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Love me or hate me, Both are in my favor…

If you love me, I'll always be in your heart… If you hate me, I'll always be in your mind.

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-Chapter 25- The Golden rosary-

Bad news plagued my mind this morning… When my dad announced that the court dates to be at the stand as a witness for the murder got pushed up a few days earlier.

In two days, I would have to stand in court as a testifier to the manslaughter that my stepfather and my mother heartlessly did in front of me. Honestly speaking I was scared to death.

My aching nerves were in a mess as my mind pondered on everything that could go wrong when the day comes. Just imagining my mother's lover's sinful dark eyes pinned on me is making goosebumps erupt on my skin.

The thing that I detested most in this world was having so many eyes pinned on me when the time comes to speak up. Being a scaredy-cat and an introvert explains a lot about my panicky state, right now.

The more my mind ponders on it... The more I want to not go.

But deep down inside, My soul wasn't going to waver on not going and standing in front of those monsters. It wanted justice for all the pain and suffering it has withheld for all these years.

My eyes lingered on my plate full of delicious food that Leo had made me. No matter how good it smelled, my appetite wouldn't come to me since my father's news this morning.

Unconsciously, my right leg bounced up and down as anxiety took over my body, being too anxious to even take a bite of anything on this plate.

My mind just wandered off to those days when I had to fend for myself inside that house that I— will forever despise from the bottom of my heart.

It's been weeks that those demons haven't set their red clouded veiny eyes on me... Or heard their brutal dry voices ordering me to do something that wasn't in my best interest… or screaming at me for anything they did not like about me.

"Emma, are you alright?" Leo's question startled me out of my reverie as he sat beside me.

My nerves ease down a bit when he gives me this worried look. Just seeing someone concerned for me feels good in ways that can't be put in words.

"Yeah, it's just I'm a little nervous… to see them again. I mean it's been a while... " My mind wandered back to the last day I saw them… Murderous rage was painted in their sharp clouded gaze when they stared at me like two crazy hyenas on coke. It has tormented me every night since then.

"Don't worry, they can't touch you… Ever again. I promise." His dark eyes held determination in holding that promise. And it felt like he was going to accomplish that vow.

My nerves calmed down when he gave me a reassuring small smile.

Foolishly, I thought this dreadful day wouldn't come. But it was time to put my demons to rest.

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•Two days later•

•The big day•

It was the day to bring my demons to their knees. And seek justice for all the pain my heart and soul went through for all those miserable years.

"Everything is going to be fine, Emma. It will be over before you know it" Imitating what my therapist said yesterday for the past ten minutes in front of my body mirror.

Mentally preparing myself for the big day. My nerves were all over the place. So much so that last night I couldn't sleep a wink.

My body tossed and turned for many hours… And no matter how many white sheep I counted jumping over the brown barrel, sleep wouldn't come to me.

My focus on the subject dropped when soft lips pressed themselves against mine as large strong hands gently cupped up my face, keeping me in place.

My breath hitched in the back of my throat as he leaned in to drop another soft kiss on my lips leaving me in a state of shock. My eyes enlarged in size when my brain finally registered what was occurring right now.

How long was he inside here…?

Before I could even shove him away. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach when Ms.Nancy's strong cold voice hissed right behind me.

"Kevin!" Just by her saying his name harshly made goosebumps erupt on my skin. Kevin lets go of me as his entire focus was pulled to his mother who was standing at the doorway with a scowl plastered on her face.

Her left hand fidgeted slightly, clenched tightly by her sides. It seems as if she wanted to slap the living soul out of him but was holding herself back because we have somewhere important to be.

"What? I'm just giving her something else to worry about. She has been in front of this mirror for... hours… I'm getting kind of bored without her attention." He shrugs as a boyish wicked smile breaks on his handsome face.

As usual, his dark grey eyes twinkled under these soft lights, and they were filled with mischief.

This guy never takes anything seriously… Does he like getting slapped by his mother that much?

A black fine suit adorned his tall strong build making him seem more devilishly handsome today. Good thing my eyes are a dark shade of brown… because if they were any lighter he would have noticed my pupils diluting just by looking at him.

He is the complete definition of a sight for sore eyes.

Ms.Nancy's small figure is adorned by a beautiful red wine dress, her light strands were up in an elegant low bun. And her small circle diamond earrings sparkle adding more to the professional elegant vibes she's going for today.

