Chapter 22: A Broken Family

Dana POV:

"Did you see his face when I told him to mind his goddamn business earlier? He looked absolutely gob smacked," I say to Jason as soon as we both walk back into the house after a tiring drive from the store.

Jason, like he had mentioned, did leave exactly two hours after he arrived but as promised, he did help me greet a few guests but after that, he left to apparently meet with a curator. After he had left, I didn't think he would take the liberty to come back at all but surprisingly, he showed up to pick me up from the store and according to him, he only did that cause he's aware that I still don't drive.

"Trust me dear, I did, and I'm surprised he didn't actually walk out of the place fuming. Christian is actually well known to be a proud ass and an irritant but since he's rich, nobody ever really holds him responsible," he replies, and I already guessed that he was probably some rich guy who's never had someone shut him up before.

"Well, he shouldn't bring his shitty attitude anywhere near me because I won't ever stand for it. To think I was actually trying so hard to keep up a conversation with him and swallow his subtle insults, I feel stupid for even letting him get that far," I reply, and he chuckles.

"What exactly did he say to trigger that much? Even your friend was surprised to see you lash out at him like that and frankly, so was I cause when I saw him approaching you, I had a feeling he was going to overstep his boundaries and talk shit as usual and I was hoping you wouldn't let him annoy you cause the thing about Chris is, once you let yourself her intimidated by him once, he'll never stop being a dick to you," he says.

I scoffed. "Well, he can go straight to hell the sick bastard. I actually wasn't planning on reacting to his very disgusting comments, but he just had to bring my family into his nonsense and that was when I lost it with him. I may be scared of you or intimidated by you but the second you try to disrespect anyone else other than myself and make a joke about my family, I'll put you in your goddamn place," I say to him, immediately dropping my purse on the couch and heading towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

"Well, good for your kiddo," he replies, and I immediately frown.

"Wait, what did you just call me? Did you just say kiddo?" I ask, hoping I heard wrong.

"Oh, I'm sorry if it made you upset though. I sometimes just call anyone younger than me a kiddo and I suppose we have quite a huge age difference," he answers, and I'm not impressed with his reply.

"That makes absolutely no sense especially since this isn't the first time we're talking and why the fuck are you making it seem like you're that much older than I am? Aren't you just 30?" I hiss, wondering why men in their thirties like to act like their much older than they actually are.

"I don't recall ever tell you I'm 30 so what makes you think so?" he asks.

"Well, Blake is 30 so I just assumed you were too and besides, you look like you're barely even 30. So, I'm guessing you're younger, right?" I reply and he suddenly bursts out laughing like I just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"I don't recall saying anything exceptionally hilarious, so what's making you laugh so hard?" I scowl, visibly irritated by his laughter.

"I'm sorry for laughing Dana but I find your analysis quite hilarious. You think I'm younger than Blake? Are you seriously calling Blake old?" he responds, sounding quite surprised and I'm starting to wonder if I really thought wrong.

Could Jason be older than Blake? Like really? It doesn't seem like it though. Blake didn't look old, for sure, but he looked a lot more mature than Jason did or maybe it's because he has fuller beards and a much more serious look, which could be why I think he looks older.

"I'm not calling him old. I'm just saying he's older cause he does look older. Maybe it's the beard and the permanently stern expression that's making it seem that way but if you ask anyone, they'd tell you the same thing," I explain my reasoning and if he had any brain cells, I think he'd see my point.

"Okay then, if you say so."

I frown because he still hasn't confirmed whether or not he's actually older than Blake.

"So... Are you older than the guy or am I right about you being younger?" I ask.

"Well, it may interest to know Dana dear that I am a few years older than Blake and before you ask how old I am because I know you're gonna ask, I'm 36," he replies, and I deadpan.

Did he just say he's 36? As in, a big 3 with a 6 behind it? How the fuck does he expect me to believe that he's actually 36 when he barely looks like he's 30? Do I look stupid to him?

"Jason, I get you don't want to let me in on your actual age, but you really don't have to lie to me. You can simply say it to my face that you don't want to tell me and I'll accept that because your age ain't none of my business at the end of the day," I tell him off with a scowl, hating the fact that he's one of those men that feel they need to lie about their age just to seem impressive or whatever l reason it is that makes them lie.

He stares back at me for a few long seconds, almost as if he was contemplating on how to further prove his lie and the next thing he does is bring out his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans, pull out what I suppose was his ID card and he hands it over to me.

