Chapter 54.3

Upstairs, Jason bolted to the third floor where the bedrooms were located. He dashed to Alina's room but stumbled when he heard her giggle from out the door.

"The hell do think you're doing?!" Jason literally kicked open the door and barged in with glaring eyes.

"Jason?!" Alina was lying on her bed, a few open textbooks laid out in front of her as Ken sat on a chair next to her. "What - did you just kick my door down?"

Jason ignored her and glared at Ken instead, a bubbling cauldron of anger brewing inside him.

"You," he pointed at Ken with killing intent before gesturing at the entrance behind him. "Out."

"Hey!" Alina moved in front of Ken and used her Practitioner Aura to cancel Jason's killing intent. "We're just studying!"

"Oh? Oh, is that what kids call it these days?" Jason asked in a sarcastically blithe tone before frowning at her with crossed arms. "Studying. Heh, studying my ass."

"It's the truth!" Alina exclaimed, though she slightly blushed as she recalled what happened between her and Ken earlier, especially since he saw her undress. Granted, she wasn't completely naked, but it was still embarrassing.

Thank God Jason didn't see that, Alina thought, counting herself lucky; when she heard Jason arriving, Alina had quickly pretended to study with Ken. Gotta thank Ken though. Had it only been me, Jason would've realized what I've been actually doing and I'd lose the suit or worse . . .

Jason noticed her shy demeanor and blushing cheeks and narrowed his eyes even more. He growled and started mumbling and grumbling incoherently under his breath before pointing out the door.

"If you two were really 'studying', you'd have used the library," he snarled.

"Oh please," Alina rolled her eyes. "I wanted to study in a more relaxing environment!"

"Oh, relaxing is it?" Jason repeated while fuming.

"Not that kind of relaxing!" Alina protested with crossed arms before huffing. "And even if it is, what's it to you?"

"What's it to - oh, you are grounded, young lady," Jason was surprised at Alina's reply before bursting with fury. He then turned to Ken and pointed at the door behind him with his thumb. "Get out, kid. My sis and I need to have a pointed chat."

"No, no. You stay here," Ken was about to get up but Alina ordered him to sit down again before turning to glare at Jason. "And you. You don't get to barge into my room and tell me whom I can study with!"

"As your guardian, you sure as hell bet I can," Jason replied heatedly. "And I say you can't date anyone - or even invite them home - till your twenty . . . five."

"Huh, you trying to turn me into a spinster?!" Alina asked incredulously. "And you were gonna mention twenty but changed it to twenty-five!"

"No, I was gonna say twenty-five from the beginning," Jason lied shamelessly. "And there's no such thing as a spinster these days."

"Whatever! You," Alina pointed at Jason with her finger, jabbing at his chest while she took a step forward. "Can't tell me what to do!"

"Yes, I can!" Jason also took a step forward and towered over Alina like a mountain with crossed arms. Sparks were flying between them and Ken was suddenly worried about whether they would start fighting.

Laughter, sweet and full of mirth, interrupted the two as they glowered at each other; Elizabeth entered the room with a smile. Her eyes, hidden behind her black sunglasses, shone with amusement as she watched the two fondly. Alina's eyes widened as she recognized Elizabeth; her uniquely gorgeous features and red hair were unforgettable.

"Ah! It's you!" Alina said loudly in surprise as she pointed at Elizabeth.

"You two know each other?" Jason asked, feeling left out as the two promptly ignored him.

Elizabeth also turned to look at the direction of Alina's voice. "Oh. I remember you from the hospital. You're Jason's sister?"

"Yeah, that's right . . ." Alina eyed her before briefly glancing at Jason and then back at Elizabeth. "Then you and Jason . . . ?"

"Hey, I'm still here, y'know?" an invisible Jason pointed out.

"Yep, it's actually why I was in the hospital that time," Elizabeth answered. "I wanted to check up on baby boy. Huh, small world, innit?"

Check up on me? Jason was touched as he gazed at Elizabeth softly.

"Baby boy, is it?" Alina narrowed her eyes and glared at Jason condescendingly. "Now isn't this real funny?"

Alina coughed and crossed her arms, turning her voice gruff and deep as she pretended to talk like Jason.

"Oh, you can't bring any classmates to study with at home, especially if they're boys, but I can bring my 200th girlfriend home and introduce her to you. D'oh!"

"Pfft -" Elizabeth covered her mouth to stifle her laughter as she turned her face away while Jason's face darkened.

"First, I don't sound like that," Jason raised a finger and told Alina sternly. "Anything like that. Second, this isn't my 200th girlfriend!"

