Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 86 (Ava's POV) I sat in the quiet corner of the cafeteria, stirring the cold coffee in front of me. My thoughts were miles away. What were they on? Debts, manipulation, and Dr. Joe's unsettling commands. The coffee tasted like ash, but I wasn't drinking it anyway. I stared at the ripples in the cup as I tried to silence the noise in my head.

My mother's voice echoed faintly in my ears. It was a haunting memory of her desperation. "Ava, we'll lose everything if we don't pay him back. You have to do this for us." I closed my eyes and felt her words press on my chest. Everything I did and will still do, every morally questionable task I carried out for Dr. Joe, I told myself it was for her for the woman who had spent her entire life sacrificing for me. But at what cost? Dr. Joe's voice had been especially icy during our last meeting. He didn't need to raise his voice to make his threats land. His commands, wrapped in false charm, dug into my skin like a porcupine's skin.

"You'll do this for me, Ava," he had said. "You don't want your mother's little secret getting out, do you?" He always knew how to twist the knife, didn't he? He had all the power, and I was just a pawn on his chessboard.

The task this twas worse than before. Switch the bottles. Poison one. Hide the other in a box labeled for a high-priority patient. "Make it look seamless," he had ordered. "Don't disappoint me, Ava." I wanted to scream. I wanted to break something. Instead, I sat there, silent, my hands trembling under the table. I didn't have a choice, did I? My mother's debt would never be paid off if I refused. And if Dr. Joe decided to turn his attention to her... I couldn't let that happen.

The cafeteria buzzed with life around me, but it all felt distant. My mind spiraled into an abyss of questions, like had becso normal for me...which was abnormal by the way.

Am I doing the right thing? Of course not. But do I have a choice? Am I a bad person? Maybe.

Would Mom forgiveif she knew everything I've done? I doubt it.

Am I still me? I don't know anymore.

How much longer can I keep this up? Until Dr. Joe decides I'm no longer useful.

What happens when the debt is paid? Will it ever be paid? Will I ever be free? Free... such a laughable concept.

The sound of laughter snappedout of my thoughts. A group of patients was joking at the next table, oblivious to the noise raging inside me. I envied them. Their worries seemed so trivial compared to mine.

As I stood to leave, my eyes met Dr. Joe's from across the cafeteria. His piercing blue gaze frozein place. He smiled-cold, dissecting, and full of countless warnings. I clenched my fists and forced myself to look away. I didn't need another reminder of who held the reins.

But as I walked back to my dorm, one thought lingered: There has to be another way out of this. There has to be.

(Dilara's POV) The hallway felt longer than usual. My footsteps echoed against the tiled floor, each step heavier than the last. I kept my head down, clutching the strap of my bag as if it were an anxiety doll. I didn't want to look up. I didn't want to see him.

But fate had a cruel sense of humor.

"Dilara." The sound of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. It was smooth, and laced with that sarrogance that haunted my nightmares. I froze; my heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

"Long tno see," he drawled and stepped into my line of sight. "You've been avoiding me." I couldn't move. My legs felt like lead and my voice was trapped somewhere between my throat and my lungs. I forced myself to look at him, and the smirk on his face made my stomach turn.

"Nothing to say?" he taunted and leaned closer. "Con, I thought you'd be happy to see me." Images flashed through my mind his hands on my wrists, his laughter echoing in the dark, the way he had whispered disgusting things in my ear as he tore away my dignity. My chest tightened, and the air aroundgrowed thin. "Leavealone," I managed to whisper.

He laughed, coldly, mockingly. "Why so shy? You weren't this quiet back then." Rage started to take over my fear, but I couldn't let it out. Not yet. I turned on my heel and walked away as fast as I could without breaking into a run. His laughter followeddown the hallway, each note stabbing into my back like a knife. When I reached the dorm, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it. My breaths were coming in ragged gasps. My hands trembled as I clutched my bag to my chest. I felt sick. Dirty. Broken.

But the fear didn't last long. It never did. Fear always gave way to something stronger-rage. Pure, unfiltered rage.

I sank to the floor as my mind kept on replaying the events of that night like a broken record. His hands pinningdown. His voice dripping with venom. His breath hot against my skin as he sneered, "No one will believe you."

I clenched my fists and dug my nails into my palms. He thought he had O won. He thought he could keep He thoughthe TIM walking these halls, smirking and mocking me, without facing the consequences. But he was wrong. I wouldn't let him get away with it. Not again.

A knock on the door startled me, and I quickly wiped my face before opening it. It was Angel, looking very concerned.

"Are you okay?" she asked gently.

I nodded and forced a smile. "Yeah, just... tired." She didn't look convinced but didn't press further. "If you need to talk, I'm here." I nodded again as I watched her walk away. I appreciated her concern, but this was something I had to handle on my own.

I stood and walked to the window, staring out at the dark courtyard below. The shadows feld heavier tonight, and the air was significantly colder. But I didn't care. I welcomed the darkness. It felt fitting, like a cocoon shieldingfrom the world. "I'll make you pay," I whispered steadily despite every other shit that was inside me. "I don't know how yet, but I will."

As the moonlight cast its pale glow across the room, I made a silent Vow to myself: This ends here. No more fear. No more silence.