Jack pushed uncle back and hid me inside his arms locking me tightly. I was so scared I buried my face into his chest. Jack pulled away only to wipe away the streak of blood off my lower lip.
"How dare you hit my little sister?" Jack spoke slowly, his eyes filled with tears and anger.
I was shocked to see Jack raise his voice and hand at uncle for the first time as he grabbed uncle's collar. "How dare you to treat my dad that way!" Gino shouted and he and Mark came forward.
I was so scared to see Jack against the three madmen alone. Joe too came running hearing all that noise and said, "stay away from my brother, you two!"
It was funny and yet a proud feeling to see Joe being the youngest and most shy amongst all of us stand for Jack.
"Joe, stay back! Get Ria in her room." Jack commanded Joe and then left uncle's collar and faced Mark and Gino, "Do you two really dare to fight me? I challenge you to stand up against me for more than two minutes."
"Stop it, all of you! And Jack, you dare to speak in front of me? Get out of my house now!!" My uncle roared. He knew that he had crossed off Jack's patience and now he could only scold Jack. He and his sons didn't stand a chance if they rose their hand on Jack.
Everyone at school and in our town knew about the fighting skills and extraordinary network. And Mark and Gino were always scared of Logan and Jack.
"Yes, Garry. It's time for us to leave." I heard Dad and everyone turned towards the door where my dad was standing.
"I came back to check on my kids and this is what I see?" Dad spoke. His voice was shaking. "Dad!!" I ran to hug my dad. "Dad I promise, I did not do anything to Mark. He only started hitting me first." I explained to my dad and Joe too stood beside him.
"I know, Ria. I trust you." Dad put me aside and stood between my uncle and Jack protecting Jack.
My dad is generally soft on the outside. But when it comes to protecting his family, he always stood tough. And this same nature flowed in my brothers' blood too.
"Jack, your mother is fine now. She might be back from the hospital in a few more days and I want her to step inside her new home when she is back. Pack your stuff." Dad assured Jack who was shocked himself.
"Harry, if you leave you won't have any partnership left in my firm either. Hope you realize that." Uncle started speaking when dad took Joe, Jack, and me in his embrace and started moving up the stairs.
"My kids are my priority, Garry, much more than your mere company and... my elder brother." When my dad spelled the last two words, I realized how much he loved his brother, just like I loved all my brothers. And my dad was losing his brother today.
I could never undo what I had done that night. I laid awake all night and with the first hit of sun-rays we started packing our bags. I always waited for the day I would leave the cursed house, but it also ached my heart as I was born and brought up in that house.
The morning was thankfully not awkward as uncle along with Gino and Mark left the house.
But it was very, very tough for dad to cool down Logan's anger when he arrived home. Logan was bursting with anger and he wanted to teach a good lesson to Mark and Gino for hurting me.
But during all of these, my best moment was when Andy gave me a long and tight hug. He usually never expresses his care for me. So I wanted to live in his brotherly hug right now.
"Guys, I know that the situation is not good right now. Sophie is in hospital and we have to move out today. And I am not going to work for our firm anymore. But you guys don't worry. Sophie and I will sort out everything." My dad reassured us.
"You don't have to worry, dad. Logan and I can talk to our existing partners and a few startup business people of this town too. They will happily start working with us leaving uncle's company." Jack offered his share.
"No, Jack. I know that you and Logan are well capable of that but I want to have the company rise up with its own credit and not with your networks. I can't stand Garry pointing his finger yet again at my family for deserting his company.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDH5tWzijG
And I am sure that even Sophie will not agree with you. I never liked you two get so much indulged in your networks and strongholds, but I never stopped you two either as you are adults and should have your own life choices." Dad answered.
"I know that, dad. And we are grateful to you and mom that you gave us all the freedom that we asked for... But, dad you are not alone in this. We promise we won't use our network to grow your new company. But... Jack and I will work in a part-time job. I just have to contact a couple of our college professors to get a suitable job." He stood up and Jack nodded to that.
"We all will pitch in, dad. But dad the firm is yours and mom's too. I remember you sharing your stories on how you and uncle started it together 25 years ago. How can you just leave it?" Alex spoke out. He had always been like this, a rebellious one.
"I know, Alex. But I don't want to fight over that matter with Garry. After all, he is my big brother."
Even I didn't want my dad to fight for his position at the firm. My dad is a far more respectable and kind-hearted man than my uncle is. We completed packing all our stuff and moved on the same day to our new house, and that is one day back.
I was still in my thoughts when Joe hit me on my head."What are you, a thinking machine? We are already late for school."
Joe pulled me to the table when I realized that I was too much occupied in the memories of the past few days.
We all sat at the table and it was hilarious to see dad's pancakes.
"These pancakes... umm, it's a little burnt,....and.. umm" dad started analyzing his own pancakes.
"And a little uncooked."
"Eww, no sugar."
"Who said, it's tasty."
"I want ketchup."
"Who eats pancakes with ketchup, you idiot?"
"Wow, it's so... white!!"
And the comments went on until...
"Enough, everyone. Finish your food!" Jack commanded and everyone shut up. But dad started laughing and so did everyone.
It was good to have a family laugh after everything we went through. The new home was a little weird to adjust but I was glad that my brothers' mischiefs were all the same. And I have to mention, it was indeed relieving to not have uncle, Gino, and Mark around. I missed aunt Milly though.
Dad waved us goodbye to meet mum and we waved him back.
I finished my food and found Logan and Jack instructing something to John. We all are in Maryland school, one of the best in town and the only institute to hold school and college both.
Dad wanted Logan to study in a good college outside but Logan decided to continue with Maryland itself. He was not that strong to leave his friends and family.
And now following Logan's footsteps Jack too joined the same college, just beside our building.
I tried to listen to what Logan and Jack were telling to John but could not hear a word and they left for college.
We went to the same location but Logan and Jack would go separate being the senior guys. John was specially instructed to take us to school to look after us.
What were we, infants?
"What were they discussing in secret, Joe?" I whispered to Joe, unable to decode.
"You will know it soon, Ria" Joe smiled as if he knew.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEtdFPPXCw
"And when is that? I put my hands on my hip and asked Joe.
"What the hell are you wearing, Ria Wilson?" John rose in front of me after Logan and Jack left.
"And now you know," Joe spoke out while he passed behind me with an I-told-you-so expression across his face I gulped back looking at John.
Did you like this chapter? Please do comment and vote to motivate me. :) :)331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QllPummF3
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