CHAPTER 11
**ZION**
I watch her from across the room, a silent observer of her radiant smiles and lively conversation with my mom. My chest tightens as I take in the scene, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. There’s a darkness within me, a long-buried anger that’s beginning to stir, like molten lava creeping toward the surface, ready to erupt.
If only she had stayed away.
But she didn’t.
Now she’s here, in my city, invading my home, and cosying up to my mom as if she belongs. Each of her bright, carefree laughs feels like a slap to my face. The sight of her acting so comfortable, so innocent, only intensifies the fury simmering within me. The darkness I’ve kept buried for so long is clawing its way to the surface, demanding to be unleashed.
With every passing moment, I can feel my restraint slipping away. It’s only a matter of time before I explode, and when I do, she will be the first to feel the full force of my rage. She’ll regret ever coming back and thinking she could slip back into my life so easily.
My eyes drifted to William as he strode into the restaurant, his face set in a stern scowl that made it clear he wasn’t in the best of moods. His gaze cut through the room, landing squarely on me with an intensity that could have melted steel.
I had half a mind to give him the middle finger right then and there, but I held back. Instead, I returned his stare with a deliberately casual wave, my face an impenetrable mask of indifference. His eyes narrowed even further, and he slumped into a chair, beginning a tirade that I could easily imagine was directed at me.
From where I stood, his muttered words were a distant murmur, but I could wager a billion dollars that they were about me. His displeasure was no surprise; it was practically his default mode when it came to dealing with me.
There was no way I could muster even a shred of happiness for Mom’s new family. William, despite his efforts to assert control, would always be nothing more than a hired hand in my eyes. As far as I was concerned, he was the father of the enemy, and this entire marriage was a twisted joke.
The union was both a curse and a twisted blessing. A curse because it forced Winter into the role of my stepsister. But it was also a blessing because it placed her back in my orbit, making it all the more feasible to exact the revenge I had sworn to myself a million times over. The thought of finally having my chance to settle the score was both thrilling and unsettling.
She should have stayed away, kept her distance, and avoided this mess entirely. But now that she’s here, living under the same roof and stirring up old wounds, I refuse to shoulder any blame for what’s coming next. If things spiral out of control, if all hell breaks loose, it won’t be on me. She’s the one who crossed the line and invited chaos into our lives.
I’ve tried to stay away, but now that she’s here and won’t be leaving, she’s pushing me to my limits. If she’s determined to test those boundaries, she’ll have to deal with the fallout. She made her choice when she decided to stay, and now I’ve made mine. There’s no going back.
.......
**WINTER**
Dad slammed his phone down, the loud noise echoing through the room. His face was twisted in anger as he turned his furious gaze toward poor Jenny. I had no idea what had set him off, but his voice was dangerously low when he spoke.
"Jenny, you need to get control of your son. He's pushing my patience to the limit. And you need to have a word with him about bringing his bad habits into the house. I won't have him being a negative influence on my daughter."
"Dad..." I started to protest, but his single, sharp look silenced me instantly.
I could feel Jenny beside me, her body rigid with tension as she fiddled nervously with her napkin.
"William, calm down, alright? I'll talk to Zion when I get home," Jenny said, her voice tense as she tried to keep things from escalating.
William's eyes narrowed as he glared at her.
“Jenny, that son of yours is getting on my last nerve. He’s lucky I didn’t take a swing at him this morning. Bringing girls into the house—it's repulsive. I won't stand for him being a bad influence on my daughter.”
“Dad!…” I started, trying to calm things down, but he silenced me with a single, piercing glance.
Jenny’s body grew rigid next to me, her fingers nervously twisting the napkin in her lap.
“I said I’ll handle it!” she snapped, her voice more strained. “Now, if you’re done with your call, let’s just have a peaceful breakfast, alright? I'll talk to Zion later”
"Talk to me about what?" Zion’s voice cut through the tension as he reentered the room, his tone icy and confrontational.
Jenny turned to him, her frown deepening.
"Where have you been, Zion? You've been gone for over twenty minutes."
Zion shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
"I needed to use the restroom."
"Twenty minutes in the men’s room?" Dad's voice was low, barely controlled.
"You think we're idiots, boy? I know exactly what you were doing when I saw you pull that waitress out of this restaurant. This is a family breakfast, and you will show some respect."
My eyes widened in disbelief as I glanced over at Zion. Was he seriously some kind of sex addict?
Jenny gasped at Dad's words. "Zion, tell me you didn't."
Zion shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"She was cute."
Dad’s face flushed a deep red, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.
“Cute?” he snapped.
“And very sexy,” Zion added with a smirk, clearly enjoying the provocation.
“Oh, you think you’re funny?” Dad growled.
“You think you’re so cool?”
Zion remained expressionless, meeting Dad’s fury with cold detachment.
“This is exactly what I mean, Jenny. He’s a terrible influence.”
I watched as Jenny's hands trembled, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Zion, what’s wrong with you? This playboy behaviour has gone too far. I’m trying to build a stable family here. You need to get your act together and start acting responsibly.”
Zion scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a defiant grin. "A family? With him?" He gestured dismissively towards Dad.
"And her!" he said pointing at me "Give me a break."
Dad’s fist pounded the table, sending a jarring clang through the room. “You will not disrespect me like this!”
Zion’s face remained a mask of icy indifference. He met Dad’s furious gaze with unblinking eyes, his posture relaxed despite the escalating tension.
“Disrespect?” Zion leaned back, a taunting smile curling at the edges of his mouth.
“Maybe you should focus on your own life instead of meddling in mine.”
The room fell silent, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating. I could feel the anger radiating off both of them, and it made my stomach churn. I glanced at Jenny, her face pale, caught between her husband and her son, and then at Zion, whose eyes were filled with defiance and rage.
“Can we please just get through one meal without arguing?” Jenny pleaded, her voice trembling with frustration.
Zion’s eyes briefly met mine, a trace of softness crossing his features before he turned his attention back to Dad. “I’m here, aren’t I Mom? Isn’t that enough for you?”
Dad opened his mouth to retort, but Jenny quickly cut in. "Let’s just eat, please. We can talk about this later."
Reluctantly, everyone picked up their utensils, but the air was still charged with unresolved tension. I forced myself to take a bite, but the food tasted like ash in my mouth. This was supposed to be a family breakfast, but it felt more like a battlefield, and I couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get worse.
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