Bully stepbrother

42. Apple

CADEN

"What the hell happened to your faces? Please don't tell me you two fought," Martha flinched as soon as Mad accepted the call on the large TV screen from the middle of the room, in black shorts and a yellow hoodie.

"No mom, I had a minor accident at the traffic circle, and Caden." She paused and looked behind her to where I am lounging on the couch, unnecessarily piling an apple. "I don't know what happened to him." She finishes with a sigh.

"You had an accident on the street?" Dad exclaimed.

"It was actually my fault, I stopped in the middle of the road, speaking on the phone, and I pissed the traffic, a friend had to get me out of the charges."

"Whoa, wait, charges?" He breathed and adjusted his grey tie.
Knowing my dad, that's his annoyance and frustration gesture.

It means run if you have to. But I never flinched a bit for it. I don't normally care about his threat or the fact that he's pissed.

I was drowned in a bathtub by my own mother, so anything else the world could offer is just a poke on my back.

"It was my fault dad, I'm so sorry." Mad apologized for being hit and having wounds all over her.

Oh, please, she can't be this dumb, is she?

"No, my dear. Are you fine? Maybe we should get on the plane and come over," Dad worriedly told his kid.

"No! No! I'm fine. I think I'm more human than Caden; he's more a mess and he hasn't seen a doctor yet." She brought those soft eyes back to me.

But what she didn't know was; I didn't matter. And it's okay. All that matters to me is her safety, and I promise none of this would ever happen again. It was all that has been prowling in my mind while she was resting on the couch the past hours ago.

"Why did you let that happen? Weren't you supposed to keep her protected? Why would you always prove your uselessness and failure?"

YES! That was my dad talking to me.

"That's the way I am dad. Surprise? Happy Birthday." I replied, flashing my teeth at him from the couch.

His brows knitted, his eyes darkened. He can't possibly come out of the big screen, can he? He's not that monstrous, I guess.

"You're unbelievable, you think this is a joke? CADEN, Cara died because you took her out to play and left her there alone, while you follow other kids for nonsense. And now Madison got into an accident because of your irresponsibility. Let me make this clear for you. I swear to God, I will not have you ruining my family again. I have enough of your problems. You're sick and unbelievable." He yells through the speaker.

I peek up at the TV screen when the room became silent. I almost thought the call is disconnected, and then toss a large piece of apple in my mouth and continue to slice more.

"It wasn't his fault." I heard a frail voice said in the quiet.
It was Mad's.

It made me smile mentally. I don't know why.

"It is, I know who that little devil is." Dad barked in protest, causing my fingers holding the knife to lose balance and slightly torn my lower thumb, spilling a little amount of blood, I had to fist my hand to hide it.

"Jude..." Martha began, sounding irritated by her husband.

I shoot upright and grab another apple from the small basket on the coffee table before announcing: "I will go to bed."

I needed some alone moment.

"This is not the way to lead him to the right path." I heard Martha say as I leave the room.