see how any of this is your business, John. And besides, this isn't her first arranged marriage."
I felt the breath leave John's body in whoosh and saw his body lock. "What the hell?" he breathed.
"Terry, get over here. Now."
I jumped to do his bidding. John captured my hand to stop me again. Reluctantly, I looked at him. He was looking at me with pl
eading eyes, begging me not to go to my brother.
"You don't need to listen to him, Terry," he told me.
"Why shouldn't she?" Haru asked.