"There's my proof," he says, wearing a smug look on his face and the minute I check and confirm that he is indeed 36 years old, I deadpan all over again.

"You're actually 36? Wow, so you're an old man? That's quite shocking Mr. Case. I definitely wouldn't have thought you were this old," I drawl teasingly, laying emphasis on the word, old.

"Since when did being 36 make a person old? Don't try to tease Dana, I won't fall for that," he replies dismissively and something about his tone made me understand that he did not find my joke funny at all.

"I'm sorry if my joke didn't sit well with you, you must know by now that I have a loose lip so I just say whatever comes to mind without thinking first but anyways, I'll head upstairs now so I can take a shower and go to bed and I think you should do the same," I say to him, trying to change the mood back to the way it was before the whole age discussion.

"Go to bed by 7 p.m.? I think I'll gladly pass on that option Dana. You go ahead and do that, and I'll just get back to work. I still need to finish up a few things before going to bed so you have a good night rest," he replies, immediately turning his back and heading upstairs, leaving me stunned for a few seconds.

Is he still upset with me? Is that why he walked away that quickly? I wonder to myself because I actually wanted to ask if he was planning to have dinner so I could ask Margaret to cook something up for him but as it seems, he wants to be alone simply because I joked about him being old and to say I'm surprised by his reaction would definitely be an understatement.

"A good evening to you madam," Buckley, the house butler greets out of nowhere and I'm taken aback for a few seconds since he literally jumped out of nowhere.

"Oh, my goodness Buckley, can you please not jump at me like that? You almost gave me a freaking heart attack," I snap at him, hating the fact he still hasn't stopped being creepy even after I've warned him severally.

"Apologies madam. I only wanted to inform you that a young lady by the name Ximena arrived here about an hour ago and she refused to leave until she met with you. She also claims to be your sister which is why I let her stay in the guest bedroom downstairs till you arrived," he tells me, and I immediately frown.

What the hell does that brat want now?

"Where did you say she is again?" I ask.

"It's the room by the end of the hallway miss. Is she really your sister madam?" he asks and if I'm not mistaken, his tone sounded judgmental.

"Well, I won't be sure until I see her, but I definitely have a sister named Ximena so there's no need for you to worry too much," I tell him, and he immediately makes a weird sound that seemed like he was trying not to scoff and I'm immediately curious to know why in the world he looked repulsed.

"Is there something wrong Buckley?" I ask with a strict look on my face as the last thing I want to hear from him is a dismissive excuse.

"Nothing really madam. It's just that, that young lady really needs the Lord in her life because she looks quite disturbed and her appearance alone is quite worrisome," he replies, and I'm confused.

"What do you mean she looks disturbed? How come and what's wrong with her appearance?" I ask.

"Forgive my bluntness, madam but she looks like a child whose entire life is in shambles. With her tattoos and piercings, one would think she's one of those kids who goes around drinking, smoking, and taking in all sorts of drugs all day. Her appearance is quite displeasing," he replies, and I'm surprised to hear about tattoos and piercings.

Last I remember, Ximena didn't have any tattoos or piercings and I doubt my sister looks like a kid whose life is in shambles. Could Buckley have let in the wrong person?

"Hold on Buckley, let me see for myself what you're going on about. You can carry on with whatever it was you were doing earlier, and I'll handle the kid," I instruct, and he simply bows slightly before walking out and heading towards the back of the house.

I walk towards the guest room and open the door without bothering to knock only to find the figure of a young girl lying on her side.

"Ximena?" I ask, staring at the back of the person who looked like Ximena and at the same time didn't.

"Oh finally, the madam of the house is here! Where the fuck have you been?" Ximena’s familiar voice yells sarcastically before turning to look at me, catching me off guard.

"Ximena, what is this?" I ask as soon as I notices the tattoos on both her arms and the piercings on her face. Buckley was right after all. My little sister looks like a freaking junkie.

"What is what, sis? Is it the tats? Do you like them?" she replies, and my blood boils.

"Are you insane, Ximena? What the fuck has gotten into you? Why would a freaking sixteen-year-old look like this? What the hell came over you?" I yell furiously, staring at the disgusting images she has drawn on both her arms.

Why in the world did Sam not tell me my sister has finally lost her mind?

"Don't be such a bore, Dana. Getting tats and piercings is very normal among teenagers, so don't act so surprised," she says. My stomach drops. Where the fuck did I go wrong with this girl? Why didn't I notice she wasn't okay?

