Chapter 4: Broken Glass

I stare at Jason, crying like a baby, for like an eternity. My brain is spinning as my stomach is churning. For the life of me, I have never had the slightest clue of what's coming.

"He is a fucking monster! He will pay for everything that he's done to you!" I grunt, gritting my teeth in anger.

"I saw him. I saw what he is capable of! He can't be stopped unless he is captured," Jason grunts.

"I know. I have suffered in his hands, so I totally agree with you!"

Driven by my emotions, I just hug my brother tight to show my sympathy as we both shed our tears.

"Hush... now~ that's all in the past. And Jason, it was never your fault. You made a mistake, but you just didn't have a choice," I say, wiping his tears.

Beep.

I check my phone. It's an unregistered number.

"~It'S Me. I have to sneak out to find a phone. Do as I say... ask questions later! Please be careful. The beast is coming!~'

"Who is that?" Jason asks while looking at my astonished reaction.

"Some lunatic," I reply. I give him a warning look not to keep on asking. He shrugs.

"Why don't you wash yourself up? You stink!"

"What?! I take a shower every day. What the fuck!"

"I will prepare a warm bath for you. It will help you relax."

I go straight to his bathroom and fill the tub with hot water. Then, I pour some bubble bath and some rose oil to soothe his weary body.

Honestly, I am utterly shocked by my brother's horrifying revelation. I wipe my tears.

"Your bath is ready your highness!"

"Thank you, my loyal servant!"

He goes inside the bathroom as I make myself busy watching a fashion magazine.

When I am sure that he's already dipped in the bathtub, I go inside--- to his horror.

"What the fuck!" he yells while covering his chest with his arms. I laugh out loud at his reaction.

I gesture at him to shut up as I walk closer. His eyes widen. Then, he holds his breath as I grab his hand.

"What are you doing?!"

I muffle his scream with my hands before removing the ring from his finger. I let go of him when I finally toss it into the tub.

"What the hell was that? Care to explain what's going on?" he growls as he tries to pool the bubbles on the water above his body.

I laugh at his action. And I tease him by fanning the bubbles away using the magazine I was holding.

"Fuck! Get out of here--- you perverted old witch!" he screams before splashing water to me. I laugh as I dodge it.

"Just checking out why women swoon at the sight of you."

Looking so horrified, he crosses his arms over his chest, trying to protect himself from my teasing. He yells, "Are you crazy?!"

"That question is invalid coz you already know I am!"

Then, his hands grope on the counter above his head and find a bottle of shampoo. He grabs it and throws it at me.

"Your ring is bugged!" I exclaim, stopping him from splashing me again.

His face furrows and asks me, "What? What do you mean bugged?"

I show him the text message and his eyes widen.

"Sophia didn't give you that ring as a welcome gift. She deliberately made you wear it to monitor your location and record our conversations whenever she's not around!"

"How do you know the sender's Sophia?"

"She has her initials."

"The capital letters are intentionally typed which stand for her name. I think your brain is getting a little crapy, little brother!" I tease.

"Damn! You're not shitting on me?"

I shake my head.

"But... why is she telling this now?! Are you sure she can be trusted?"

"I am sure she can be!"

"And why is that? She was able to fool everyone in plain sight. Besides, she nearly killed you!"

"She has no choice! She has to help me--- whether she likes it or not!"

"Hmmmm... seems like you laid your card on the table again? Tell me... how did you have her concession?!"

"That's a secret trade."

"C'mon!"

"Wash up! Rob will be here soon."

I say, nipping his insistence. He looks at me with creases on his forehead.

"Are we going somewhere?"

"Mansion. Your nephews are waiting."

"Why don't you let them come down here?"

"It is safer there for all of you!"

I say before leaving him bathe.

Click! Click!

"Merideth!" he thunders as I hastily walk out of the room, laughing out loud.

Meanwhile...

In prison, an unexpected visitor comes.

"Father!" Sophia exclaims upon seeing his father. She cries while embracing him tight.

"How are you sweetie?" her father asks as they sit down.

"I'm scared."

"What happened?"

"I failed, Marco! I am sorry. I got so shit scared and confused, so I froze. Her brother came just in time for me to fire another bullet!"

Marco studies her reaction. She looks down.

"Don't apologize to me. You should apologize to your mom!"

Sophia bows her head and rubs her palms on her face.

"You're right! I failed my mother."

"Your mom was the sweetest person I have ever met. Too bad... she was taken from us. It's really hard to accept that she's gone," he sobs.

"I'll do what I can to avenge my mother!" Sophia says, shaking in rage.

"Good. It frustrates me to know that the person who killed Paula is still alive."

There is a deafening silence. Then, Sophia asks her father, "When will you get me out of here? I already miss home!"

Marco's expression turns cold as he stares at her. She can feel the chills crawling up her skin.

"Because of your stupidity, you were busted. Now, you are asking me to get you out as soon as possible?" he growls as he pounds the table, making Sophia flinch.

"If only you killed her, we won't be having this fucking problem!"

She's surprised by how his warm and fatherly tone changes in an instant. It's her first time to see this kind of reaction from his father, so she's utterly shocked and scared by it.

Marco realizes Sophia's perplexed reaction. Therefore, he pulls his acting skills again--- sobbing and slamming the table as if in pain.

"I am sorry! I just miss your mother so much!"

"I understand! No matter what--- Merideth must die!"

He nods and smiles.