Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 101

(Ava's POV)

I was crouched low against the cold corridor wall, and my fingers were trembling as I held the recording device Dr. Joe had forced into my hands earlier. The fight between Angel and Hendrix was happening just a few feet away. Their voices were raised but muffled by the closed gym door. I pressed my ear against the crack, straining to catch even fragments of their words.

"...abandoning me for Thomas..."

"...what we had was wrong..."

Their voices bled anger and heartbreak, yet I couldn't make out the full sentences. I adjusted the recorder, frustrated. This task-this sick, intrusive task-was another of Dr. Joe's clever traps. He'd said the information was crucial, but I knew better. He wanted leverage, ammunition to keep us all under his control.

A pang of jealousy twisted in my chest as I caught the faintest sound of Angel sobbing. Hendrix's voice softened, though the words still eluded me. They cared for each other, even in their twisted way. Step-siblings. Forbidden. It was insane and wrong, but at least they had someone. Someone who truly cared.

Unlike me.

I clenched the recorder in my hand, and the sharp edges dug into my palm. What did I have? A manipulative mother drowning in debt, and a life dictated by a man who saw me as nothing more than a tool. I leaned back against the wall, and felt my chest tighten. How had my life become this?

.

By the time I returned to my room, I was shaking. I tossed the recorder onto the bed like it was a venomous snake, then slumped into the corner and rested my head against my knees. The walls seemed to close in harder than ever. Why had I agreed to spy for Dr. Joe? Why had I let him manipulate me with promises of freedom for my mother?

The usual questions tumbled out of my mouth-my usual routine.

Am I doing the right thing? Of course. I'm saving her.

terrible person? Maybe. But what

have a choice? No.

out? She won't. She

would she

deserve to

I wiped them away with the back of my hand, furious at myself for breaking. I didn't have the luxury of falling apart. Not when my mother's life was in

planted itself in my mind. Was Dr. Joe really going to let me walk away? Would I ever be free? Or was this just another endless cycle

door startled me, and for a moment, I panicked. Had Dr. Joe sent someone to check on me? I crossed the room and opened the door a crack. Dilrah

but stepped aside, letting her in. She perched on the

said bluntly. "What's going on,

muttered, avoiding her

been off lately. Paranoid. Jumping at shadows. It's not like you. And this has been

wanted to tell her everything. To spill the truth about Dr. Joe, about

tired," I said instead.

does. But you'd

left, hauntingly reminding me of the thin line I

...

(Dr. Nixon's POV)

as I adjusted the stack of files on my desk, each one meticulously labeled and perfectly aligned. The inspection was days away, and I couldn't afford even the smallest mistake. Not when everything was riding

the hall and grew louder with each passing second. He was coming to check on me, to ensure everything was in order.

scanned the room with a cold efficiency that always left me

smoothly. "How's the

is on schedule," I replied in a much more steadier