Chapter 4

Zoella lowered her head, covering her mouth as a violent cough shook her body.

Her thin frame curled in on itself, as if she might cough her lungs out.

Dennis's voice was sharp. "Don't think faking weakness will get you out of this. I told you to take care of Jasmine at school—get her water, bring her food. But what did you do? You made a sick person serve you instead! And not only were you ungrateful, you even tripped her on purpose. Do you even have a conscience?"

Zoella forced down another cough. "I didn't push her. She—"

"Oh, so you're saying she just tripped on her own? You expect me to believe that pathetic excuse? Just admit it—you did it on purpose, didn't you?"

Her throat burned, but she straightened her back. "I won't admit to something I didn't do."

Smack.

A sharp slap landed across her face, leaving a searing sting.

But no matter how much it hurt, it couldn't compare to the pain deep inside her.

At this point, she was just numb.

"What the hell are you doing, Dennis?"

Bobby stormed in, grabbing Dennis's arm before he could strike again.

"Bobby, she did something this cruel and still refuses to admit it! I refuse to have such a heartless and unrepentant sister!"

At the doorway, Jasmine stood with her hand wrapped in gauze, looking fragile and pitiful. Her eyes were red as she spoke. "Dennis, I already said—it was my fault. It had nothing to do with Zoey."

"Jasmine, you're too kind. That's exactly why I need to teach Zoey a lesson. I won't let her turn into a worse person!"

Dennis raised his hand again, but before he could move, the screech of a chair scraping against the floor cut through the air.

The sound was jarring.

Zoella turned toward it.

Zach was leaning against the desk, his expression unreadable. His sharp, cold gaze swept over them. "Are you her family?"

Bobby nodded. "Yeah, we're her brothers."

"She has a 39-degree fever. Possible infection. Needs further tests. And she's hypoglycemic. Slightly malnourished too."

Dennis hesitated. "She's actually sick?"

He'd assumed she was just pretending to get out of trouble.

Zach's voice was calm but edged with sarcasm. "Maybe you should get your eyes checked. You seriously couldn't tell?"

Her face was pale, exhaustion written all over her. How could anyone look at her and not see she was sick?

Dennis's jaw tightened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Zach barely spared him a glance. "Exactly what I said. You took her in as your adopted sister—if you're going to keep her, at least take responsibility."

Zoella's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

Adopted sister.

Bobby quickly corrected him. "She's my biological sister, not adopted."

Zach raised an eyebrow. "Could've fooled me. If you hadn't claimed to be her family, I would've called the cops. You do realize hitting a minor is a crime, right?"

Dennis's gaze flicked to Zoella's swollen cheek. His tone hardened. "You don't understand. I was disciplining her."

Bobby fell silent.

He'd assumed Zoella was healthy, that she wouldn't fall ill so easily—not like Jasmine, who got sick just from falling into the pool.

Dennis scoffed at Zach. "You don't know her. Zoey always fakes being sick to get out of trouble. This time, she purposely got Jasmine hurt. Jasmine's dad died saving her. Sometimes, I really want to cut her open just to see if she even has a heart."

Zoella's throat burned.

She wanted to argue.

But what was the point?

They wouldn't believe her anyway.

Jasmine bit her lip, looking guilty. "It's all my fault. I was too clumsy. I shouldn't have tried to bring food for Zoey."

"That's right." Zach's voice was cool and sharp. "If you were sick and on an IV, you had no business being in the classroom. And if you knew you were unwell, you shouldn't have been running around, making things worse for others. Stop acting like being weak makes you automatically right."

Zoella's eyes widened in shock. She stared at the school doctor, stunned.

He was… defending her?

He actually believed her?

Zoella's eyes stung. Even a stranger could see the truth, but her brothers refused to.

Or maybe they did see it. They just didn't care. They had already chosen Jasmine.

Jasmine's expression froze. She clenched her teeth in frustration.

What was this school doctor trying to say?

Did he not see her, sick and weak, still bringing Zoella food?

Why wasn't he moved by her kindness? Why was he standing up for Zoella instead?

That didn't make sense. This always worked.

For once, she couldn't think of a single thing to say. She could only lower her head, looking pitiful.

Dennis stepped forward, his tone protective. "Jasmine came to class even though she's sick because the university entrance exam is less than a hundred days away. She can't afford to fall behind. She was just trying to make peace with Zoey, but some people don't know how to appreciate kindness."

Zoella almost laughed.

That morning, Dennis had told her to take care of Jasmine—bring her water, wait on her hand and foot. Did that not interfere with her studies?

So he did know the exam was less than a hundred days away.

It was just that her exam didn't matter as much as Jasmine's.

Bobby spoke up. "Dennis, take Jasmine home to rest."

"Bobby—"

"Are you going to ignore what I said?"

Dennis clenched his jaw, and then led Jasmine away.

The infirmary fell silent.

Bobby frowned. "Zoey, if you don't want to take care of Jasmine, fine. But don't pull stunts like this again."

Zoella kept her head down. Her throat hurt too much to argue.

She pulled the blanket over her head.

She didn't want to see them anymore.

"Zoey, if you keep acting like this, I won't be able to protect you."

Bobby's patience was wearing thin.

He yanked the blanket down. "Come home. We need to talk."

They had to settle this today. Jasmine couldn't keep getting hurt.

Zach caught his wrist, his gaze cold. "She's not going anywhere until the IV is done. Family members can wait outside."

There was no room for argument.

Zoella looked up.

He stood between her and her brother, tall and steady.

For the first time, she noticed the scar on his wrist—jagged, red, and impossible to ignore.

She had scars like that too. From the car accident when she was a child.

Had he been in one too?

Bobby squared his shoulders. "I'm her brother. I'm taking her home. We have a family doctor."

Zach didn't even blink. "Then why did you let her fever go on this long?"

Bobby glanced at Zoella's pale face and hesitated. "She never said she was sick."

That morning, he had tried to check her temperature. But she pulled away.

How was that his fault?

Maybe she had let herself get worse on purpose—just another way to avoid responsibility.

Zach's voice sharpened. "If you try to take her by force, I'll call the police and report child abuse. According to the law, minors experiencing domestic violence can apply for a protection order."

"I'm her brother, her legal guardian."

"And I just saw your brother hit her. There's security footage too. I trust the police will handle it fairly."

Zach remained calm, but there was no give in his stance. "She doesn't want to leave with you. You have no right to force her."

Zoella's heart clenched. She stole a glance at the man in front of her, blocking her from view.