BRAIDED BROOD

Chapter 2

At the convenience store, Emily approached the store clerk, Mr. Dudu. She held a shopping basket and offered a hopeful smile, praying he’d let her take the expired items home.

“Gosh! You’re a pathetic girl,” Mr. Dudu muttered, looking irritated.

“What? They don’t expire until the end of today. You are just going to throw these out anyway,” Emily countered, completely unbothered. She opened a paper bag and began transferring the items from the basket into it. “Besides, I will eat it all!” She said joyfully.

“Whatever, just take it all,” he yelled, waving a hand to dismiss her. “You’re really the best, sir! An absolute angel!" she praised him, flashing a bright grin. “Seriously?” He asked, deadpan. “Goodbye!” She waved her hand as she was leaving.

“Whatever, just leave.” He grumbled in response.

Late that night, the city was dazzling. Streetlights hummed, and the windows of towers, old cathedrals, and small homes, etc., were all shining in the dark.

Emily returned home and greeted everyone, though no one responded. In the living room, her stepmother and her stepsister, Yara, were curled up on the couch, happily enjoying a bowl of fried crispy chicken, which she had longed for. She swallowed hard, her mouth watering at the sight of the full bowl.

“I’m home.” She repeated. She removed her worn-out sneakers and was about to walk directly to her bedroom.

“Hey! Did you do the dishes properly?” Her stepmother, Darus, called out as she turned to look at her with disdain. “Or are you telling us you hate doing chores?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll scrub them really well next time,” she apologized.

“Also, did you pick up the clothes I left at the dry cleaner?” Yara, Emily’s stepsister, asked with her mouth full of chicken. Emily froze. “Oh...no, I totally forgot. I’ll pick it up first thing tomorrow, sister. I’m so sorry.”

“Gosh! Again with the sister thing! It pisses me off!” she yelled, rolling her eyes. “You don’t know how to do anything right. I wonder who you take after.” “Her dead mom, obviously,” Darus replied coldly.

Immediately, Emily’s mood shattered. The words struck her like a physical blow, and tears began to accumulate in her eyes. She bowed her head and walked away in silence. Sitting on the edge of her small bed, she brought out a list of part-time jobs that she had gathered. Then she opened an expired sausage roll from the convenience store and quietly ate it as her dinner.

“I’ll call this one up next week,” she murmured to herself, scanning the crumpled paper. “Okay… I’ll get my paycheck from the convenience store in three days, and I’ll be getting my pay from the restaurant in a week.”

She pulled out her bank deposit booklet and opened it. As she stared at the figures, her eyes brightened slightly. “I’m almost there. You can do this… Emily!” She whispered fiercely.

Then, her voice dropped to a low, tired tone. “But I really have to find another job.”

The next day, three ultra-luxurious cars sped towards the same destination: Kyle Huxley drove his luxurious yellow supercar, Kyle Skyler, the nation's top idol, drove his own favorite white car, and Kyle Jeffery also drove a luxurious, sleek black car.

All of them were heading to Jupiter’s house after receiving a text from Secretary York: “There’s an important announcement regarding your grandfather that will be made at exactly 6.00 pm sharp. If you don’t come, I will freeze all your credit cards.”

“If you don’t come, I will keep the circumstances regarding your birth a secret forever.” He sent this text to Kyle Jeffery in particular.

All staff were dressed in sharp formal suits and stood at the front of 'Jupiter’s house,' waiting for the arrival of the Chairman's heirs.

Finally, the grandsons arrived together; they tossed their keys to the valets and walked through as they kept approaching the automatic glass doors that opened by themselves. Jeffery led the way, flanked by Huxley on his right and Skyler on his left. As they strode through the soaring marble reception hall, people from all different walks of life, both great and small, were staring at the powerful trio.

They reached the private sitting room that was meant for the discussion of family matters, where Secretary York was waiting for them by the window.

“Is Grandpa dying?” Huxley demanded without greeting him. “Did he collapse?” Skyler asked. “Where is Grandpa?” Jeffery added. All three grandsons asked a question at the same time.

