Chapter 22 - Different Brother
It took his brother only fifteen minutes of typing fast on the computer's keyboard to hack into the palace's security network. He spent two years while his brother left home but he failed. He got tired and simply gave up. His brother returned a few weeks ago and gave him a completely different task and that was for him to return to high school.
He was a genius and what punishment could be more than being sent back to high school when he already had a certificate in computer science? He tried using tears to persuade his stone hearted brother but it did not work out well. He tried running away but the guards were quick to catch him.
"Brother, please give me something else to do," he had begged his brother on his knees with real sincere tears flowing down his cheeks.
"I gave you two years to hack into the palace's security network but you simply threw it aside," this was one of the longest sentence his brother had said to him since they moved into the orphanage.
"No. I did not throw it aside. I tried but I could not do it.. Please tell me to hack an airport or bank. Please I will do it but I don't want to go back to high school," he begged as he crawled towards is brother.
His brother glanced shortly at him and moved his attention to the book in his hands completely ignoring him but the cold look in his unique grey eyes made Jace shiver and he could not say another word. Since his brother returned, his brother felt a lot more cold hearted and ruthless but he also looked more handsome and manly.
He had gotten up and staggered back to his room with the hope that things will be different if he could hack into the palace's security network and he had tried and tried. He even forsook his meal. He tried to use his father against his brother hoping his father will side with him. His father's response was very simple yet very heartbreaking.
"Your brother's word carries as much power as mine since he returned from the family's training. You should listen to him. I will have a guard go with you so that you will have a protection out there," that was his father's answer and he literally collapsed to the floor.
He went back to his room after that to begin trying again but it was just as fruitless as all his efforts had been. He began doubting the fact that his IQ was 190. Worse of all he was going through, his brother wanted him to join the art class and stay close to a girl. He felt seriously mis-used by both his father and his brother.
It made him rethink his life, he was adopted into a business and near mafia family along with his brother from Y country and since then, and he had lived the life he had never dreamt of living after being abandoned by their parents on the road side late in the night.
Mr. Damon gave him all he needed despite his weaker mentality and strength. His brother was the stronger one while he was very nerdy and was very scared of seeing blood but he was loved by both his brother and his father. They were coldhearted but tried to spare him as much warmth as their personality could muster.
He loved them as well and he was convinced that he loved them way more than they loved him. But after been given such degrading mission, he began doubting that they loved. He felt it was only his wishful thinking. They had more than two hundred well abled men under their control all over the world but they chose him to follow a girl around.
He closed his laptop roughly when the tears that had gathered in his eyes threatening to fall blurred his vision that he could barely see the screen of his laptop. After mopping off the tears, he glanced at the wall clock in his room. It was already time for him to get ready for school.
He glanced at the uniform he left on the chaise lounge in his room and got up determined to tear it apart so he could avoid going to the school today. As soon as he touched the high quality cloth, he remembered the ice coldness he saw his brother's eyes. His now more ruthless brother might not hesitate to punish him with the family law if he disobeys right?
He tried to persuade himself but for the past few days, it seemed like he could not understand his brother and his brother felt different in virtually every expect. The fear he now had for his brother, made him step back away from the uniform and ran into the bathroom to take his bath to avoid getting that same look if he comes out late.
"Jace, you did not have real fun since you were born. Brother is only sending you to have real fun. He wants you to live like a real teenager. Go into the world and live like a normal teenage boy. You can do it. All you need to do is have fun and you will be okay. High school is fun. Art is fun. You can do it. Learn how to draw and become a renowned painter. Open your own art exhibit and rule the art world while brother and father rule the business world," he gave himself a motivational speech as he walked out of the bathroom.
He repeated the same thing over and over again in the same manner as he began getting dressed. He was repeating the same thing to hypnotize himself as he went downstairs for breakfast. Today was also a big day for him brother and father. His brother was going to get officially introduced as an executive in his father's corporation. They were all seated in the dining room.
Discipline was a must in his family and it was mandatory for everyone to be at the table by 7:00 am for breakfast. His brother had already taken his place on the other big chair on the other end of the large table.
Dressed in a suit, his brother looked like a real son of the Hart family with the ring which bore the family's crest on it around his right thumb. The tattoo of their family's crest also rested small but obvious in black, red and blue ink on the back of his brother's right hand beneath his thumb. The intimidating aura his brother now wore was no less than his father's.
Two years ago, he would have hugged his brother and allow him to pat his head but today he simply hugged his father and made attempt to sit down but his brother's icy deep icy voice called his name. "Jace."
He literally felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach as he stood bent neither standing up straight nor sitting down. He avoided his brother's eyes as he fixed his gaze on the neat empty plate on his table.
"Come," his brother called him making his immediately stand up like a pole and walked to his brother like a robot receiving command. His brother hugged him and pats his head as usual making him smile. At least his brother still loved him. If he had a tail, he would have been wagging it happily as he returned to his seat with his smile still plastered on his face.
He went to school with the smile still on his face. When his brother returned from his training, he could not get close to his brother and stood on the steps in front of their house as he watched his brother walk into the house passing him without a word to him. It was later he found out that his brother was supposed to greet his father first before anyone else.
When he found out, he was happy that he stayed still or the guards would have held him down and prevent him from touching his brother and he was sure that he would cry immediately if he gets stopped from hugging his brother in a harsh manner.