3.6

A strange, penetrating chill can be felt in the room when Joseph sits across from Danielle and measures her with an envious gaze. She does not remain indebted to him and does not let her gaze drop, trying to make him realize that she is not Hannah, whom he can put in corners.

The brunette has a bad feeling about this meeting and realizes that she won't get any sleep that night, and the worst part is that tomorrow she will go to work unconscious.

— I'd like to confess that it's a pleasure to meet you, but I don't feel that way, so I'll just say that it's good that I finally ran into you, brother-in-law.

Joseph smiles cynically.

— All good luck because a man shouldn't greet the dead. There is a legend that he may want to take him to the grave with him.

She looks amused by his words.

— So it's a good thing I'm alive after all because my sister would have been eaten by worms long ago. She's not as careful as you — she says, glancing fleetingly at her twin. — She can easily be destroyed.

The boy feels like grabbing her by the collar of her blouse and shaking her decently, but tries to control his nerves.

— Hannah is simply a girl to be protected, not a monster.

This is another person who tells her this directly to her face. Danielle is fed up with the fact that everyone considers her twin to be a gentle person, while she doesn't remind them of a woman, but a beast that should be exterminated.

— I guess she's too much of a girly girl, since she flirts with whomever she can. Men like such lovely ladies, don't they? — Danielle raises an eyebrow, hoping to make him furious with this sentence, and this will backfire on Hannah.

— Don't try any tricks, redhead.

The brunette's heart goes up to her throat. She has a bad feeling that Danielle will try to destroy her relationship with Joseph at all costs.

She is already beginning to pursue it.

— What kind of nonsense are you talking? Get out of my apartment! — attacks her, Hannah, with her hand pointing to the door.

— What are you so afraid of? Every truth will eventually come out. I am just sorry that you are tooting my brother-in-law's horns. It's not appropriate to flirt with another boy behind his back, and every penny with his best friend.

Joseph crinkles his eyebrows, but doesn't react to this, guessing that Danielle is specifically aiming to put them at odds.

Hannah joins the fray:

— Maybe you're a whore if you're putting this nonsense into your head, but I'm definitely not one — she says in one breath.

Joseph looks surprised by her sharp vocabulary.

He nods his head appreciatively. He is proud of her.

— I'm not the one making buttery eyes at every guy — Danielle asserts in a nervous voice, tossing her phone on the table.

The boy's attention is caught by a photo that is displayed on the cell phone screen. He takes the device in his hand and tightens his lips as the fingertips through more photographs taken from hiding. In them, he sees the smiling face of his girlfriend, accompanied by a boy he doesn't know.

— I didn't think this bastard could be so handsome. I don't like it. — Joseph curves unequivocally, then glances fleetingly at Hannah. — I'm not wrong, am I? This is your childhood friend that I haven't had an opportunity to meet yet?

The brunette opens her eyes wider as Joseph shows her the photo. She didn't think she had already been followed by a persistent sister that day.

Is she abnormal?

— What's wrong with you! — Danielle looks disappointed by his attitude. — Your girlfriend lets loose with another, and you react this way?

— Watch your mouth, redhead. I can let you off the leash if you act like a bitch.

Hannah puts her hand to her mouth, trying to hide a smile, but it doesn't escape her sister's notice, who clenches her teeth in anger.

— I'm acting like a bitch for a reason! — she explodes unexpectedly, snatching the phone from the boy's hand. — Do you know what the reason is that I can't stand her? — She points her finger at her sister, breathing hard. — She behind your back is flirting with Jin! She is getting closer and closer to him!

— Come to terms with the fact that you are sick and stop talking nonsense. — Hannah is angry that she is bringing up the subject again. — You're getting something into your head because Jin is my friend. It hurts you that you lost your chance, and now he hates you.

Danielle's eyes shine with madness.

— Yes? Right. — She shifts her gaze to Joseph and smiles mockingly. — Trust her implicitly, and soon she will let you go with a crook. Keep your eyes open because girls enjoy playing with their boyfriend's friends.

— I'd say you're talking about yourself, but you don't have friends — declares Joseph sharply, piercing her with a dangerous gaze. — Just answer me honestly... The person you hate more is Hannah, or your mother?

The girl squints her eyes.

— My mother, but that doesn't change the fact that Hannah is slowly making her way to the top. I will definitely ruin her life. I will deprive her of all happiness.

— You won't. You will stay away from Hannah — Joseph warns her, shooting her a quick and silent photo from his phone. — You won't have a head for it, or your only solution will be to run away from New York again. — The boy smiles devilishly.

— You won't defend her like that when you realize that my words are true. Eventually, she will betray you with your friend.

— It seems to me that you are obsessed with Hannah and Jin. Let's hope mommy sends you to a psychiatrist after she gets you sorted out.

— What are you talking about?

Hannah watches them in silence, guessing that Joseph has come up with an idea.

The boy puts his cell phone to his ear.

