The Billionaire's First-Born

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Where did you go, Solanna, and who was with you in the car earlier?" my father asked, which made me stiffen a bit.

I stiffened a bit because I didn't expect them to say that they were still awake until now and were waiting for me. Why are they curious about my whereabouts?

Spencer. Yeah, that's right. I should use Spencer this time because there's a possibility that they might ask me if I tell them that Blake was with me that time.

I couldn’t even count how many times I’ve ridden in Spencer’s car, and I know that they know about that thing. Sometimes, Spencer would take me home every time my class was over when I was in senior high back then, and they knew that. They never questioned why I was riding in Spencer’s car and why we were together.

The fact that they asked me where I was and who was with me made me a bit shocked. Not that I was shocked. I was just surprised, and I don't know why I reacted like this.

Maybe I was surprised because this appears to be my first time lying to my parents, so...

"I'm with Spencer," I said before I swallowed the lump in my throat. "He came with me to buy medicine for Marco..."

I hurriedly raised my eyes to check the living room where we were. Instead of explaining my reason, I hurriedly went to Marco's room to check on him. It's a good thing that his room doesn't have a lock, so even if I enter without his permission, there's no problem.

I saw him lying in his bed. It seemed like he was also deep asleep when I decided to step into his room and walk closer to his bed.

There's a towel soaked in water resting on his forehead. I also saw a basin on his bedside table, and I know what that water is for.

The towel on his forehead was a bit dry, so I decided to slowly remove it from his forehead and dip it in the water.

Every time my siblings get sick, I'm the one who's taking care of them. My mother is busy with her work while my father is on the farm, busy with his work too. I was the one who was left alone at home with them, and as their older sister, I took care of them whenever they got sick.

And I was the one who took care of myself when I had the flu.

Seeing my brother fainting because of a fever made me a bit worried. I turned to look at his fingernails, and I wasn't wrong with what I saw before. His fingernails are a bit dark. It seems like there's something that is weird. The saleslady told me a while ago that we should see a doctor to undergo check-ups. I don't know why, but I'm worried about my brother.

I subsconciously left Marco's room. I saw my parents still sitting on the sofa in the living room. It looks like they are still waiting for someone besides me.

I walked closer to where they were. I said, "It's already midnight, mom and dad," before I turned to look at the open door. "Are you still waiting for someone?"

"Monique isn't here yet," my father said, which made my brows shut in confusion at what he said. "She told us that she and her friends were going somewhere, and she promised that they would be there for a while."

"Where did she go then?"

My mother shrugged at me. "She didn't tell us because she knew we'd stop her. She's with Merriah, and I don't trust that woman."

I don't have any idea who Merriah is referring to.

I sighed heavily before I sat down next to them. "You should rest. I'll take care of waiting for her."

"But you have your work tomorrow," my father said, which made me smile at him and shake my head.

"Tomorrow is my day-off," I said before I leaned my back against my seat. "Don't worry, I can handle myself, dad. You have to work tomorrow and you should be the one resting today."

They nodded at me, and they even told me to wake them up when Monique came home.

Why would I wake them up? It seems like something bad is going to happen. Based on their looks, it seems like they are hiding something from me. I know my sister. Aside from being obedient to her parents and performing well academically, I know she does things that go against our parents' wishes.

Yes, I trust her, but her friends are not.

And just like what I thought a while ago, Monique came a few moments after my parents decided to take some rest. Some guys are helping her walk straight until they get to the front door. I hurriedly opened the door and took Monique from their hands and laid her on the sofa. Her clothes were a bit messy, and I don't know if it was because of their grip or what.

I saw the girl standing on their side. She smiled at me, but I didn't reciprocate that smile.

"Where did you take her?" I asked.

The two boys hurriedly stepped back because of the way I questioned them. Monique couldn't open her eyes because of tiredness. I smelled some beer, and there was a smell coming from her that I couldn't determine.

"We just had fun and agreed to drink some beer," Merriah said while smiling at me.

My brows shut because of what she said. "She's a f*****g minor!" I yelled.

They stepped back because of what I did.

"She told us that she could—"

"If your parents just let you do what you wanted, then we are not!" I said.

I don't care if my parents wake up from their sleep because of my confrontation with Monique's friends. That's if they're friends with Monique.

This is the first time I have seen them set foot on our land. I'm not familiar with them, and I don't trust them. If they were really Monique's friends, they wouldn't let her drink alcohol. If they are really Monique's friends, then they won't include my sister in this kind of work!

