All Chapters of The Brother's Temptations: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Jescyka’s POVIt had only been just twenty-four hours, but somehow it felt like a whole month had been squeezed into a day. My body felt fine at the moment, but my mind? Yeah, my mind was a tangled misery. I breathed slowly and moved toward my wardrobe, pulling out the lockers and dresses without really seeing any of them. I was trying to choose what to wear for my meeting with Ethan by evening, but my brain was barely cooperating.Another knock came at my door — three light taps, theheavier one. I didn’t even need to guess. That was definitely Marv at the door, it came again, persistent this time, polite, annoying in a familiar way.I walked to the door and opened it. And yes, it was him… but what caught my breath was that he wasn't alone.Mrs. Coldridge–his mother stood beside him, graceful as she should be.I literally froze. If someone had taken a picture of me at the time, they would’ve captured the exact time my soul almost left my body.“Mrs. Coldridge,” I managed, forcing a sm

Jescyka’s POVI honestly couldn’t make him understand me—not properly, not the way my mind needed him to understand. And that was worse than anything that had happened or was going to happen. I sat up, and tried to wake him up, to try to explain better, but even his name got stuck halfway between confusion and whatever this whole mess with Darren and Marv was putting me through.I laid back and pulled my knees up, then folded my hands into my thighs, like somehow hugging myself would calm the storm down. I tried to get my mind to relax, literally I was begging it to shut up, it took long enough for me to fall asleep. But the more I tried, the more restless I became.My brain kept racing Darren. Marv. The tension. Something felt like a bond that had refused to break, it tugged at my mind mostly painfully, calling for Darren. Whatever it was that had been building between all of us I had no heeding. My mind drifted back to my mother—i mean my grandmother but I knew her to be my mother

Jescyka's povI had already made up my mind and told Darren bluntly that I'll be leaving with Ethan. I quickly jumped into Ethan's car and he drove us home to his house. I mentally prepared myself not to stay over at his place. Perhaps after everything I needed some alone time. So I took my own car, just as I dropped from his, I didn't even say a proper good bye. If I did he would offer to keep me safe at his place which I wouldn't be able to say no to. The air was thick with awkwardness as I slipped into my car but I didn't mind.The drive home felt like stretching a material band inside my chest. Every turn felt heavier. Every breath was doing way too much. I kept thinking about Marv—about everything he had put me through—and this stupid, ridiculous idea I had about using Darren to get back at him. A petty, childish revenge plan. But Jesus. At first it felt right but thinking about it now? It was a foolish idea. They were brothers with the same character they would both play with m

Darren’s pov“Someone is speaking to me. I mean… I’m crazy, am I? Darren. I heard a voice in my head.” Her breathing was wild and uneven, she kept twisting her fingers like they were the only thing keeping her sane.I barely understood what she was saying.“Jescyka… hey, calm down. Seriously, breathe,” I murmured, trying to balance her shoulders, but she kept pulling away, her entire body was trembling. Even if she had hallucinated kissing a ghost, she shouldn't shake that much.It took a whole minute—maybe longer—before she finally loosened up enough for me to lay her back on the bed. I eased her down gently, brushing her hair off her forehead, it was damped with sweat.“I’ll be right back.” I whispered, raising gently from the bed.I grabbed a glass of water and returned quickly.“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice came thin as if she was afraid it might break if she spoke too loud. She took little sips, her eyes were not focused, like she was somewhere different entirely.“You’l

Jescyka’s POV“How do you feel now?”Ethan’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. The concern in his eyes was hard to not catch. He was closing the distance between us the moment I stepped out of the doctor’s room. He looked like someone who had been bracing for bad news and didn’t quite know what to do with relief.“I don’t feel anything,” I said honestly. “I feel… normal. Just, like normal.” He studied my face like he was searching for cracks. “Normal?” his voice rang back.I nodded. “Yeah, normal.”He exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Okay then.” After a pause, he added, “So… we’ll be going to my place or—”“I just want some ice cream.”He blinked. “Ice cream?”“Yes,” I said firmly, surprising even myself. “A cup. Or two.” “More like an unplanned ice cream date.” He asked playfully.That finally got a smile out of me. “Wow. A date? Sounds cool. I feel honored.”“It’s okay. Don’t just let it get to your head.” he jokedWe walked toward the driveway where the car was pa