— Jin? Forgive me for calling at this hour and tearing you from your sleep, but I need the number of the witch you hate so much — he says in a soft voice, not taking his eyes off the disliked twin. — No, I don't mean Danielle. — He does this deliberately, watching the girl tighten her lips in anger. — I require a contact for your stepmother. I will explain everything to you at my leisure.

He hangs up, unable to stop wallowing in victory when he sees how frightened her eyes are. He notices that her hand in which she holds her cell phone is trembling.

— What are you planning to do?

— What am I planning to do? — he repeats, then shrugs his shoulders. — I'm simply setting a trap for the unbearable mouse that constantly bites my girlfriend's fingers. If we were in high school, I would definitely use poison, but for the moment I have grown out of this barbarism.

He displays the message he received from Jin. He copies the phone number, then selects a photo of Danielle from the gallery and sends it to the girl's mother.

— What do you think? How long will it take your mommy to find you with my help? — His phone starts ringing. The screen displays the number of Danielle's adoptive mother. — It's sad that I destroyed this wonderful freedom for you. Your mother until now thought you died seven years ago in a car accident, but what kind of shock must she have just experienced when she saw your current photo?

Hannah didn't think Joseph would go to this extent. He has made this fearless girl look deeply disturbed now.

— Don't think to yourself that I will forgive you after what you did. I will take revenge, and Hannah will suffer the most — she speaks slowly, trying to warn them that they have just made a huge mistake.

— Touch Hannah with even a little finger, and I swear that next time, however, I will use poison. — The gaze he aims at Danielle is so envious that Hannah has no doubt that the next time they meet he will play it out in a brutal way. — What you should worry about now is that you will have the mommy you hate so much on your tail. It seems to me that she won't let go until she finds you.

Danielle glares at them, then leaves the apartment, slamming the door.

— Do you think this is a good idea? — Hannah looks at Joseph as he walks up to her and puts his arm around her. — I think you made her even angrier.

— She's going to destroy you, so do you think I'm going to calmly watch this? I will remove that arrogant smile from her face.

*

The girl mutters in her sleep, feeling Joseph stroke her face. He purposely wakes her up because she can't sleep anymore and wants her to talk to him before they both have to get ready for work.

In the evening, as soon as they went to bed, she fell asleep in his embrace. She was so tired that her eyelids immediately closed, and she didn't even have the strength to answer the questions he asked her.

It's no secret that she feels safe in his arms and when she lies by his side, these are the only nights when she can get a decent night's sleep. She doesn't hear any sounds or see a ghost, which is an illusion created in her head.

Currently, however, she is so sleepy that she doesn't have the strength to open her eyes and could sleep all day. She is angry with Joseph for trying to rouse her at all costs. He succeeds the moment he tickles her chin.

— I am lifeless today. Why didn't you let me sleep a while longer? — she purrs, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

— We haven't had much time for each other lately. When I come to see you, in the evening, you are so tired that you immediately fall asleep.

— There's a reason why they say that adult life is complicated and brings with it nothing but problems.

Joseph twists on his back and stares at the white ceiling.

— You know... I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had stayed with my biological parents? Perhaps I would have grown up with different characters? There is also the possibility that I would have grown up in an orphanage. Do you think we would have met there?

Hannah crinkles his eyebrows, wondering what came over him.

— Why are you talking about it so suddenly?

— Well, I don't know... when you fell asleep, I started thinking about my biological parents. I wonder what they are like and what they are doing now? Do they remember me, and do they also miss me occasionally?

The girl smiles slightly.

— I also typically thought about this before I found out that I was born to your adoptive mother. — Hannah hovers on her elbow and looks at her boyfriend's face. — I wouldn't be at all surprised if your biological father turned out to be a murderer. You must have inherited this character from someone.

He unexpectedly bursts out laughing.

— It's funny how complicated our lives are. Someone could get lost in our past.

— I think life happened this way because we are destined for each other.

Joseph raises an eyebrow.

— Are you trying to be romantic? Don't. — He shakes his head. — Not with that disheveled hair and those childish teddy bear pajamas you're wearing.

She is offended by his words.

— Since you don't like the way I look when I wake up, don't come to my place at night again.

She wants to get off the bed, but Joseph grabs her around the waist and pulls her close, causing the girl to fall on her back against him. She lifts her legs up and willows them in the air, laughing throatily as he kisses her neck. He squeezes her so tightly that Hannah has no chance to break free from him.

He teases her and has no intention of letting her go, repeating that the two of them will not go to work today and will spend the whole day in each other's company.

— Are you crazy? I can't afford it. I'm on an internship.

— Call me and tell me you're sick.

— No! — she screams, trying to break out of his embrace, but he is not going to relent. — Joseph! I have to start getting ready for work because you're going to make me late.

— Then I'll carry you to the bathroom and help you wash up.

— No — he replies in an amused voice, guessing that he is having idle thoughts again. — Since you are so eager to help, prepare breakfast for us.

