Chapter 178

Steve’s Point of View

I stood at the university gate, my eyes never leaving the entrance as I waited to see Julie. Two years ago, when she coldly told me she wanted me to stay away from her, and that she lived happily with her parents while I was just an obstacle I began coming here anyway, just to watch her from afar. But for two whole months, I had found no trace of her.

I watched the house for hours until my throat went dry, yet I never saw her shadow. Today I stood here again, having made a promise to myself: if she didn’t appear today, I would go to the house, knock on the door, and demand to see her. Anxiety had begun to gnaw at my soul.

And suddenly, I saw her. She looked like a beauty queen; my little sister had grown up and become an absolutely stunning woman. Even her clothes looked different, sophisticated. She looked at me with her shocked green eyes and said in a faint voice, "Steve."

I rushed toward her impulsively and pulled her into my arms with all my strength; I couldn’t resist. I squeezed her back with my powerful arms and said in a choked voice, "Where in heaven’s name were you? I came every day to see you... two months, Julie, where were you hiding?"

I released her slowly, then took her face between my warm palms, taking in her features. "I missed you so much, Julie," I said sincerely.

But she surprised me. She grabbed my hands and violently removed them from her face, looking at me with tearful eyes filled with a gaze I didn’t understand. "Go away from here," she said sharply, "and don’t even think about coming to me again!"

I stood there frozen, watching her walk away with quick steps, feeling my heart break into small pieces. What changed? Why is she treating me like this? She is my little sister whom I lived with in the same house; she was the only one who loved me, and the only one with whom I felt like a human being worthy of love.

What changed for her to hate me like this and want me away? Despite everything she told me two years ago, I still loved her... but she, how could she erase me from her life so simply?

I walked with an exhausted body and hailed a taxi, heading toward the prison where Jake was held; today was his visiting day. I entered the visiting area and sat on the chair behind the glass partition, waiting for Jake to appear. Finally, he emerged with his tall, thin frame and blonde hair, wearing the depressing orange prison uniform.

Jake sat down, and we both picked up the phones at the same time. "Jake, are you alright?" I asked sorrowfully.

"I’m fine... and you, Steve?" he replied in a weary tone.

"I’m fine too," I said. "I spoke with the lawyer; he said all your funds are frozen now."

Jake slammed the table with his hand and said passionately, "Frozen? How? That’s the money from selling my invention! I have all the evidence proving it has nothing to do with drugs."

"I know, Jake," I said, trying to calm him. "But that’s the law. You won’t be able to touch your money until you prove your innocence or get out of prison."

"Steve, I was sentenced to three years," he said in despair. "Can you imagine how long that is?"

"There is no other way," I said sadly. "But rest assured... I borrowed an amount from my boss and sent it to you so you can buy whatever you need inside."

"Thanks, Steve," he said in a low voice. "You didn’t have to do that."

"You are my friend and like a brother to me," I replied seriously.

Jake’s features shifted into pure rage. He gripped the receiver tightly and said, "That bastard Robert Cross... I’m certain he’s the one who set this trap for me, because I didn’t sell him my invention I sold it to his brother, Harold!"

"We aren’t sure about that, Jake," I said, attempting to soothe his blazing anger.

But he screamed, congested with rage, and slammed his fist violently on the table. "I’m sure, Steve! It’s him, I know! And that bitch who works as a waitress helped him." He began striking his head against the glass wall a few times, moaning in defeat. "How did I not suspect it then? How did I not realize he wasn’t throwing a party for me, but holding my funeral?"

I felt pity for him. "Calm down, Jake, please," I said firmly. "Look, I’ll go and talk to this Robert Cross. Tell me, where is he located?"

Jake jumped, warning me, his eyes widening in genuine terror. "Don’t you dare go there, Steve! That man is very dangerous. If he finds out you’re my friend, he’ll kill you, or I don’t know what he’ll do to you."

"Enough, Jake," I replied dismissively, leaning back. "Are we in an action movie? You say the man owns a security company. Does a man who provides security do such things?"

"Steve... appearances are deceiving," he said in a trembling tone. "I’m warning you, don’t go to him!"

I exhaled in frustration. "Fine, enough... I get it."

Silence reigned for a moment before Jake asked hesitantly, "Is there any news about your sister... Julie?"

"Yes," I said with a faint smile. "I saw her today."

The moment her name was spoken, Jake jolted from his seat as if struck by an electric current, shouting breathlessly, "Where did you see her?"

I was surprised by his exaggerated reaction. "And why all this reaction?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

He returned to his seat, trying to catch his breath. "Nothing... I was just surprised... Yes, tell me, where did you see her?"

"At the university," I answered.

"Are you sure it was your sister?" he asked with suspicious doubt.

"What’s wrong with you, Jake?" I said sharply, my patience running thin. "Are you crazy? Do you think I wouldn’t recognize my own sister?"

"No," he said, rubbing his forehead nervously. "But you only see her from a distance... you might have mistaken her for someone else."

"I actually hugged her!" I said with absolute certainty. "And even if I saw her from a distance, I am still capable of knowing my sister."

"And what did she say to you?" he asked eagerly. "Where was she?"

"She didn’t tell me anything," I said sadly, lowering my gaze. "She just asked me to stay away from her."

Jake pursed his lips in contempt and said, "That bitch..."

He didn’t even finish the word before I sprang from my seat, my blood boiling. "Fuck you!" I shouted in a towering rage. "Look, Jake, if it wasn’t for this glass between us, I would have smashed all your teeth! Don’t say anything bad about Julie."

He raised his hands in an attempt to calm me. "After everything she told you, Steve, you’re still defending her?"

"Yes," I said in a stern tone, gripping the phone tightly. "If she says those things, it doesn’t mean she’s no longer my sister. That’s why, Jake, I’m warning you: respect my sister and don’t you dare utter that nonsense again."

"Fine... I’m sorry," he replied with feigned submissiveness.

Then he went quiet for a bit and asked in a strange tone, "Does that mean you prefer her over me? For God’s sake, Steve, I lived with you for years equal to or more than the years you lived with her."

I looked at him with coldness and said with a terrifying sincerity, "You know what? I won’t just prefer my sister over you; I prefer her over myself. If my very breathing could make her sad, I could kill myself, Jake."

Jake shook his head in amazement, looking at me as if I were an alien. "You’re truly crazy, Steve," he said.

"Why do I feel like you hate my sister, Jake?" I asked in a sharp tone, narrowing my eyes as I tried to pierce through his agitated features. "Is there a hidden reason I don’t know about?"