THE GENIUS

CHAPTER TWO: FAMILY TIES

I sat at the kitchen table, sipping my coffee and staring out the window at the familiar streets of my childhood. My parents' house was a grand, imposing place that always made me feel like I was walking on eggshells.

My mother, Julia, walked into the kitchen, her eyes narrowing as she took in my expression. "What's wrong, Avery?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

I hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. I didn't want to tell my mother outright that I was working with Kai, knowing that she would disapprove. So I tried to play it cool, hoping that she wouldn't find out.

But Julia was not one to be underestimated. She had a way of sniffing out secrets, and I knew that she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

As it turned out, my precautions were unnecessary. Julia had already discovered my secret, and she was furious.

I walked into my home office to find Julia standing in front of my computer, her eyes blazing with anger. She was typing away on my keyboard, and I realized with a jolt of horror that she was trying to delete my work.

"Mother, what are you doing?" I demanded, trying to keep my cool.

Julia turned to face me, her expression twisted with malice. "I'm getting rid of this...this abomination," she spat, gesturing to my computer screen. "You're not going to waste your time and talent on this ridiculous project, Avery."

I felt a surge of anger and frustration. How dare she try to control me like this? "You have no right to do this, Mother," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Julia sneered at me. "I have every right," she said. "I'm your mother, and it's my job to protect you from yourself."

I shook my head, feeling a sense of disgust. "You're not protecting me, Mother," I said. "You're suffocating me."

Julia's expression turned ugly. "You ungrateful child," she spat. "I've given you everything, and this is how you repay me? By disobeying me and throwing your life away on some foolish dream?"

I felt a sting from her words, but I refused to back down. "Kai is not some foolish dream, Mother," I said, standing up straight. "He's a brilliant researcher, and I'm lucky to be working with him."

Julia's face turned red with rage. "Kai?" she repeated, her voice dripping with venom. "That...that charlatan? He's using you, Avery. He's taking advantage of your innocence and your talent."

I felt a surge of anger at her words. How dare she attack Kai like that? "That's not true, Mother," I said, trying to keep my cool. "Kai is a good person, and he's helping me to achieve my dreams."

Julia sneered at me. "You're blind, Avery," she said. "You're blind to the truth about Kai and his ridiculous project. And you're blind to the fact that you're throwing your life away on something that will never amount to anything."

I felt a sting from her words, but I refused to back down. "I'm not blind, Mother," I said, standing up straight. "I'm just seeing something that you're not. And I'm going to keep working on this project, no matter what you say."

Julia's face turned ugly, her eyes blazing with anger. "You're going to regret this, Avery," she spat. "You're going to regret the day you ever met Kai and got involved in this ridiculous project."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized the depth of my mother's anger and hatred. But I refused to back down. I knew that I was doing the right thing, and I was determined to see it through.

Just as Julia stormed out of the room, my sister Audrey walked in, a concerned expression on her face. "What's going on?" she asked, looking from me to the door where Julia had just exited.

"Mother was just trying to delete my work," I said, still feeling shaken.

Audrey's eyes widened in outrage. "What? That's ridiculous!" she exclaimed. "You have every right to work on whatever project you want, Avery."

I smiled gratefully at Audrey. It was nice to have someone on my side for a change.

Audrey turned to me, her expression serious. "Avery, you can't let Mother bully you like this. You need to stand up for yourself."

I nodded, feeling a surge of determination. Audrey was right. I couldn't let Julia push me around forever.

Just then, Julia stormed back into the room, her face still red with anger. "And another thing, Avery," she said, her voice venomous. "You're going to regret the day you ever met that...that Kai person."

Audrey stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "That's enough, Mother," she said, her voice firm. "You can't just attack Avery like this. She's an adult, and she can make her own decisions."

Julia turned to Audrey, her expression incredulous. "And you're defending her?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "You're just as foolish as she is."

Audrey stood tall, her eyes never leaving Julia's face. "I'm not foolish, Mother," she said. "I'm just standing up for what's right. Avery has the right to make her own choices, and we should be supporting her, not attacking her."

I felt a surge of gratitude towards Audrey. She was always there for me, defending me against Julia's attacks.

Julia's face turned red with rage, and for a moment, I thought she might actually hit Audrey. But then she seemed to regain control of herself, and she turned away, her back rigid with anger.

"Fine," she said, her voice cold. "If you both want to be foolish, that's your choice. But don't come crying to me when it all falls apart."

And with that, she stormed out of the room, leaving Audrey and me alone.

Audrey turned to me, a concerned expression on her face. "Are you okay, Avery?" she asked.

I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards my sister. "Thanks to you, Audrey," I said. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Audrey smiled, her eyes warm with affection. "You'll never have to find out, Avery," she said. "I'll always be here for you."