The boy gets off the bed with her, but still does not intend to let her go. He embraces her from behind at the waist, leaning over and resting his chin on her shoulder.

— What about you? You never act like this. It's not even like you. Danielle put a curse on you?

— A curse? So you don't like my behavior?

— I'm just starting to worry that maybe you found out that you're seriously ill, and now you're going to be a cute boy?

His embrace becomes weaker. He moves away from her.

— That was the first and last time you called me a sweet boy. — He walks over to the kitchenette and with a motion of his head tells her to go to the bathroom. — Do your job, and meanwhile, I'll prepare a meal for us.

Hannah points her finger at him and winks at him as she closes the door behind her. She tries to be seductive, but with that sweet face, she only makes him laugh. It doesn't work out for her at all.

Joseph prepares breakfast for them while the girl takes a shower. When she comes out of the bathroom, her face shows that she is about to murder her boyfriend. She is wrapped in a towel, and such lightning flies from her eyes that this sight incredibly pleases him. He leans his elbows against the countertop and places his chin on his hands, looking at her with dreamy eyes.

— "What did you do with my Hello Kitty bathrobe?" — she asks as she stands on the other side of the annex and slaps her hands on the countertop.

He merely smiles devilishly.

— The devil took it. — The brunette squints her eyes. — Pajamas, too. That cat was dreaming under my nights. I had to get rid of him. Didn't you hear that the exorcists said it's not a toy, but an occult symbol? It's trying to protect you.

— Oh, yeah? — Hannah is furious. — Then let the devil take something else.

With a combative attitude, she walks over to the TV and takes the PlayStation in her hands. This is the first time she sees that Joseph is scared to death.

— You won't do it — he warns her, sticking out his finger.

— If it's such a treasure, you should have kept it in your house.

She raises her hands, intending to lower the device to the floor, but he leaps at her and manages to protect the PlayStation.

— Are you crazy?

— You hate my pajamas, and I hate the fact that you're playing more and more of these stupid games.

Joseph crinkles his eyebrows.

— At least you buy pajamas appropriate to your age.

— And you think playing a PlayStation is mature!

— I'm not forty years old to relax while fishing.

The girl lets it go.

— Be that as it may. After work, I'll buy myself pajamas appropriate to my age. A bathrobe too — she says snottily.

— I just don't like this cat. It irritates me. — A smile appears on his face as he reaches out and touches Hannah's towel. — Can I untie it?

— You can't, since you got rid of my stuff. — She spurns his hand, then heads to the bedroom to put on her clothes.

*

Joseph glances at his watch, realizing that the woman is already five minutes late. The boy left the company early to meet her. He intends to use Danielle's mother to help him subdue the madwoman before the whole thing gets completely complicated and new problems arise.

Hannah, as well as both Jin, have a connection to a plan that it was Danielle who put into action seven years ago. The girl used them and faked her death to free herself from her mother, but now Joseph intends to take that freedom away from her, since the woman is the only person she fears.

He's sure that Jin figured out why he needed his stepmother's number last night, although he doesn't intend to interfere and just went along with it, probably fed up with his ex-girlfriend's games. This is the only way to protect Hannah, so he is not going to make it difficult for him.

— Joseph Scott? — He rises from his chair and faces the elegant woman, who looks nervous. — Was it you I was talking to on the phone?

— Yes, please sit down — he announces, pointing with his hand to a vacant chair. — First: then I would like to apologize for sending a photo of my daughter to you so suddenly, especially at such a late hour. I obtained a private number for you through a friend, but I hope it's not a problem.

He does not intend to involve Jin in this. He has already been on the warpath with his stepmother for a long time anyway. She would rather not add more issues for him.

The woman looks at him suspiciously.

— This isn't a joke, is it? I find it difficult to believe that my daughter is alive, while for seven years I considered her dead. It's impossible.

— I'll be direct at this point, and I may sound rude, but Danielle took advantage of the accident and made her own death look fake. She is alive, but I regret to say that she is a danger both to herself and to society as a whole. I hope that after listening to the story I am about to tell you, you will understand what is going on and want to help me.

— The whole thing is absurd. I find it difficult to believe. Why would Danielle fake her death at the age of sixteen and leave the house where she had everything?

— Maybe because yesterday she revealed to me that you are the person she hates the most?

Joseph sees the confusion on her face. She is stunned.

— Excuse me?

— I will tell you everything I know about the situation seven years ago. Just evaluate it and decide if you want to believe me. If it doesn't help, and I can't count on your help, the only way to get rid of Danielle will be the police, but you wouldn't likely want her to go to jail, would you?

The woman swallows her saliva harder out of nerves.

— What are you talking about?

— I hope that after this story, I will make you realize that it is treatment and not prison bars that your daughter needs before it is too late. Do you want to lose her again? This time irrevocably?

She remains silent, but it's a sign that she wants to hear what Joseph has to say about her daughter, whose funeral she arranged seven years ago.