Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 264

Olivia’s POV - Twenty years ago

"Those are the children who took your son, Mr. Wellington!" The driver scrambled forward, his face red and sweaty. "I spent all night looking for him, not knowing these little thieves have been keeping him hostage. I bet they did it for money, sir." he pointed at me and Kennedy.

By now, several scary men in dark suits had appeared behind Mr. Wellington, and fear gripped me immediately.

"THAT’S A LIE!" I screamed, my voice filled with panic. "Kennedy saved Maxwell! Those boys were beating him up!" I frantically pointed at Peter and his friends, who were still on the floor but had gone very, very quiet. "They’ve been bullying Maxwell! Kennedy stopped them!"

Mr. Wellington’s cold gaze swept over me like I was something unpleasant he’d found on the bottom of his expensive shoe. Then his eyes landed on Maxwell.

"Maxwell." His voice was sharp as a whip crack. "Come here. Now."

I watched as Maxwell’s face drained of all color. His whole body started trembling - not the small trembles from before, but violent shakes that made him look like he might collapse.

"Dad, I..."

"I said NOW."

Maxwell walked toward his father on legs that looked ready to give out at any moment. Each step seemed to cost him something, and I could see the terror written all over his face.

No. No, this was wrong. Maxwell just needed to explain what happened. He’d tell his father the truth, and everything would be okay.

"These boys!" I shouted again, running toward Mr. Wellington. "They were hurting Maxwell! They beat him up! Kennedy saved him!"

But before I could get close, one of the suited men stepped in front of me, blocking my path with an arm like an iron bar.

"Sir," Peter suddenly spoke up, his voice taking on a tone I’d never heard before - respectful, almost timid. "Sir, that’s not what happened at all."

My head whipped toward him in disbelief.

"We were just hanging out at the library," Peter continued, grimacing as he held his bleeding nose. "That guy..." he pointed at Kennedy, "...he’s the one who attacked us. He attacks everyone in this neighborhood. He’s a bully. He beats people up for fun. Even your son knows it. Right, Maxwell?"

"LIAR!" I shrieked. "You’re lying! Maxwell, tell them! Tell them what really happened!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

I turned to Maxwell, my heart pounding, absolutely certain he would speak up. He’d tell the truth. He had to.

Maxwell stood beside his father, staring at the ground, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"Maxwell," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "Tell them. Please. Tell them Kennedy saved you."

His eyes met mine for just a second - and in that second, I saw it. The same fear I’d seen when Peter and his friends had been beating him. The same helplessness. The same weakness.

But this time, it made me angry instead of sympathetic.

"Maxwell!" Mr. Wellington’s voice cracked like thunder. "Did this boy hurt you?"

Say no. Just say no. Two letters. That’s all it takes.

Maxwell’s mouth moved. Nothing came out.

"He’s been terrorizing the neighborhood for months, Mr. Wellington," Steven added, suddenly brave now that he had backup. "We’ve been too scared to report him, but yeah, he’s the one who beats people up. He probably beat up your son too."

"Sir, that isn’t..." Kennedy started.

"THAT’S NOT TRUE!" I interrupted, screaming now, tears streaming down my face. "Kennedy would never! Maxwell, please! Just tell them the truth! That’s all you have to do!"

Maxwell stood there like a statue. Frozen. Silent. Useless.

"Bring him here," Mr. Wellington said coldly, gesturing to Kennedy.

Two of the suited men moved forward and grabbed Kennedy’s arms.

"Hey!" Kennedy struggled against their grip. "Get off me! I didn’t do anything wrong!"

"Kennedy!" I tried to run to him, but the man blocking me caught me around the waist. My legs kicked uselessly in the air as I fought against his hold. "Let go of me! Let go of my brother!"

They dragged Kennedy in front of Mr. Wellington. My brother stood tall despite the men gripping his arms, his jaw set defiantly.

"So you’re the one who’s been terrorizing this neighborhood," Mr. Wellington said, his voice dangerously quiet. "The one who thought he could put his hands on my son."

"I saved your son," Kennedy said firmly, looking Mr. Wellington straight in the eye. "Those boys were beating him up behind the library. I stopped them. I brought him to my house to make sure he was okay. That’s all I did."

"Liar," Mr. Wellington said simply.

And then his hand moved so fast I barely saw it, as he slapped Kennedy across the face.

Kennedy’s head snapped to the side.

"NO!" I screamed so loud my throat burned. "Don’t hurt him! He didn’t do anything! Maxwell, tell him! MAXWELL!"

But Maxwell just stood there, trembling, staring at the ground like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I’m going to make sure you’re locked up for a long time," Mr. Wellington said to Kennedy, his voice cold as ice. "Attempted assault on a kid almost the same age as you. Kidnapping. You’ll be lucky if you see daylight before you’re thirty."

"You can’t..." Kennedy started.

"Take him away."

"NO!" I thrashed in the guard’s arms as they started dragging Kennedy toward one of the black cars. "No! Please! He’s innocent! The bullies are getting away! Stop them! They’re the ones who hurt Maxwell! STOP THEM!"

I caught a glimpse of Peter and his friends slipping out of the alley. Running. Escaping. The real criminals disappearing while my brother - my hero - was being treated like a monster.

"Maxwell!" I screamed one last time, my voice raw and desperate. "Please! Just tell the truth! Please!"

He finally looked at me. Really looked at me. And I saw tears running down his face, saw his lips trembling, saw him open his mouth like he was finally going to speak...

And then his father’s hand landed on his shoulder, and Maxwell’s mouth snapped shut.

They put Kennedy in the car.

I watched them drive away with my brother, still screaming, still fighting against the guard’s hold, until my voice gave out and all I could do was sob.

The guard finally set me down. My legs gave out immediately, and I crumpled to the pavement.

Mr. Wellington and Maxwell were walking back to their car. I pushed myself up, my vision blurry with tears, and ran toward them one more time.

"It’s not fair!" I choked out. "He didn’t do anything wrong! Kennedy saved him! KENNEDY SAVED HIM!"

Mr. Wellington didn’t even look at me. Just got into his car.

But Maxwell turned. Our eyes met one more time.

I wanted to see remorse. Guilt. Something that showed he knew what he’d done was wrong.

Instead, I just saw that same pathetic fear. That same weakness.

Coward.

The word formed in my mind with perfect clarity.

Coward. Coward. COWARD.

The cars drove away, and I stood there in the street, my whole body shaking with rage and grief and a betrayal so deep it felt like someone had reached into my chest and torn my heart out.

This was my fault. All of it.

If I had never stopped to help that pathetic fat boy. If I had never brought him to my house. If I had never convinced Kennedy to help him.

None of this would have happened.