Chapter 2

After I changed into fresh clothes, Samuel mentioned that the whole family would be having dinner together later.

Before moving in with the Gayles, I already knew Samuel. He was my teacher’s top student, and apparently, this connection mattered now.

True to his responsible nature, he made sure to take care of me, just like my teacher had told him to.

At the dinner table, my mom couldn’t keep her eyes off Mr. Gayle, as if she’d forgotten I even existed.

I didn’t want to attract attention either, so I ate in silence.

But of course, Mr. Gayle couldn’t resist bringing me up.

“I hear Jenny’s in the same school as Samuel, what a small world,” he said, nodding approvingly at me. “If you need anything, just ask Samuel. He’s reliable.”

“I will, Mr. Gayle,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Gayle beamed, “Such a sweet girl.”

No sooner had he said that than Hector made a scoffing noise, stabbing his chopsticks into his bowl. “What an act.”

Mr. Gayle’s face darkened immediately. “Hector, show some respect.”

Samuel gave him a warning look too. “Jenny just moved in. She’s a girl, and you should be looking after her.”

I braced myself for Hector to argue, but instead, he said with a smirk, “Fine, I’ll make sure to take real good care of her from now on. Build some family bonding time.”

He turned to me with a smile that made my skin crawl.

Though he behaved the rest of dinner, I could feel the tension simmering underneath.

Afterwards, I quickly excused myself and went back to my room.

While I was unpacking, someone knocked at the door. I figured it was probably my mom, so I opened it without thinking.

But when I looked up, I saw Hector standing there.

I froze for a moment before instinctively trying to shut the door, but Hector wedged his foot between it and the frame.

“You—” I started.

Before I could finish, he forced his way inside, slamming the door shut behind him.

Bang.

He shut the door behind him, crossing his arms as he casually leaned against it.

“What... what are you doing?” I backed away instinctively, putting as much distance between us as possible.

Hector’s eyes roamed the room before they landed back on me. “Do you like my brother?”

What? Where did that come from?

I quickly shook my head.

“Really?” Hector tilted his head. “Isn’t that why you moved in here? To get close to him?”

“I didn’t,” I denied, but he wasn’t listening.

He stepped closer, looking down at me. His height made it impossible to escape his gaze. “Then why’d you move in? Your mom said you weren’t too keen on the idea.”

My stomach churned. There was no way I could tell him the truth — that the only reason I moved in was because I found out he’d come back home.

I stayed silent, and Hector took my lack of response as an admission. His eyes narrowed. “So it’s true. Little temptress, trying to seduce my brother, huh?”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’re wrong. Now please leave.”

Hector scowled, leaning in even closer. “Stop playing games with me, Jenny. Don’t you dare try to seduce him.”

I bit my lip, helpless, unable to explain myself.

Before Hector could say anything else, there was another knock at the door.

It was Samuel’s voice on the other side. “Jenny, it’s me, Samuel. Do you have a minute?”

Just as I was about to answer, Hector’s hand shot out, covering my mouth.

My eyes widened in shock as I tried to pull his hand away, but his grip was firm.

He leaned in, pressing me against the door, and whispered, “Shh. Don’t make a sound.”

My heart raced as panic set in. Hector was so close, his warm breath against my cheek. I struggled, trying to push him away, but it only made him grin.

“Jenny?” Samuel called again, sounding concerned.

I tried to squirm free, but Hector held me even tighter. And then, to my utter disbelief, he kissed me.

My brain short-circuited. Hector was kissing me.

On the other side of the door, Samuel was waiting for a response while I was trapped, locked in a kiss with his brother.

The realization made my blood rush to my face. I pushed at Hector’s chest, but he only deepened the kiss, his free hand pinning mine above my head.

“Jenny, are you okay?” Samuel’s voice was more urgent now.

Desperate, I mustered all my strength and kicked Hector’s leg as hard as I could.

“Ow, Jenny, damn!” Hector hissed, finally letting me go, rubbing his leg with a pained expression.

“Are you really that eager to open the door for him?” he teased, but his eyes darkened. “I wonder what he’d think if he saw you like this...”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, horrified.

He leaned in closer, his voice a low growl. “He doesn’t know you like him, does he? What do you think he’d do if he found out you’ve been in here, making out with his little brother?”

Fear gripped me as I realized what he was saying. I stared up at him, wide-eyed. “You wouldn’t.”

Hector didn’t respond. Instead, he slowly reached behind me, his hand hovering near the doorknob.

I panicked, my voice trembling. “Please don’t open the door. Please.”

His hand paused, and he glanced down at me, amused. “Begging now, huh? What happened to that bravado earlier?”

His smirk faded as he pressed me closer, the heat of his body overwhelming me. If Samuel saw us like this...

Hector’s fingers brushed the doorknob.

“No, don’t!” I whispered desperately, trying to push him away.

I could feel his grin against my ear. “Tell me what I want to hear, and maybe I won’t.”

My heart pounded as I tried to think of something to say that would stop this. If Samuel opened the door, I’d be ruined — and Hector knew it.

But before I could respond, Hector turned the handle.

“Wait, Hector—” I started, but the door cracked open.

My mind went blank. This was it. I was done for.

In one swift move, Hector spun me around and pushed me forward. I stumbled out of the room, nearly tripping over my feet, just managing to catch myself in the hallway.

The door clicked shut behind me, and I quickly spun around, my heart racing.

Hector was nowhere to be seen.

“Jenny?” Samuel asked, stepping closer. “What’s going on? Your lips... they’re so red.”

I blinked in confusion, then instinctively raised a hand to my mouth. My lips were burning — probably from the kiss I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge.

“I’m fine,” I blurted, trying to change the subject. “Uh, what did you need, Samuel?”

He gave me a concerned look, but didn’t press the matter. “It’s not much. I just wanted to apologize for earlier. Hector can be a real jerk, but he doesn’t mean any harm. Don’t let him get to you, okay?”

I nodded, feeling guilty, knowing that Hector was the least of my worries right now.

Samuel handed me a glass of milk and gave me a soft smile. “If he ever bothers you again, just let me know.”

After Samuel left, I opened the door to my room, and there was Hector, standing there, arms crossed, smirking like he had won something.

“You...!” I stammered, too angry to form a coherent thought.

He laughed softly. “You sure are obedient when it comes to him.”

Then, with a mocking smile, he took the glass of milk from my hand and drank half of it in one gulp.

“You...”

Before I could react, he grabbed my chin, tilting my face upward, and without warning, he poured the remaining milk into my mouth.

I choked, sputtering as the cold milk dripped down my chin. Hector, looking smug, wiped my face with the back of his hand as if he’d just done me a favor.

Satisfied, he walked out of the room, leaving me standing there in shock.

It took me a long time to calm down after that.

I had a terrible feeling I’d just made things worse with him.

Later that night, I lay in bed, thinking it over. My mom finally came to see me, and I expected her to offer some comfort after everything that had happened.

But instead, she told me I needed to be more patient, that I should stop provoking the Gayle brothers, especially Hector.

“Look, honey, I don’t have much of a choice here. Your Mr. Gayle hasn’t even agreed to marry me yet...”

I bit my lip and nodded. “I understand.”