Chapter 3

Kevin looked completely out of it. He dropped the steel pipe and concrete, walked over to me, and carefully reached out, wanting to stroke my forehead.

"Daisy, be real with me. Did something happen to you?" he asked.

I saw the scrape on the back of his hand from holding too tightly and his bloodshot eyes. My nose stung, and I almost cried.

Last time, this was the exact spot where I said the worst things to the person who cared about me most.

I said, "Kevin, you're not my brother. You're nothing but a brute who solves everything with violence. I hate you."

What kind of look did he have on his face back then?

I thought it was just like now. Shocked, then hurt, then totally disappointed.

He left, and after that, we barely spoke. We became strangers, and even when I died, he never found out what really happened.

"Kevin," I sniffled, my voice thick with tears. "I'm sorry."

Kevin's hand froze in mid-air. "What did you say?"

"I said I'm sorry." I looked up, finally unable to hold back my tears.

I said, "I was stupid back then. I trusted the wrong guy and kept hurting you and our parents over someone who didn't deserve it. Please forgive me."

I cried so hard that I couldn't even talk, like all the pain and regret I'd been holding inside just burst out.

Kevin completely panicked. He'd never been able to deal with me crying.

"Hey, don't cry." He fumbled to wipe my tears, awkward and a bit rough. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's my bad. I was too impulsive. Come on, stop crying, okay? I'll take you to grab some food."

He hadn't changed at all. No matter what I did wrong, the moment I cried, he would be the first to give in.

I grabbed his hand and shook my head. "Kevin, let's go home. I miss Mom and Dad."

"For real?" Kevin was stunned for a moment, then his face broke into a huge grin. "Yeah. Let's go right now."

He grabbed my hand like he was worried I'd back out, walking fast toward home.

Sunlight slipped through the leaves and warmed us. Looking at his wide back in front of me, I felt safer than I ever had.

'Mom, don't cry. I'm here with you. It's good to go home. Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Kevin love you so much.' Cameron's gentle voice felt warm and comforting, easing the sadness inside me.

Yeah, home. The place I never got to return to before. This time, I was going to protect it no matter what.

*****

When we walked in, my parents were pacing around the living room, obviously already knowing what went down downstairs.

When they saw Kevin and me walk in together, my mom's eyes welled up with tears. She rushed over, grabbed me, and looked me over, worried. "Daisy, are you alright? Did Darren do anything to you?"

My dad kept his face serious, but the worry in his eyes showed anyway.

I shook my head and hugged her, my voice muffled. "Mom, I'm okay. Sorry for scaring you."

My dad snorted. "Now you finally realize you messed up, huh? You caused this whole mess over some guy and made a disgrace of the Garner family."

"Alright, that's enough." My mom shot him a glare, then gently patted my back, her voice full of concern. "You're home now. That's all that matters."

Kevin scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. "Daisy is truly sorry. She even stood up to Darren with me just now."

He went over the whole thing again, full of excitement, especially the part where I handed him the chunk of concrete. He made it sound like I'd pulled off some heroic move.

My parents were left speechless, staring at us in shock.

Finally, my dad looked at me, his gaze conflicted. "Have you really made up your mind?"

I nodded firmly. "Yeah, I've thought it through. From today on, I'm done with Darren."

Cameron said in my head, 'That's right. Cut him off completely. Just seeing that loser is enough to make me sick.'

I nearly burst out laughing at Cameron's words.

My dad studied me for a long moment, then let out a long sigh, his tense face finally relaxing. "Alright, I'm glad you've figured it out. Let's have dinner. Your mom made your favorite pork ribs."

At that moment, I felt like I'd been drifting for so long and had finally found a place to feel at home.

Dinner was cozy, and the whole family was enjoying the moment. My mom kept talking to me.

My dad, though quiet, occasionally joined the conversation.

Kevin praised every dish and insisted I try them.

This familiar warmth almost made me cry.

I promised myself that no one would ever take this away from me again.

*****

After two days in the hospital, Darren refused to give up. Since he couldn't confront things head-on, he started playing dirty.

Soon, a trending post popped up on the campus forum. Its headline read: [Bloody betrayal. My girlfriend's privileged brother broke my leg, and now she's dumping me for money.]

Darren made himself out to be a smart, well-behaved underdog from a poor family. Kevin was the arrogant, bullying rich kid.

And as for me, I was portrayed as a gold-digging opportunist, enamored with wealth.

He went on about how Kevin supposedly beat him up for no reason, breaking his leg badly, with doctors warning about permanent damage.

Then he said I had cruelly ditched him when he needed me and even teamed up with Kevin to frame him for stealing.

To top it off, he posted a photo of himself on a hospital bed, looking pale with a thick cast on his leg. That crying face made it really convincing.

The campus was in uproar. Students who didn't know the full story rushed to defend him.

[This is ridiculous. Just because he's rich doesn't mean he can hit whoever he wants.]

[Daisy is such a bitch. They seemed so in love before, and now she's turning against him.]

[Poor guy. He got played and now his leg's broken.]

[Say no to violence. The school must punish Kevin.]