Chapter 10 Being controlled

"That's none of your business," Jenny replied, surprised by her own boldness. Julius appeared equally taken aback, and they stood in silence, the weight of her defiance lingering between them. Seizing the opportunity his surprise afforded, Jenny tried to slip past him into her room. But at the last second, Julius grabbed her wrist, pulling her back with such force that she nearly collided with the wall.

"Julius," she gasped, wincing as his grip tightened, his fingers digging painfully into her soft skin. Familiar dread washed over her, her chest tightening with panic as she struggled to breathe. Casting a desperate glance over his shoulder, she found the hallway empty. Behind them lay windows overlooking the side courtyard, too far for anyone to notice them.

"Most girls are prettier when they smile," Julius remarked, his breath reeking of spoiled fish and sour champagne. "But I don't like this look. What's going through that head of yours to make you look like that?"

Ignoring him, Jenny attempted once more to free her wrist, her skin burning under his grip. He stepped closer, trapping her against the wall.

"Are you thinking about all the guys you'll be with while I'm gone?" he jeered, spitting as he spoke, causing her to wrinkle her nose in disgust. When she lifted her free hand to wipe the spit away, he seized it too, pressing her hands to the wall, an unsettling grin on his face. "Thinking about Kevin?"

Jenny's mind flashed with the image of his bloody hands, a vision she tried to banish. She toyed with the idea of kneeing Julius and dashing to lock her door before he followed. She wondered if their parents would hear a cry for help—or if they would even care.

"You don't control my life, Julius," she said, summoning her remaining courage despite being pinned.

"That's where you're wrong, you naive girl," he sneered, his grip tightening until her hands went numb. Something dark clouded his eyes, an emptiness that chilled her. Then he leaned down, pressing his wet lips forcefully to hers.

His mouth was hot and overpowering, catching her gasp between his teeth.

The moment Julius's lips made contact with Jenny's, she instinctively fought back, pushing against his shoulders, desperate to break free. This was wrong. Julius was her brother, and the encounter felt repulsive. His lips, far from offering a proper kiss, were an assault—as if a slimy worm was forcing its way into her mouth. Trapped, Jenny's cries were stifled against his insistent lips.

His hands, which initially pinned her in place, began to roam. His touch was invasive, violating. She gasped in surprise as his hands groped her breasts, squeezing and exploring around her bra, while continuing to kiss her aggressively. His tongue breached her mouth, making her feel dirty and disgusted—exactly the scenario he had warned boys would impose upon her.

Julius managed to pull her breasts free from her bra, with only the thin fabric of her shirt left as a barrier. His rough groping continued, pressing harder against her. One hand slid down, brushing beneath her skirt to crudely cup her backside. It was overwhelming—an assault on all fronts. Jenny silently screamed for the ordeal to end, to unravel the why of its beginning.

His fingers found a nipple, which he pinched sharply, eliciting another cry from her. This was the breaking point. Summoning all her strength, Jenny shoved him away and stepped back, quickly readjusting her bra to cover herself.

Julius advanced again, intent on resuming his attack. But Jenny had reached her limit. Her palm connected sharply with his cheek before she even felt the sting in her hand. Her entire body trembled, surprised the slap had even landed.

Julius looked as shocked as she felt, gingerly touching his cheek where the red mark of her slap tinged his skin. His expression shifted from disbelief to smugness as his gaze flicked over her shoulder.

Jenny turned to see her mother rushing to Julius's side in distress. "What are you doing?" she shrieked, while her father demanded, "Were you fighting again?" Her mother fussed over Julius with a slight red mark on his cheek, clearly concerned for her precious biological child. Jenny seethed silently, somehow once again made to bear the blame.

"Jenny, come with me to my office," her father ordered. She cast a furious look at Julius, who smirked triumphantly as their mother hovered. As Jenny and her father left, she noticed a rare softness in Julius's eyes—an expression she hadn't seen in years. Could it be regret? But there was no time to ponder as her father strode ahead.

They walked in silence, only the sound of their footsteps echoing along the corridor. Jenny glanced at the paintings on the walls, expensive tapestries of family portraits and exotic landscapes from around the world. The walk felt all too brief as her father pushed open the heavy walnut door of his office, gesturing for her to sit. She sat down, making no attempt to feign remorse.

"You have been acting out lately, young lady," he began as he took his seat. Jenny straightened, trying to quell the anger rising within her.

"It's not my fault! Julius has been—" she started, but he cut her off with a raise of his hand.

"Julius is very well behaved, unlike you."

"That's not true! You didn't see what happened!" she protested, but his eyes narrowed, and she recognized the same stern features shared with Julius.

"He kissed me, Father! It was disgusting! He... he kissed me and put his hands―"

Her father's hand slammed down on the desk, rattling a nearby photo frame which fell flat. "That's enough, Jenny! What a ridiculous lie. Julius is your brother!"

"You're just saying that because he's your favorite! He's the perfect little Richard, destined to follow in your political footsteps."

"I said that's enough!" he bellowed, glancing at the fallen frame before continuing, "You are grounded."

"That's not fair," Jenny argued. "Please, just listen to me."

"No, you need to listen to me." The sternness in his voice silenced her. "You've been out of control. You're not going anywhere for the next month. You need to learn discipline."

He paused, contemplating. "Since you're so keen on fighting, you'll practice self-defense and shooting. Your instructor will report your progress to me. If it's not satisfactory, we'll have another talk. Do you understand?"