11

Chapter 11

Adele Wilson

“He…Henry…” father stuttered, obviously tense. Has this bastard been bullying my father too?

“Uhm… I'm sorry… I had no idea you… you… were in the academy.” Father's voice quivered, his hands trembled slightly as he fondled his fingers. Seriously?

I stepped away from Henry, and went to my father. “Father, you should get going.” I rubbed his arm to ease him.

“Come on, Adele. I'm still talking to him. You can't ask him to leave like that…” he paused, then turned to my father and smirked. “You won't leave, will you?”

My father looked at me, forcing a smile. “Daughter, why don't you go back to your dorm, hmm? Father will handle this here.”

“No. I won't leave until I watch you leave.” I insisted.

“Aww… What a father and daughter moment. I love this.” Henry chuckled, clapping his hands.

My heart twisted in my chest, hammering against my ribcage, and blood boiling as rage spurred through me.

“Father, you should leave. I will sort this out with Henry.” I whispered to father, but with the look of things… he didn't dare to lift a finger. Not until Henry orders him to.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at my father. I had never seen him look so small. And for the first time in my life… I didn’t want to be small too.

They could mess with me all they want, but not my father.

“Mr. Wilson… I need your help… Will you do it?” Henry walked past me, going to stand beside my father. He wrapped his arm around my father’s shoulders like they were pals… but his grip looked tight enough to snap bones.

“Can you buy me a pack of cigarettes? You know students are not allowed to leave the dorm this time.”

He took out some money and gave it to my father.

“Su…sure. I will get it.”

Father had reached for the money when I snatched it from Henry.

“I won't let you treat my father in that manner!” For the first time in my life, I yelled at Henry. I could feel my pulse rising with every ticking second. This was a big risk, but if it was to protect my father, then I was ready to bear the consequence later.

Henry's eyes flickered with surprise and rage.

“Adele… let me have the money. It's just a cigarette. I'll go get it.” Father tried reaching for it, but I took a step back.

He closed the distance between us and whispered. “Adele, please. Don't do this. Henry is a monster. He is going to harm you. Let me do what he wants me to do.” Father pleaded, but I shook my head.

“No… I won't allow him to humiliate you.” I dragged my father behind me, shielding him. “If you want to get a cigarette, then fucking go get it yourself!” I yelled at the top of my voice, throwing the money right on his face, and I heard gasps around us. It was at that moment I realised… that there were students hanging around and watching us.

“Holy shit! Did Adele just talk back to Henry?”

“Is this a dream? Goodness! This is crazy.”

“Henry is so going to kill her. I should take a video of this moment.”

The students always have something to say about situations like this. While it's my nightmare, it's always fun to them. They enjoy every bit of it.

Henry's knuckles turned white as he clenched them tightly, his jaw was clenched tightly, his eyes glaring into mine.

I closed the distance between us. “You can mess with me all you want, but not my father! I will kill you, Henry. I will kill you even if it's the last thing I do on earth.” I whispered to him, and he froze.

I turned to my father and held his hand. “Let's go.”

“Whoa! That was so cool!”

I heard students whispering as we walked past them, but one thing I knew?... That wasn't me back then. That was my rage controlling me, and I loved it even though it's going to put me into trouble later.

“I told you that it was fine. You shouldn't have done that!” My father yanked my hand off the moment we stepped out through the gate.

“It was just a cigarette. I could've gotten it without all those troubles.” He dragged his fingers through his hair, frustrated.

“I couldn't allow him to do that to you. The other students were there. What do you want them to say? That my father is an errand boy to an idiot he is old enough to father?” I snapped back at him.

He dragged a rough breath, then held my shoulders. “You don't get it, do you, Adele?”

“Henry is a monster. I know him too well. I spend the most time with him in the packhouse, and I know who he is. He is going to harm you.”

I knew he was right. Henry was dangerous. But I also knew I couldn’t back down now. Not after what he’d done.

“I can handle it, father.” I assured him. “You don't have to worry about me.”

His hands dropped beside him. “Let's go home, Adele. I can't allow you to stay back here.” He shook his head. “Henry is going to target you now, and I can't afford for you to get hurt.”

I scoffed silently. Henry has been bullying me before now, anyway. Just that I never told my father about it.

“I'll be fine, father. Trust me. You should leave.” I patted his shoulder, and without wasting another second, I walked into the academy, not sparing him a glance even as he kept calling after me.

My steps faltered as I approached the veranda, and saw Chloe standing with her hands crossed in front of her, glaring hard at me.

Her crazy minions stood behind her, as if waiting for her to order.

“Girls… bring her to me.”

Just one order from her, and they walked down to me and grabbed me by each arm, but I didn't flinch. The rage was still there. I could handle this.

She turned and walked away, while they dragged me behind her along the hallway, their nails digging into my arm, but I didn't cry out. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

We walked past the old classrooms, the ice hockey and skating arena, and they pushed me to my knees the moment we arrived in front of the academy's old toilet.

Chloe squatted in front of me, her eyes blazing with fury. “Humiliating my brother in front of everyone, huh? To play what? A heroine who saved her father?...” She scoffed. “You will regret this.”