"You're right," Alina replied with a nod. "If you count only the last four years, it's probably in the 500s, right?"

"Right," Elizabeth nodded in agreement. Jason turned to look at her from the corner of his eyes for a split second with worry in his eyes.

"You -" Jason speechlessly turned his gaze back at Alina with pursed lips before deciding to ignore her jab. "I'm a lot older than you right now so I can bring whoever I want home."

"Oh, that's funny. How old were you exactly when you kissed and slept with a girl?" Alina asked.

"Eleven," Elizabeth answered, shocking everyone including Jason before explaining with her lips puckered exaggeratedly, "He was asleep and pouting his mouth like so. I thought it was cute . . . until I felt him rubbing his hard-on on my - "

"Lizzy!" Jason protested and Elizabeth looked at him innocently.

"What? It's true."

"Eww," both Ken and Alina replied with a shudder. the latter wasn't sure which was worse: the fact that it happened with Elizabeth or hearing that Jason was always a horny kid.

Wait a minute . . . Alina froze as she realized the crux of the matter. He was just a kid! And she was . . . ungh, I don't even wanna think about it. Now I know why he was into mom. Damned horndog was a milf lover!

"Look at you," Alina said as she looked at Jason as though he were a criminal. "You were horny before you were even a teen! Hypocrite, you can't tell me what to do!"

"You -"

"Speaking of which . . ." Alina ignored Jason and turned to Elizabeth. "I'm Alina, Alina Sage. And I'm assuming you're Elizabeth Hyde? The Hyde?"

"Guilty," Elizabeth replied as she shook hands with Alina.

"Huh," Alina studied Elizabeth before grinning.

Interesting, Alina thought. I can feel a breath of Qi in her. Then Jason . . . ? He must trust her a lot.

"So you were together with Jason before, eh? Guess now I know why he was your biggest fan," Alina said while not exposing any of her inner surprise.

"Oh? Is that right?" Elizabeth turned to Jason with a grin.

"Yep," Alina nodded, a glint in her eyes as she threw Jason under the bus. "He has all your albums and always sponsored your events. In secret, of course."

"Of course," Elizabeth said softly as her eyes landed on Jason who was glaring at Alina. This entire time, he was silently signaling her to remain quiet, but the latter pretended not to notice.

Damn brat, wait till I get my hands on you, Jason thought. I'm gonna make you do a thousand chin ups with grav-weights, just wait.

"So, can you do me favor and drag my stup - I mean, your boyfriend away?" Alina leaned and whispered to Elizabeth in an audible voice. "He's kinda being a jerk here."

"Hey," Jason protested. He was sure that Alina intentionally called him stupid but was sadly ignored once more.

"Sure," Elizabeth nodded with a small laugh. She noticed that Alina wasn't angry or judging her, even after knowing her history with Jason.

Rather, she seemed to like Elizabeth. What Elizabeth didn't know was that Alina had grown up with Jason and knew him very well; the number of women who were resistant to his charms could be counted in one hand. Plus, he was clearly into older women from a young age. So, from Alina's perspective, it wasn't Elizabeth's fault that she took Jason when he was child. Rather, it was entirely his fault and his alone.

"Wait, what?" Jason was utterly bemused when he saw Elizabeth agreeing to Alina's request. Before he had time to argue, Elizabeth grabbed him by the arm and began dragging him out.

"Let's go, baby boy."

"Wait, wait, wait," Jason paused and turned to Alina. "Leave the door open."

"Ungh, you goddamn-" Alina stomped her foot as she roared.

"I don't care. Keep the door open, or I won't leave," Jason stood still and didn't bulge a muscle yet alone grimace, even when Elizabeth pinched his waist.

"Alright, fine," Alina relented. "Just get out!"

"Hmm," Jason grunted and turned to look at Ken once more. He used two fingers to point at his eyes before thrusting them at Ken, giving him the universal 'I'm watching you' gesture before Elizabeth dragged him away.

Alina sighed and ran a hand through her hair, trying to fix the bird's nest that it was before turning to Ken.

"I-I'm sorry," she told him apologetically. "I didn't know he'd come home so early."

Early? Ken thought as he glanced at the time.

"It's alright," Ken shrugged. "Honestly, I kinda get where he's coming from. I'd be the same if it were Nikki . . ."

Ken's eyes faltered as the thought of Nikki having a boyfriend danced across his mind.

"Yeah, I'd definitely be the same," Ken muttered as he clenched his fist. The very thought of someone dating his little sister who wasn't grown up yet had him fuming

Ungh, Alina rolled her eyes before sympathetically praying for Nikki. Looks like it's a big brother thing. Poor Nikki. Wait, poor me.