Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 92

Chapter 92

(Bundah's POV)

Charlotte's laugh was soft, like the flutter of bird wings. It wasn't often I heard it, but when I did, it made everything in this hellhole feel a little less grim. She was sitting across from me in the built-in library. Her lips were tugged into a small smile as she tried to read aloud from one of the French-English books we'd borrowed. Her accent still tripped over certain words, and each time she stumbled, she'd giggle nervously and glance at me for reassurance. "You're getting better," I said as I leaned back in the rickety chair. "By next week, you'll be speaking English better than I do."

She gave me a disbelieving look and shook her head. "You're lying, Bundah," her broken English was charming. "But thank you for... how you say... the hope?"

"The compliment," I corrected with a grin. "And it's not a lie."

Her cheeks flushed, and she returned her focus to the book, but the moment of peace was short-lived. I noticed a group of guys lingering by the entrance, whispering and glancing our way. Their eyes were judgmental. I didn't like it. I'd overheard the rumors they'd been spreading about Charlotte-how she'd ended up at the center by mistake, how she didn't belong here, and worse, how she was an easy target because of her vulnerability.

"Stay here," I said abruptly and stood. Charlotte looked up, startled.

"Bundah? What are you doing?"

"Just keep reading," I said and forced a smile before striding toward the group.

They straightened as I approached and their smirks faded. "Got something to say?" I asked in a deceptively calm tone.

One of them, a tall guy with a sneer permanently lined on his face, shrugged. "Just talking, man. Relax."

"Yeah? Talking about what?" I took a step closer. "Because if it's about Charlotte, you better stop now."

The sneer faltered, but he recovered quickly. "Why do you care? She's not your girl."

"No, she's not," I said as my fists clenched at my sides. "But she's under my protection, and if I hear you or anyone else spreading crap about her again, we're gonna have a problem. Got it?"

They exchanged uneasy glances before muttering something and walking away. I didn't move until they were out of sight. My chest was heaving with barely contained anger. When I turned back to Charlotte, she was watching me with wide eyes.

"You... you didn't have to do that," she said softly as I returned to the table.

"Yes, I did," I replied, sitting down. "No one's gonna mess with you while I'm around."

Her smile was faint, but it was there. "Thank you, Bundah."

I said,

•

(Dilara's POV)

walking alone. That much was obvious the moment I turned the corner and saw him leaning against the wall,

as his gaze swept over me as if enjoying the view of freshly roasted steak. "What do you want?" My voice was trembling despite my effort to

I want?" he

disgusting," I spat and tried to summon some courage. "Stay

laughed in a way that made my skin crawl. "Oh, Dilara. You've always been good at playing the victim. But

as if to touch me, and panic instantly paralyzed me. Before I could think, I shoved him with all my strength, making him stumble back. "Don't

down the hallway, and he stepped back as his lips curled

stood there, shaking and trying to catch my breath. The tears came unbidden. I felt so

goodness the rest were asleep. My hands were clutching the edge of the blanket like it was the only thing grounding me. Angel sat across from me, her knees drawn up to her chest, watching me with those empathetic eyes of hers, the ones that made it impossible not to spill every secret you'd

said, trembling. The words felt like a poisonous fruit lodged in my throat for so long I didn't

need to," Angel said

wild-just some people from my art class, hanging out, drinking a little. I remember feeling safe because everyone there was supposed

her head

is when someone like him walks into a room. People look the other way. He started talking to me, making these.... comments about my art, about my body, about how I

"Eventually, I decided to leave. I thought if I got outside, I could shake him off. But when I went out into the backyard, he was there.

face hardened, and her lips pressed into a thin line. "What did he do,

pinned me against the wall. Said I'd been 'teasing him all night' just by existing. I tried to push him away, to scream, but he was

mine. "You don't have to say it all if it's too

else was inside, laughing and drinking. And no one came. No one heard me. By the time I got away, it was too late." I closed my eyes as I felt the shame and anger burning me from the inside. "I didn't tell anyone for weeks. I thought it was my fault. That maybe I'd done something to lead him on.

widened

being dramatic. They shipped me off here, thinking this place would 'fix' me. Like I was the problem." I laughed humorlessly

she gripped mine tighter. "Dilara, you didn't deserve that. None of it. And he sure as hell

nod. "I just want him to feel what I

"He definitely will. We'll make sure

a long time, I felt like maybe, I wasn't completely

I stared at my lap. Angel was patiently sitting there with an expression that was equal parts compassion and curiosity. I knew

wondering why I kept sneaking off to see Dr. Nixon back when I wasn't really talking to

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