“Anyone who laid a hand on Jen better get
down on their knees at the front entrance, and
stay there till I say you can move!”
The guys didn’t dare argue, they just scurried
out to obey his command.
<
“Jenna, don’t worry. I will never let anyone hurt
you again.”
He ran his hand gently down my back.
“Let’s get you to a doctor. Once you’re all
patched up, I promise, I’m going to make them
pay!”
I nodded, burying myself in Ethan’s embrace.
Between the shock and the stress, I passed out.
When I came to, I was nestled in a warm bed.
The room was decorated with the frilly pink
princess theme of my childhood, everything
exactly as I remembered it before I left.
Ethan was sitting by my bedside, propped up on
one arm.
I stirred, trying to sit up.
Ethan aontly nuchod mo back down “Whoo
<
8:18
614
Ethan gently pushed me back down. “Whoa,
easy there, Jen. You’ve got multiple fractures.
You need to take it easy…”
His voice cracked, choked with guilt.
Being back with my real family overwhelmed
- me. I couldn’t hold back the tears.
“Ethan, it hurts so bad…”
Every ache in my body was a constant reminder
that none of this was a dream.
Ethan stroked my hair, his voice soft and
soothing. “It’s all my fault, baby sis. I let this
happen…”
I shook my head, the tears spilling down my
face.
“Ethan, why does our family run this way?” I
finally asked the question that haunted me the
<
8:18
In my memories, our family owned a mental
hospital, but they would never do anything
illegal or unethical.
What was that room of horrors all about?
614
Nausea rose in my throat, beading sweat on my
forehead.
Ethan handed me a glass of water. “I’m so
sorry. I’m going to find out who’s responsible
and make them pay.”
“Mom and Dad are overseas right now. I was in
charge,” Ethan said, and his shoulders
straightened, filled with guilt.
I knew that they were good people. In my mind,
my parents and Ethan were amazing people.
The “hospital” was just a place for unique
people to go and live in the world.
<
The only issue was that most of them were not
able to control their emotions. That was the
thing that worried my parents the most.
When I was six, my parents thought that I was
not able to live a normal life because of it.
That was why they gave me to the Thompsons.
I thought of the Thompsons. All of my feelings
were lost for them.
When they adopted me, they only promised that they would provide for me.
They made me study everything, from
instruments to etiquette.
My life was not my own.
Ethan sensed my discomfort, “Jenna, what’s on
your mind?”
く
I sighed, looking out the window at the garden.
It was said that my room was always the best
room, no matter what.
My voice started to crack. “Will I be able to stay
here? With you guys.”
Ethan paused, not expecting me to say it.
“Of course, Jenna. We always want to bring you
back. We are all just scared that you will hate
us for abandoning you.”
He held me, and he started to shake.
Broken bones need time to heal, and I was
tortured.
Ethan was worried that I would not heal.
I touched his arm and laughed. “It is okay, I’m
not scared when you’re with me.”
く
When I was able to walk, Ethan was relieved. He
had a small smile on his face.
He has been busy trying to resolve the situation
with Marcus and the gang.
He was always happy, but I knew the issue was too great for him to not worry.
Ethan took me to the courtyard. Everyone who had hurt me was kneeling in the center.
There was blood on their knees. The knees of
many people were shaking. When they saw
Ethan and me, they started begging for
forgiveness.
“Sir, please! Forgive us!”
“We didn’t know it was your sister, it was
Marcus!”
Ethan had his goons hold blades up to their
<
8:19
necks.
I didn’t see where Marcus had gone.
624
Ethan saw my thoughts. “Marcus was new. This
whole group of people have lost it. He just
manipulated them and they went along with it.”
He paused.
“He ran.”
Ethan looked at me with guilt.
“Could it be Amy? I feel like Marcus and Amy
are close and they have done this before.”
He nodded.
“Ethan, let’s find Amy.”
“Yeah, I also need to question the Thompsons.
8:19
Ethan’s eyes flashed.
DRET
624
He then kicked the blade on the ground.