Instead of answering, Secretary York handed them an invitation card. The trio stared at it and were surprised; their expressions turned from concern to pure disbelief.

“You froze my cards for this?” Huxley asked while he was still staring at the card. “I canceled today’s plan for this!” Skyler said angrily.

I wouldn’t have been able to see three of you at once. York responded calmly.

Jeffery let out a dry, humorless laugh and questioned him. “Was it you who contacted us? Are you messing with us right now?”

“Grandpa’s wedding invitation? Like, are you for real?” Huxley yelled. “I'm not going,” Jeffery stated flatly. “Honestly, this isn’t right,” Skyler said, tossing the card aside.

Huxley turned to Jeffery. “Hey, you’re not the only one who doesn’t want to go!”

“All three of you must attend the wedding as a family,” York shouted with a very serious face.

“FAMILY!” The three cousins chorused.

“First, there was a cousin who popped out of nowhere, and now we are getting a new grandma who is my mom’s age?” Huxley snapped. “That’s why I said I wouldn’t go,” Jeffery answered him.

“Are you two fighting again?” Skyler asked wearily.

Enraged, Jeffery crumpled his invitation card to the floor with anger and turned to leave when Secretary York shouted his formal name. “Kyle Jeffery!”

“Don’t call me that. I’m Han Jeffery.” He hissed and walked away. “No, you are Kyle Jeffery.” York insisted, his gaze unwavering.

Skyler stood up and showed York his phone, which was ringing. “I’ll be leaving, too. My schedule is packed,” he said as he was moving out.

Now the room was left with Secretary York and Huxley.

Huxley smiled as he looked at his grandfather's wedding picture and smirked. “You have to come,” York told him. “Of course, it's Grandpa’s fifth wedding after all. I’ll even bring a gift.” He stood up and walked away.

Secretary York was left alone. He stood there; his mind drifted back to the rainy afternoon he had first brought Jeffery to the Jupiter Mansion, after discovering he was Chairman Kyle’s illegitimate grandson.

“This is where the chairman’s other grandchildren reside together,” as they arrived at the house. York told the reserved young Jeffery, “We’ve prepared a room for you over there. Go get some rest: The chairman will soon be here for dinner…”

While he was still talking to Jeffery, his phone rang; then he took an excuse to answer the call. Jeffery started admiring the beautiful view of the house until he bumped into Huxley.

“Who are you?” Huxley asked.

“And who the hell are you?” He shot back.

“You don’t know who I am?” Huxley asked, surprisingly. “Are you new here or something?” He smiled. “Oh! You are the new cleaning guy. Sure. I’ll let you off the hook since it’s your first time. You can go.”

Jeffery had chuckled. “What!” At this point, Jeffery was about to throw a punch when Secretary York returned. “KYLE JEFFERY!” he shouted his name at that instant.

Back in the present, the memory faded. York remembered the two boys sitting across from each other that day.

“You two… are cousins,” York had explained gently. “What?!” Huxley had shouted. “Mr. Kyle Jeffery is the son of your Uncle, the late Kyle Stephen.”

“How could Uncle Stephen have a son when he never got married? That’s just ridiculous,” he said, as he looked at Jeffery’s face. Did you really check this thoroughly?” Huxley questioned York.

“Hey! What kind of prestigious family is your mother from? I mean, what kind of great family are you from that kept you hidden all this time? Did you live abroad this whole time? What school did you attend?” he asked Jeffery directly.

“I lived in an orphanage after my mom passed away ten years ago,” Jeffery answered coolly. “And I dropped out of high school.”

Huxley had stared at him for a beat before bursting into hysterical laughter. Why?

“Gosh! I was worried for nothing. But then again, is it Grandpa’s hobby to find himself new grandsons or something? It wasn’t even that long ago that he took that busker kid off the streets, and now you. Well, one thing is sure. He’s definitely an interesting old man. Right?” He stood up and walked away.

You’ll soon get used to things around here. York reassures him.

“Do I really have to get used to this?”