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But he, that dares not grasp the thorn

Should never crave the rose.

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-Chapter 17 --Can't get her off my head-

It was Friday night and Richard and Nancy went out for dinner to some fancy restaurant spot, to celebrate something about her opening her dream flower shop.

The original plan was to go and mess everything up, piss Nancy off as much as possible and make her lose her cool in front of all the guests that she invited... But little Emma here didn't feel so well to go outside. And when Leo caught wind of that he also decided to stay back home too.

Something odd is happening to my brother. There's this change in him that I'm not liking so much. It's faint... But it's there... Only the blind would not see it.

Right now, she's sitting right next to me, her brown hair is slightly shielding her face from me as she eats whatever Leo made for her... Something that he usually doesn't do for other people.

She takes small bites of her food —She doesn't stray her eyes away from the tv as she watches the colorful animation moving on the big screen.

Her pink lips would slightly twitch up whenever Jerry gets caught by Tom, for a few seconds. Before he wiggles his small body out of Tom's sharp claws.

These past few days she has been really quiet... Like if she doesn't want to attract anyone's attention. She seemed close off, like if she's here but not mentally here.

The idiot sitting next to her was also taking his small chances to secretly peek at her, watching her little reactions.... Whenever something happens on the big screen.

He also seemed so satisfied watching her eat what he made for her.

Whenever he comes back from school, He always without fails makes her something to eat. It didn't matter if the training was intense and hardcore, he always makes her something heavy or light to eat.

If I was anyone else who didn't know my brother's motives behind his actions, I would have thought he fell in love with the toy sitting right next to me.

And knowing my brother for all these years, love is not in his dictionary... If anyone asks him for a definition of love all they'll get is a twisted dark version of it.

My eyes gravitated downward when Emma's wholeheartedly chuckled out softly. Her soft chuckled filled the dim living room. Then out of nowhere, She began slightly choking on her food. My hand quickly took the plate of food off of her lap and Leo began to tap her back lightly until she stopped coughing.

"Are you okay, Emma?"

She responds to Leo with a slight nod as she tries to take a breath in.

"Words" he let out sternly. A frown took over his calm exterior.

"Ye-yes" She strained out as she looked up at him in confusion. Looks like my brother is getting too comfortable in letting his habits show.

As if he could feel my sharp glare he looked up, and as if he realized what he had done without realizing it, his dark eyes dropped down to her as he spoke out these words " Sorry, it's just I won't know if you don't tell me...."

Some habits are just hard to conceal, it surprising he didn't fuck up in these past few weeks that she has been living here.

Maybe... She's simply too naive to realize the red flags that my brother or anyone displays or gives off. She's dense and extremely naive so much that I take advantage of it without her realizing it.

Not that I care, but... She needs to pay more attention to other people's behaviors. And red flags that are waving right in front of her face.

It is good that her father decided to send her to an all-girl high school.

Leo passes her the cold drink, and she takes a few sips and places the glass cup on the coffee table in front of her.

She utters a small thanks and he nods as he gets up from his seat and makes himself towards the bathroom at the end of the hall

Emma hesitantly turns around and looks at me as she also utters a small “Thanks,” Her cheeks are tinted in a light shade of pink as she completely avoids my sharp eyes.

Then an idea popped into my head when she finally gazed up at me when she realized... I wasn't returning her the plate of food.

”Kiss me or I throw this plate full of food to the floor.” Those words made her slightly frown at me.

"No... " She let out as she tried to get the plate of food from my left hand. But my right-hand clenched her left thigh tightly... Not letting her get up or move from her spot.

"Okay, then.

Poor Leon, He would be so disappointed in you for dropping the plate of food that he worked so hard to make for you." When I was about to fling the food and the plate across the living room.

She quickly responds "No, wait... Okay." She narrowed her teary eyes as she gave up her struggle. A triumphant smile instantly grew on my face as I leaned down to her.

She bit her soft lips as her dark eyes gravitated toward my lips. Her cheek tinted redder the more she stared at them.

"Come on, We don't have all day. "

She hesitantly pressed her soft lips against mine, and as fast as it came it was gone. Now her face was redder than a tomato it basically matched the big red sweater that she has on... Only she doesn't know the fact that that sweater is mine.

She began to avoid my eyes as she stretched her hands out for the plate of food.

It is so easy to tease her. It just made me want to torment her more.

"That's not a kiss, do it again. "She blows her cheeks out in frustration when she hears my words. I couldn't help but chuckle at her frustration and the little frown that took over her soft features, again.

But before she could comply, the front door bangs open and a few footsteps filled the quiet living room, the first to come into my line of vision was my mother holding a few luxurious designer purses, as she indicated to them to go upstairs.

My eyes gravitated to the ebony clock hanging from the wall. It's 2:30 in the morning.

"Be careful, " Nancy let out harshly as she made herself quickly right back outside.

The two females that come in with a drunk idiot clinging from their small shoulders struggled to go up the flight of stairs.

