I sneered, “Frame her? I just came back last
night, how would I frame her? Did you see the
scribbles? Look at how ugly they are, I could
never write something so awful.”
“Sis…” Sarah sobbed, tears streaming down
her face,
“I know I hurt you on your birthday, but you
don’t need to hire someone to do this to me.”
The accusation made my brother even
angrier.
He grabbed my arm with a look of
disappointment, I had never seen in his eyes. “I was just trying to be understanding after
you were gone for so long. I was planning to
give you a warm welcome home, but you take things too far. You’d even hurt Sarah!
<
“You should have stayed gone, and never
come back!”
He pushed me away, “Get out! I never want to
see you again!”
I stumbled, almost falling down the stairs.
I caught the railing, then turned to give him
one last look,
“You almost got what you wanted.”
If it wasn’t for Dean.
My brother just stared at me blankly.
I turned and walked downstairs.
Icould bear Sarah’eu
<
“Brother, don’t you think that was a bit too
harsh?”
My brother replied, “Don’t worry. She’ll be
back, and when she does, don’t be soft on
her. She needs to learn a lesson. No one in
the real world will put up with her like this.”
I lowered my head and saw the suitcase by
my door, the one my nanny had just rolled
out.
Those were my things that Mrs. Davis had
rushed to pack up.
She sounded apologetic, “I’m sorry, Miss.
Your brother told me to clear out all your
things.”
I couldn’t help but laugh humorlessly.
<
When had he ever cared about me?
I wasn’t planning on staying long anyway, I
just needed a place to crash.
I’d already applied for dorm housing at
school.
It wouldn’t be long, but it was better than
staying at home.
As I lugged the suitcase up the stairs, it felt
heavier than I expected. I lost my grip, and
the whole thing went tumbling down.
Crap! There was someone down there!
Before I could run after it, a strong, well-
defined hand grabbed the handle.
く
The suitcase, which felt like it weighed a ton,
was like a toy in his hand.
“It’s you again.” He grinned at me.
I thought I was seeing things, “Dean…? Dean
Miller?”
Not only was he my savior, he was also my
classmate.
A couple stood by a Ferrari behind him. Dean
looked back.
“Mom, Dad, I’ll drop her off and then I’ll come
join you.”
“Wait a second!”
く
But they ignored Dean and grabbed my
hands.
After looking me over, they frowned,
“Sweetheart, you’re…that early admit from
MIT?”
I was stunned.
Dean’s dad pointed at my school ID, “That’s
her! Claire Bennett!”
Dean’s face fell.
His parents just looked at each other and
then, in unison, grabbed my hands, “Do you
tutor? You have to tutor our son! Please!”
At that moment, Dean, who always seemed
cool as a cucumber, looked completely
く
Of course, I accepted their offer.
I was grateful for his help, and it was the
least I could do to pay him back.
But Dean, who was usually so agreeable, was
a slippery eel when it came to studying. No
matter what I tried, he’d always find a way to
wiggle out of my grasp!
Just as he was about to get up and go play
video games again, I quickly went after him,
“You already repeated a grade! You can’t just
give up now!”
He stopped, turned back, and chuckled,
“Don’t worry, kid. There’s more than one path
in life.”
“But…”
く
“Chill.”
Before I could argue, he reached out and
ruffled my hair.
The sudden motion made me completely
forget what I was saying.
By the time I snapped back to reality, he had
already gone upstairs and disappeared.
Even though I said I didn’t want to get paid,
Dean’s parents kept transferring me money
daily.
I felt guilty taking it. If he wasn’t going to
study, I didn’t want the money.
So, I started showing up at their house as
く
much as I could, just trying to get him to
focus for a minute!
