Chapter 7
704 Words
Where the trios are sitting Conner leaned forward, his grin wide, words tumbling out a little too fast from the alcohol.
“I can’t believe it’s you, Jeremy! Do you even remember? We used to run around like little terrors—always getting into trouble.”
Jeremiah’s lips curved faintly, though his tone stayed measured.
“Yeah. I remember.”
Conner laughed, shaking his head.
“Feels like forever ago. Man, I never thought we’d end up here—same school, same party. Guess the world’s smaller than we thought.”
Jeremiah studied him for a moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
“It has been a long time.”
Before Conner could say more, Mark leaned in with a chuckle, pushing another glass across the table.
“Enough of the trip down memory lane. Drink, Parker. That’s what parties are for.”
Conner grinned, grabbing it without hesitation.
“Don’t have to tell me twice.”
He downed it quickly, slamming the empty glass down with a laugh.
Jeremiah’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. James only sat back, his gaze flicking between the twins with quiet interest.
That was the sight Conrad walked into when he returned—his brother laughing, cheeks flushed, already too far gone. His stomach sank.
“Seriously?” he muttered, turning on Mark. “Why would you even give him that?”
Mark smirked, amused.
“He wanted it.”
Conrad’s glare sharpened.
“He’s drunk. That’s on you.”
Mark only shrugged, still entertained, while James leaned back, eyes narrowing in quiet observation.
Jeremiah, however, didn’t move. His gaze lifted to Conrad, steady and unreadable. For a beat too long, their eyes locked—Jeremiah’s calm composure against Conrad’s controlled frustration. There was no smirk, no judgment in Jeremiah’s look… only something sharp, as though he was weighing Conrad silently.
Conrad was the one to break it, tugging his brother up with a muttered,
“Come on, Conner. We’re leaving.”
Conner stumbled, slurring a protest, but Conrad ignored him, hauling him toward the exit. Even as he moved away, he could feel Jeremiah’s eyes lingering on him, quiet and heavy like a shadow he couldn’t shake.
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Conrad helped Conner to the car, and the online chauffeur he had called pulled up just in time. When Conrad finally settled his brother inside, he exhaled shakily, pulling out his phone. The glowing screen showed the time, and his face went pale. His chest tightened; his heartbeat quickened. Anxiety clawed at him.
When they reached the estate and then their mansion, he paid the chauffeur, and the bodyguards came to help with the stumbling Conner.
But as soon as Conrad stepped through the door, his worst fear materialized.
His father.
“Where do you think you’re coming from?” his father’s voice thundered. “And what gave you the mind to take Conner out with you?”
Conrad froze. His throat closed up.
“Da… Dad, it was just a school party—”
“And you had to drag your brother into it?” His father’s hand slammed against the table, making Conrad flinch. “Do you know this is the same way you took your mother out that day? Are you planning the same thing for your brother?!”
The words cut deeper than a knife.
Conrad’s lips trembled. “Dad, I—”
“Hold it!” His father’s eyes blazed. “Don’t you say another word. Just seeing you makes me sick. Leave my sight!”
Conrad lowered his head, the tears pressing hard behind his eyes. He turned, his body heavy with shame, and walked quickly away before they could fall.
---
His room felt darker than usual when he shut the door behind him. He sank onto the bed, curling into himself as the first tear slipped free.
“Everything will be fine…”
The words tumbled out in a broken whisper.
His mother’s words. The only promise he had left to hold onto.
He murmured them again and again, clinging to them desperately, though the silence of the mansion seemed to swallow the sound whole.
And for the first time in a long while, Conrad felt completely, utterly alone.
- Writer
