Torn Between Two Mafia

Anxiety weighed heavily on Jenny as she scanned the hallway, searching faces to see if anyone noticed. Seeing no curious glances directed their way, she focused back on Kevin, who was nervously biting his lower lip and scratching the back of his head."I've really enjoyed being your lab partner these past months," Kevin said, bowing his head slightly, causing his golden-brown curls to spill over his forehead. Jenny felt like she had to look up at the sky just to meet his eyes. "Would you be interested in going on a date with me?"Her stomach tightened, a colorful swirl of caution and delight rushed through her mind. Kevin's eyes remained steady and serene as they searched her face, and Jenny wanted to respond in a way that would make him smile again.Before she could answer, someone stepped between them. Recognizing the familiar cologne first, she stepped back instinctively upon realizing it was her brother, Julius."Julius," Jenny said, trying to step aside to catch Kevin's gaze agai

Julius's car is a brand-new luxury vehicle gifted to him by their parents for his nineteenth birthday. The interior is lined with smooth leather and rich scents, enveloping Jenny the moment the door clicks shut. Despite the laughter and chatter spilling from the school courtyard, where Julius and Richard might be engaged in a heated argument, she hears none of it through the thick walls of metal and glass.Through the windshield, Jenny watches as Julius strides confidently toward the driver's side, the tails of his blazer flowing behind him. His jaw is set in a determined line, exuding an air of certainty. It's not surprising; he knows that everyone at this school fears their family's influence and would think twice before crossing him. She recalls a time when Julius spat on the headmaster's polished leather shoes, and the headmaster had apologized to him, letting him leave school early.As he passes in front of the car, Julius runs a single finger along the hood. For a moment, Jenny

Jenny's hand instinctively rose to her bruised cheek. "Is that a bruise?" her mother gasped, immediately rushing to Jenny's side. "What happened?" she asked, gently taking Jenny's face in her hands. Before Jenny could fabricate an explanation, Julius interjected. "Clumsy Jenny tripped and fell onto the lockers today," he said in a light, teasing voice, his expression enough to intimidate. "Why didn't Richard take care of this?" her mother pressed.Jenny's face burned with humiliation, but she remained silent as her father clapped his hands to summon a waiter. "Bring Richard here," he commanded. Within moments, Richard appeared. "Explain," her father demanded coldly, "why my daughter has a bruise on her cheek and you did nothing about it."Richard maintained his composure. "I wasn't aware she had a bruise, sir." It was easy to see where Julius inherited his piercing stare from."You didn't notice the bruise on my daughter's cheek?" her father pressed further.Richard lowered his head i

A sharp, searing pain jolted Jenny awake, and she sat up with a gasp. Slowly, she realized she was lying on her bedroom floor, the darkness punctuated by shadows cast from the window. Moonlight reflected in the mirror above her, softly illuminating the carpet and bathing her in a gentle glow.The pain was familiar—swelling in her cheek—and she understood she must have rolled over in her sleep, pressing her injured cheek against the ground. With a low moan, Jenny grasped the bedpost and struggled to her feet. Her face felt sticky with tears, her mouth parched, and her hair tangled messily around her shoulders. She stumbled to the bathroom where she kept her hidden stash of pain medication and took a couple of pills.Though they were not supposed to take any medicine without approval from the house doctor, Jenny had grown tired of calling him each time she had cramps or a headache. She had borrowed a bottle of medicine from a friend at school and never returned it. Standing in the dark

As soon as Jenny settled into her chair at the dining table, she sensed her father was in a celebratory mood. The kitchen staff brought out an array of his favorite dishes: broiled lobster, caviar, filet mignon, and fresh heart of palm drizzled with white truffle oil. Jenny avoided the lobster's beady eyes and quickly glanced around the table before focusing back on her plate. The sheer volume of food could easily feed ten families, and she hoped the staff would enjoy the leftovers.Jessica sat silently beside her, swirling the golden liquid in her glass, lost in thought. Despite once being close, their relationship had grown distant, and Jenny avoided Jessica's gaze as she smoothed her skirt."This is a remarkable night," their father declared, grinning as he accepted a small plate of caviar from the staff. "We're celebrating a significant success for our family and the business. I won't go into the details, as it might bore the ladies," he added with a knowing glance at Julius, who