"What happened?" My father hugs Ms.Nancy from behind as he wraps his arms around her waist— making her jump in fright in his surprise back hug. Oddly my father's dark grey suit matched with Ms. Nancy's red wine formal dress today.

"Nothing, it's just Kevin messing with his little SISTER, again. " She emphasized those words as she threw a quick glare at Kevin when my father briefly glanced at me for any response to Ms.Nancy's claim.

"And what did he do? " My father's question made my heart halt entirely. He glimpses at me then back at Kevin with curiosity swirling in those dark eyes.

Should I even answer that question with honesty?

Ms.Nancy went ghostly white, hearing my father's question and seeing my reaction.

"He—"My cheeks began to heat up as the words wouldn't come out from my lips. From the corner of my eye, I could make out the little devilish smirk pulling on the corner of Kevin's lips.

Gosh, he's enjoying every second of this… This devil... who needs holy water dumped on him until he acts like a respectful human being with good morals.

This guy doesn't care about the consequence that follows. He's enjoying this uncomfortable situation way too much… Does he like getting in trouble? His faint smile grew the more I hesitated to answer….

"Tugged on her hair, when she was trying to do the last touches to it. "Ms.Nancy cut me off smoothly. Her bright blue eyes settled on Kevin daring him to say otherwise.

If looks could make you disappear from the face of the earth, Kevin would have vanished that moment Ms.Nancy threw him that sharp icy glare.

"It was just to ease her nerves. Right, sister ?" That charming wicked gleam in his grey eyes returns the more he lets words pour out of those soft lips.

Ugh, Why is my heart beating so fast… Am I going crazy?...

My cheeks warmed in response— I had no choice but to nod at his stupid claim… The last thing I want right now is my father to be disappointed by this sinful behavior of his.

He's already on edge with my situation, his dark under eyes alone displayed that too well.

My father released Ms.Nancy from his tight hug and began to come towards me with a small smile. "Turn around, and lift your hair a little." He ordered softly.

Without question, I did what he told me to do. A cold object brushed my neck making me glance down to see what he's putting on me.

A small smile graces my lips when I recognize the necklace... That he told me so much about when I was a kid.

My great-grandmother, who died when I was young, left me a golden rosary necklace. When I was a kid, he used to tell me that he'd give it to me when I was older.

Joy flowed through my veins, that he recalled that even though it has been years since he promised to give it to me.

It compliments my white outfit. I turned around and hugged him, whispering ' Thank you ' for only he could hear.

The first thing that catches my eyes when my body turned around was his eyes, which were filled with unshaded tears…

He hugs me one more time as he whispers this soft word only for my ears to catch "I'm sorry for everything… Sweetheart. For not being there when you needed me most."

My eyes start to sting the more he let out words.

He let go of me and returned to Ms. Nancy's side. I blink the tears that are threatening to spill out away.

Ms. Nancy didn't burn any more time on the subject and turned around as she pulled my father down the hallway…

Without looking at Kevin I bolted out of my bedroom… feeling too overwhelmed to look at him with a straight face.

Leo was waiting in the vehicle already… A navy blue suit adorned his huge physique, two or three bottoms of his dark shirt were undone making him look strikingly handsome.

The radiant yellow hue penetrated through the clear windshield and onto his face, the golden warm shine making his dark eyes appear like jars of honey. A warm welcoming smile etched on his face breaking me from my stupor.

My cheek grew warm as I averted his eyes that held a hint of amusement in them to my bizarre reaction in seeing him in a suit.

Two small portable black umbrellas were on the passenger seat.

"The News weather Anchor said it's going to rain in the afternoon." He explained seeing my confused expression.

"But there are only two, here. "

"We're sharing…. " He said as he got the vehicle started making the engine raw to life.

All the good girls go to hell by Billie Eilish filling the vehicle, creating a soothing atmosphere inside the small space.

I put on my seat belt and patiently waited for Kevin to come out. When I observe Kevin finally come out, he quickly locks the front door and makes himself to the car.

My father opted to take his sleek black vehicle today… Ms.Nancy was seated in the passenger seat next to my father. And they drove off first then us.

Kevin got in the vehicle and quickly put on his seatbelt. His grey eyes quickly landed on the rearview mirror catching me staring at him through it.

He doesn't miss a chance and sends me a wink making my face warm up as my eyes go wide. Quickly cutting eye contact with him... And placing my whole focus back outside.

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Please leave a comment, I would love to know what you guys think of this chapter. It would keep me more motivated.😇

-Bye, See you next time👋-