Leo comes back with a confused expression on his face probably wondering what the hell is going on right now.

Emma on the other hand was very quiet, She grabbed my sleeve as she pressed her body against me.... Under my palm that I have on her left thigh, I could feel... How much her body is trembling right now. She looked smaller than before... as if she is trying to make herself invisible.

A few seconds later, a pair of guys enter, stumbling inside. One of the idiots that I see from the pair is Richard.

The smell of alcohol clinging from them filled the air the more they got closer to us.

I guess… They went overboard on the celebration. When that drunk idiot eyes landed on Emma, He began to make himself towards us.

"Look at my pretty daughter, Sung-ho.

Emma, come over here and... Give daddy a hug." That idiot slurred out his words as he pointed his Index finger to her. The other guy was out cold on the floor. It's like seeing two clowns in fine suits.

I can feel her tears on my shirt, as she buries her face on my shoulders. Trying hard to avoid her father's attention. It's like she'll start crying her eyes out if he comes any closer.

Fortunately, Leo stopped him on his track. Without hesitation, Leo carries Richard in the fireman's position over his shoulders with ease.

Richard instantly gives up and Leo quickly carries him upstairs.

The two ladies that carry the idiot upstairs come quickly downstairs almost out of breath. They looked like they lost a few years off their lifespan.

Ms.Nancy came inside with more stuff in her hands, Her eyes went wide with she saw the guy on the floor. The ladies began to take their thing off her hands.

"Kevin, why are you just sitting there... Help Mr.Sung-ho upstairs." I raise my eyebrow, as my expression hardens. Where the hell are they leaving these drunk Idiots. The last time I checked there were no free guest rooms. All the bedrooms are occupied.

When I was about to get up from my seat, Emma halted me from doing so. Luckily, Leo was coming down the flight of stairs with a pissed-off expression on his face.

"I'm so sorry. Ms.Stone. I don't know my husband was going to do something so childish on a special day like today. "The one dress in a fitted sexy red dress said as she swoops her long brown hair over her bare shoulder. The Other one with the violet tight dress that hugged her curves flawlessly nodded at the brunette's words.

"It's okay... We went to have fun. Plus, they haven't seen each other for a while." Nancy says as she plastered a fake smile on her face.

Looks like things didn't go as she had planned in her little head. And knowing my mother... Who is a control freak, she's seething inside. I couldn't help but laugh, she threw me a quick glare but it disappeared when Emma looked up at me.

She would rather let me burn the house down than break her ' little caring mother' image in front of her new stepdaughter. It's funny actually... I place the food back on the coffee table.

Leo maneuvers his way smoothly through the two females that were still chatting with Nancy with ease. Picking up the idiot number 3 off of the floor the same way, when he took Richard. He lets out a heavy sigh when he goes up the flight of stairs.

Their attention veered towards us. Both young ladies gave us apologetic looks. I don't know... Why? Nancy on the other hand didn't look so pleased for some reason.

The one with the nice curve started to speak trying to ease down the awkwardness that hugging thickly in the air... "We're so sorry for interrupting your little date, Kevin."

The brunette continued “This is the first time... I see your son with a girlfriend."Her green bright eyes navigate themself toward Nancy, who looked pale as a ghost.

When Nancy heard that her eyes seemed to enlarge. She was about to say something but Leo beat her to it before she could utter a single word out.

“That's not his girlfriend. ” Leo quickly injects himself into the conversation as he makes himself down the stairs.

”Oh, Then… Who?"She whispered to herself as if she's trying to find the answer she's looking for inside her brain.

“Her name is Emma. She's my stepdaughter. ” Nancy lets out as she focuses her whole attention towards them.

"No fair, You're so lucky. I can't have a child and you have three little cuties. "She said as the brunette next to her giggles at her soft whines.

"You're so childish, " The girl with the sexy red dress chuckled out.

"You are only saying that... Because you also got two cuties yourself waiting at home." The more the curvaceous woman kept babbling about the topic the more Emma's stiff trembling body melted and eased down against me. Her fingers started to loosen up on my right sleeve.

I like seeing her cry… But oddly it inks me inside when others make her cry.

A tear that was on her waterline spilled out when she blinked... My thumb instantly eased the tear that spilled down her warm red cheeks.

"Awww... look, How cute. " With those words that one of the ladies let out, Emma's face started to glow red again. Emma quickly looked down almost like she is embarrassed by the attention these women are giving her.

"One of these days, I bring my son." The woman in the red sexy dress smiled as she looked at Nancy." I wouldn't mind having you as in in-law"

The moment I heard those words... I was really considering killing her for suggesting something so stupid.

"No thanks, Emma here doesn't need a boyfriend right now ." Those words came out of me coldly. Nancy frowned while the other two looked at me in surprise.

The brunette nervously chuckles as she continues babbling nonsense "Oh my... Such a protective older brother. "

"Yes, he is..." Nancy quickly responds trying to keep everything in control. She sends me a warning look "To shut up".

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