Stockholm Syndrome // sm

Chapter Thirty-One

"I'm not pressing charges mom."

"You don't have a say. I am your mother and I decide to press chargers against Manuel and his son." She snapped and I watched as she straightened her pencil skirt out. "Now let's go."

"I'm testifying on behalf of Shawn. I'm not going against him." I stood my ground and she approached me.

I grabbed her hand before she could raise it to me and she narrowed her eyes at me. "He hurt you." She punctuated slowly.

"You hurt me more, and I'm not trying to put you behind bars." I sneered as I stepped away from her. "Say what you want, but I went through questioning and I went through therapy. I went to get a doctors scan and all that showed up, was your subborness to let me be my own person, and the bruises you left from when you'd hit me for not agreeing with you. If I should put anyone behind bars, it'd be you, dad, and Manuel."

I turned my back on her and then saw my little brother standing by the door with tears in his eyes. "Mommy and daddy's going to jail?" He asked and I picked him up.

"No sweetheart." I sighed and he nodded his head. "Only the bad guys are going to jail."

"Is daddy a bad guy?" He whispered and I was hesitant to answer.

"Don't worry about it, alright lil' man? If you go downstairs and wait for us, we'll get ice cream after." I persuaded and he nodded.

He smiled excitedly and I set him down, watching him run out the door. "He doesn't need to know about your guys' dad." My mom hissed and I chuckled.

"Not now, but don't you dare keep it from him when he's older. He deserves to know why his dad isn't in his life. He deserves more than a lie, like you told me." I snapped, turning around to face her.

"I had to lie-"

"You told me he didn't want me, that he only wanted my sister. You lied to my face and made me think I was unwanted by him." I nearly cried, rethinking every moment she told me he left me with her so he could take my sister instead.

"You are."

"But I didn't need to hear it from you, from anyone." I whispered and stepped back towards the door. I left the room and then wiped my eyes since I didn't even bother with makeup today. There wasn't any point since I was trying to impress anyone.

"Jenny? I'm hungry." I heard Kenny say and I hummed, turning to look at him. "I haven't eaten all day."

"Mom didn't cook you breakfast?" I asked and he shook his head. "Come on. Let's get you some food."

I took him to the kitchen and he sat down at the counter as I began making him a bowl of cereal. "We'll be late, we have no time to sit and eat." My mom scolded and I nearly threw the bowl at the wall in frustration.

"I'm feeding my baby brother, your son, which you haven't done since I came home." I snapped and she looked offended. "He needs to eat, and he can't cook himself. He's too little."

I continued making his cereal and I smiled as I handed him the bowl. "Here you go papa." I kissed his head and he thanked me before eating.

"Do not coach me on how to be a mother."

"Then start acting like one."

-

"We'd just like to ask you a few questions," a lawyer said and I crossed my arms. "Jennifer, would argue to say that Shawn is a bad person?"

"He's not a bad person."

"Honey, we're not helping him out, we're helping to put him behind bars." My mom 'reminded me' and I looked between them.