How can I trust them if they introduce themselves like this?

"W-We're sorry—"

"Get out!" I yelled while pointing outside.

Merriah gave me a dark stare, while the two men hurriedly turned their backs on me and rushed into their car from afar. I reciprocated her stares with a glare. At the end, she also voluntarily released her gaze on me and hurriedly rode in the car where the two men went.

It's a good thing that my parents didn't wake up because of my yell. If they wake up, I know that Monique's friends, especially Merriah, won't be able to go home safely.

I walked closer to my sister and watched her sleep on the sofa. Somehow I was able to breathe easily, because it seemed like she was already asleep. She couldn't even fix her torn skirt.

I automatically adjusted the skirt she was wearing. I stiffened a bit in my posture when I saw a bloodstain on her skirt. It wasn't visible because she was wearing a dark blue skirt, but because of my clear eyes, I was still able to see the blood stain on her skirt.

Why? Was she injured? Does she have a wound? Did someone hurt her?

Instead of waking her up to ask her, I decided to ignore that and just give her a blanket that she could use tonight.

I stared at the oranges in the plastic. I wasn’t even able to show Marco what Blake had given me earlier.

I felt my lips pursed a bit while thinking about him and what he did earlier. I even mistook him for being a stalker and a bad person just because of his actions. It's a good thing that he's a good person and he was able to help me even though we didn't know each other very well.

"There are still people who are helpful and kind," I whispered to myself before I decided to close my eyes and go to sleep.

I woke up to the alarm clock I had set earlier. I wiped my eyes and decided to get up to cook some breakfast for my family. I knew that my parents would wake up late later because of what happened last night, so even though I was still sleepy, I got up to cook for our breakfast.

I was busy frying eggs when I jumped in my posture when I heard a low voice coming from the bathroom. If I’m not mistaken, it seems like the voice coming from there is crying. I slowly turned off the stove and picked up the broom I had seen on the side earlier.

I slowly walked towards the bathroom and raised the broom I was holding. I almost strike whoever comes out of the bathroom when the door opens. It’s a good thing that I was still able to restrain myself from my plan.

I saw Monique come out of the bathroom. I know that she was surprised that she saw me standing in front of the bathroom while holding a broom, but I know that if she was surprised to see me, I was even more surprised at the look I saw from her.

I saw her face turn pale. I saw bruises on her neck. Her eyes were swollen because of crying, so I couldn't help but feel confused.

"Why are you crying?" I asked.

She sighed deeply before she decided to pass me by. I will let her curse me now, but when I saw her feet staggering, I couldn't help myself but hold her wrist and pull her closer to me, which surprised her.

"Why do you walk like that?" I asked, which made her shake her head. "Is there something wrong? Are you injured?"

"Solanna—"

"Did your friends do something bad to you?" I asked, cutting her off. "Did they hurt you?"

My eyes widened a bit when I saw her tears drop on her cheeks. She slowly kneeled in front of me, which made me confused and worried at the same time. It's too early in the morning, so somehow I'm comfortable that my parents can't hear us.

I kneeled in front of her and tried to stand her up, but it seemed like she had no plans to stand up and stop crying.

"Why are you crying?" I asked, but she shook her head, and it seems like she has no plans to stop her crying. "Please, Monique. Do you have a problem? You know you can call me and talk to me when you have a problem, right?" She just continued to cry, which made my heart ache a bit. "Is there something wrong? Did your friends hurt you?"

"Solanna... they—"

"What happened?"

I saw how Monique bit her tongue when Mom hurriedly walked closer to us. Just like us, she kneeled in front of her and slowly caressed her face.

"Monique, is there a problem?" she asked before she turned to look at me. "What happened, Solanna?"

I shook my head because I had no idea what Monique was going through right now. I don't have any idea why she's crying. All I know is what happened last night.

I slowly turned to look at her. Unlike before, she no longer wore the skirt she wore last night. I tried to look at the comfort room, but I didn't see it there.

I want to ask her something, but I don't want my mother to hear my questions. She would have spoken earlier if mom hadn't just shown up.

Monique shook her head before she withdrew her hand from our mother's grasp. She didn’t turn to look at me either, so I knew that even if she had a chance to talk to me and she admitted to me, she wouldn’t be able to do it either.

I don't know if she is already led by shame or fear, but then, nothing will happen if you just allow yourself to nurture all the problems you have instead of telling the truth.