"No Ximena, this is not normal. Look at yourself for goodness’s sake, just look at yourself! You look absolutely crazy! Anyone would think you're some kinda junkie, you brat. Have you looked at yourself? Do you see what you look like with those nose rings? Even if you wanted piercings, couldn't you have been moderate about it? Did you have to make yourself almost unrecognizable? Does this even make any freaking sense to you, Ximena?" I blurt out in frustration, wondering how she didn't see anything wrong in any of this.

"Look Dana, I didn't come all the way here to be judged by you. Just because you're living the rich life and being treated like a madam doesn't mean you should forget where you're really from, sis. We both grew up in the hood and looking this way is perfectly normal. Don't let being rich make you think everyone looking this way is a fucking junkie because that would only make you a fucking hypocrite," she fires back, and I honestly could not believe this.

"Really Ximena? Really? You're telling me a freaking 16-year-old should have this many piercings and tattoos? Does that even make any sense to you? How can you wake up one morning and decide to look like a crazy teenager Ximena? How are you supposed to go to school when you look like you're on freaking drugs you brat?" I yell at her angrily, watching her look absolutely unbothered by my ranting.

"You need to chill the fuck out Dana. All this shouting isn't good for you. If memory serves me right, you once dated a dude with even worse tattoos and piercings, and I didn't see you calling him a junkie. But now I'm a junkie because you're married to some rich prick? How hypocritical of you, sis. You know what, I'm not gonna stand here and listen to you insult me. For your information, I don't go to that rich kid private school your husband put me in because it's horrible over there. They, like you, are judgmental fuckers who like to believe they're better than everyone else and such people irritate me," she tells me, and never have I felt so furious.

"You left school, Ximena?" I mutter in a low tone, hoping I heard wrong cause I swear if I didn't, she is gonna get a tight slap from me.

"Well duh. How did you expect me to survive in such an uncomfortable environment? I went back to my old school where nobody judges me for being normal," she responds. I immediately slap her across her cheek, and she's unsurprisingly shocked by my action.

"You crazy, ungrateful, useless brat! All my life, I have sacrificed everything to make sure you go to school so that you can turn out better than me and this is how you repay me, you brat? I did everything in this life for you guys and yet you want to ruin your life this way? Is this really how I raised you, Ximena? Did I really do a terrible job?" I ask shakily, hating the fact that I have to remind her of all this.

"Crazy? Ungrateful? Useless? All because I got a few tattoos and piercings?" she asks, infuriating me even more.

"Is this what you call a few, Ximena? Just take a look at you. Both your arms are literally covered in tattoos. You got tattoos on your back and stomach and you call that a few? You are 16, for heaven's sake, Ximena. You're not even fit to be called an adult yet and yet you look like you've aged ten years. Where in the world did I go wrong with you? Whatever did I do to deserve this from you, Ximena?" I wonder out loud as tears slowly start to stream down my face.

"You're just being dramatic, Dana. You and I know the only reason this bothers you is because you're afraid I'll embarrass you if anyone finds out we're related. I mean, who would want a teenage junkie as a sister-in-law? Stop pretending like you actually give a damn about us because if you did, you would not leave us alone to live by yourself in this huge house so people can actually believe you're some kind of important person. But you're nothing but a freaking leech," she replies. I hit her again.

"You know what, Ximena? I have had enough of you. You've been getting on my last nerve for weeks now, and I think it's high time I put you in your damn place. You have two options, kid. You either agree to have this nonsense all over your body removed, or you can forget you have a sister called Adriana because I won't keep sacrificing myself just so you can do as you fucking please," I say.

If she's going to keep disrespecting me then she might as well forget about me.

"Oh, so that's it now, Dana? You're kicking me out because I got tattoos? Wow, money really does drive certain people crazy, but can I blame you though? I really don't blame you. I blame that gross bastard you call a husband for brainwashing you and turning you into a person who abandons her own sister. I'll leave like you want, but before I go, here's why I actually dropped by here in the first place.

"I've decided to take the step that you've adamantly refused to take all these years. I'm going to find our father. Don't bother telling me not to do it because I already made up my mind. But when I find him, you better not go anywhere near him because God only knows how far you've been brainwashed by that rich husband of yours. Have a good life, madam," she replies, drawling the last part sarcastically. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

This isn't how I planned my life to be at all. Where the hell did I go wrong?