Leslie didn’t have the luxury of staying quiet to regain her shaken composure because of Rowan and Bianca. There was soone who was in need of attention after all this ss.
Raising her hand, Leslie squeezed Calix’s arm. He was still looking at where Rowan and Bianca had disappeared while she worriedly glanced at where Irene was hiding.
"Irene..."
Sensing Leslie’s touch and listening to her whisper, Calix turned around. He saw her looking in a particular direction. His eyes followed where she was glancing at, understanding what went on in her mind.
"Irene, you can co out now."
Calix deliberately softened his voice, hoping to lessen the lingering tension in the air following their confrontation with Rowan and Bianca.
Leslie and Calix quietly watched as so shadows moved in between the latticework of the wall. Stepping out of her hiding place, Irene’s upset face was revealed to their eyes.
"Big Sister, Big Brother..."
Irene’s eyes returned to their reddened state as from this morning.
She was very very very upset now. If not for thinking of her sister and brother-in-law, she would join them in confronting her parents.
The longer Irene listened to Rowan and Bianca making excuses, the angrier she beca. But, she didn’t want to add unnecessary pressure on the already strained atmosphere by showing herself.
"Irene, co here..."
Smiling in helplessness, Leslie waved one hand at Irene, beckoning her to co and sit by her side. Calix moved away from the couch, wanting to give space to the two siblings.
Irene walked slowly toward Leslie, her footsteps lacking their usual vigor. Fiddling with the hem of her shirt, she kept her head low as if she didn’t want Leslie or Calix to see how troubled she was.
Leslie placed one palm on Irene’s back once the latter sat next to her. Calix occupied the single-seater couch perpendicular to theirs.
The husband and wife patiently waited for the teenager to speak first, understanding how unsettled she could be.
"They... how could they?"
Still overwheld by the myriad of emotions, Irene felt as if a storm was wreaking havoc within her. Even doing a simple and natural thing like breathing felt challenging to her.
Irene grasped a part of her skirt, balling her hands into fists. Stiffly looking up, her glossy reddened eyes t Leslie’s concerned ones.
How did she look in her sister’s eyes?
Ashad and disturbed?
Wouldn’t she just add more worries to her sister?
Parting her lips, Irene coerced herself to speak. She didn’t want to continue staying in silence. Eventually, her words echoed faintly in the lounge.
"I know Mom and Dad could be... useless but, I didn’t expect to this level... I’m disappointed in them."
Leslie refrained from sighing once she listened to Irene grumbling about Rowan and Bianca. The teenager’s strained voice clearly expressed her dissatisfaction.
"Irene..."
Raising both of her hands, Leslie pulled Irene into her arms. The teenager quickly returned the hug as she buried her face on the forr’s shoulder.
Leslie sensed the tremors coming from Irene, most likely caused by her attempt in holding back her tears. Her heart went out to this young teen who inevitably got dragged into this ss.
As Leslie contemplated why she should say, Irene’s muffled voice rang again.
"Big Sister... I actually hoped they would... own up to their mistakes... But... they shifted the bla on you..."
Irene didn’t doubt Leslie’s claim about Rowan and Bianca mistreating her during her sudden pregnancy six years ago. She knew very well her elder sister wouldn’t ever lie about sothing crucial like this.
Despite how harsh Calix and Leslie’s words sounded when they dealt with Rowan and Bianca earlier, Irene understood why they said that.
She also agreed with her brother-in-law’s point about their parents’ failure in defending her elder sister until it was too late.
"They’re too afraid to offend Grandmother... they keep sacrificing you instead..."
Irene tightened her arms around Leslie. Saying those words out loud further made her realize the atrocity in their parents’ actions.
Irene might be young but, she often inwardly questioned what she was seeing.
She could tell how differently Old Madam Li treated her family and Gladys’ family. Their grandmother also prioritized her cousin in all aspects.
And... If her sister tried to rebel against the mistreatnts, their parents quickly shut her down as if her opinions didn’t matter at all. They kept telling her to be patient.
"Sob... sob..."
Irene finally broke down crying. Her tears seeped into the fabric of Leslie’s dress, leaving damp marks on it. Her whole body shivered in sadness.
Worries swirled in her eyes, Leslie quietly exchanged a look with Calix. The man smiled as if he tried to reassure her that Irene would be fine yet, she still felt bad for the teenager.
No matter how tough Irene’s heart was, she was still young and inexperienced in navigating her feelings regarding such a huge disappointnt and boiling resentnt.
Running her fingers through Irene’s long hair, Leslie whispered, "Irene... I’m sorry for pulling you... into this trouble. I really am..."
Leslie was aware telling Irene beforehand about her plan to sever ties with the Li family was a good choice. Yet, this didn’t an the teenager wouldn’t be affected at all.
Irene replied nothing. More tears rolled down her cheeks as she replayed Leslie’s words in her mind. Eventually, she pulled away from the young lady, revealing her blotchy ss of a face.
"I won’t change my mind... Sob... I’ll support any of your decision. This ti, focus on loving yourself, Big Sister..."
Her elder sister had sacrificed her feelings and needs for countless of tis. Irene didn’t want her to continue doing such a thing.
Looking away from Leslie’s glossy eyes, Irene placed her gaze on Calix. The man’s somber expression changed for the better after her parents left.
"Big Brother, I’m counting on you. I can’t do much for my sister, so..."
"You don’t have to tell , kid," Calix curled up his lips, a soft light glinting in his eyes, "My wife and my child are my priority."
Always.
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