Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 98 (Eddie's POV) Hande's sharp voice bounced around the walls in the room. "You don't take anything seriously, Eddie! Not this plan, not us, not anything!" I blinked at her, stunned. I had seen her angry before, but never like this. She paced back and forth in front of the bunk beds. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest and her face was flushed with frustration. "I do take it seriously," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "I just... have a different way of handling things." She stopped and turned to me. Her eyes were blazing. "A different way? Joking about everything isn't a way of handling it, Eddie. It's avoidance. This is life or death, and you're acting like it's skind of game." I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated. She wasn't wrong. I had been brushing things off, cracking jokes, and making light of the situation. It was how I coped, but clearly, it wasn't working for her.

"Hande, listen," I started and stepped closer. "I know I'm not as serious as the others, but it doesn't mean I don't care. I do. I care about this plan, about getting out of here, about "I paused and swallowed hard, "about you." Her expression softened for a moment, but then she shook her head. "Then show it, Eddie. Stop hiding behind your jokes and start proving that you actually care." I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "You're right. I'll do better. I promise." She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumping. "I just.... I need to know that I can rely on you. This plan is too important to mess up.' "You can rely on me," I said firmly and sat beside her. "I swear, Hande. I won't let you down." She looked at me; her eyes were searching mine for a moment before she gave a small nod. "Okay. But no more jokes when we're planning. Deal?" "Deal," I said with a grin, unable to resist. When she rolled her eyes, I added quickly, "I mean it. No more jokes. I'm serious now." Her lips twitched, and she shook her head. "You're impossible." "And you love it," I said, nudging her shoulder lightly.

Her laugh was soft, but it was there. The tension between us eased just a little, but I knew I had work to do to prove myself to her. And for once, I was ready to step up.

(Dilara's POV) I sat in the dorm room with my sketchbook open on my lap but the page was blank. My mind was too restless to draw, too consumed with thoughts of him. Ethan. Just thinking his nmade my stomach turn.

The hallway encounter still played in my mind like a broken record. The way he'd smirked at me, and his arrogance-filled voice as he'd said, "Still as quiet as ever, I see. Did you miss me?" I had wanted to scream at him, to claw at his smug face, but I had frozen instead. My hands had trembled, and my heart was pounding so loud I thought he could hear it. I had managed to walk away, but his laughter had followed me, haunting me.

Now, the anger insidewas demanding an outlet. I couldn't let him get away with what he had done to me. Not again.

The door creaked open, and Angel stepped inside. She took one look atand frowned. "Dilara, what's wrong?" I hesitated, but then the words spilled out before I could stop them. "It's Ethan. He was... He... he tried to talk to me." Angel's face darkened, and she sat down beside me. "What did he say?" I told her everything-the encounter, the things he had said, the way he had looked atlike I was nothing. Her jaw clenched, and her hands curled into fists.

"Dilara, we'll handle this," she said firmly. "But you can't act on impulse. We need to stick to the plan." "I don't care about the plan," I snapped. "I care about making him pay." Angel placed a hand on my shoulder. "I get it. Believe me, I do. But if you go after him now, you'll only put yourself in more danger. And we need you, Dilara. You're part of this group, part of this fight. Don't let him win by breaking you." I swallowed hard as her words were sinking in. She was right, but it didn't make the anger go away. "He's connected to all of this," I said quietly. "To the center, to Dr. Joe. He's not just srandom guy who hurt me. He's part of their system. I told you." Angel's nodded. "I know, but acting impulsively may spoil your revenge plan before it's even began❞ I wanted to counter what she said, but then I remembered everything-the things I had learned, the connections I had uncovered. Ethan wasn't just a predator; he was part of the center's network, tied to its dark operations. His father was an important donor to the center, and Ethan had been sent here as skind of twisted reward.

This was all huge. It's not like my plan is even different from our general plan. By exposing him and his father, we would still be exposing the center. Why couldn't she understand where I was coming from?

"Dilara, if we can prove everything about that dickhead, it could expose everything Now I think about it, it really is not far from our plan." Oh finally. Now she gets it.

I just nod in response. "I'll do whatever it takes. I won't let him get away with it." Angel squeezed my shoulder. "We'll figure this out together. But for now, promiseyou'll be careful." I met her gaze and nodded. "I promise."

But as she left the room, I knew that promise would be hard to keep. I wasn't just fighting for justice for m anymore was fighting for my own sanity, my own survival. And I wouldn't stop until Ethan paid for what he had done.