(Freya's POV).
I don't know how long we've been driving, but Jason's car stopped at one of the villas on top of the cliff that leads directly to the beach. The courtyard was vast, the building large with almost entirely glass walls.
Theo and I got out of the car, helping him up as he struggled to carry himself. I stared at Jason as he got out of the car and approached us.
"Jason, what is this place?" I asked confused.
"This is my private villa. I just bought it a few months ago and no one knows about this place, not even my parents." He smiled and patted my arm gently. "You can stay here for a while. And don't worry about Devan. He won't be able to find you here."
Even so, I still felt uneasy. Devan could do anything to get what he wanted. Seeing how he hurt Theo like this, I couldn't bear to see it.
"Thank you for helping us," Theo said.
"Don't thank me. I'm doing this because I care about Freya." Jason smiled at me. "While I get your passports ready, you can stay here comfortably."
I nodded and smiled back at him. "Thank you, Jason."
"Come on, let me help you get inside," Jason said.
He quickly helped me carry Theo into the villa. With a wide living room and a view of the beach visible from inside. There was also a swimming pool on the outside.
I placed Theo on the L-shaped sofa, watching him groan with pain.
"Jason, do you have a medicine box here?" I asked as I turned to him.
"I should have," he mumbled, then went off somewhere.
Not long after, he returned with a medicine box in his right hand. Then he handed it to me.
"I'll get you something to drink," he said and left again.
I just stared at Jason's back as he walked away. I knew he intentionally did it to give me some alone time with Theo. And I appreciated it because he already understood what I needed without me asking.
I stared at the horrible-looking wound on Theo's stomach. It was quite wide and seemed to hurt a lot, especially when I tried to apply medicine to the wound. Theo continued to moan, biting his lip, trying not to make a sound.
"Does it hurt that much?" I asked with a furrowed brow. I was done with the abdomen and moved on to the face. It was equally bad with bruises and a cut at the corner of his lip.
"It doesn't really hurt."
I looked at Theo, staring at the wound. My hands were shaking as I tried to treat it. Just by looking at the wound alone, I knew how much it hurt. Especially with so many wounds all over his body. It made me shudder in horror.
"Done," I said as I closed the medicine box, and then placed it on the table.
"Are you okay?"
I looked at Theo with a sad face. His fingers gently brushed my cheek.
"Why are you asking about my condition? I'm not even hurt," I said while biting my lower lip.
He touched my neck and I gasped in surprise. My eyes widened with uneasiness and I quickly took his hand away from me.
"I'm fine. It's..."
"I'm sorry, Fey," he whispered. My chest felt tight as I looked into his guilt-filled eyes. "None of this would have happened if ... You're free now, Freya. Go wherever you want. And live your life..."
"What are you talking about?" I squeezed his hand with a sad face. I suddenly felt scared and anxious that Theo would suddenly disappear and leave me again.
"I just want you to live your life carefree. Go to the country you want and start your new life there."
"I won't go if you don't come with me!" I yelled in protest. I saw Jason returning empty-handed. He looked worried when he saw us arguing, but he stood there as if waiting and watching.
"Fey...."
"You suggested this idea, so we should go together. If you don't go, then don't expect me to leave you alone!" I snapped. I looked at him sharply. I didn't care about the guilt or anything. Because he was the only family I had. And I didn't want to be away from my family.
"I'm giving you a chance, Fey." He swallowed hard. He sat up straight and grasped my hand tightly. His eyes looked at me intently, full of seriousness. "Fey, there's something I haven't told you yet," he said hesitantly.
"About what?"
"The fact that you're not my real sister."
"You're joking, right?" I laughed wryly. "If you're saying this nonsense just because you want to push me away from you, then it's useless. I don't want to hear it anymore!"
"No, Fey. I'm telling the truth." He shook his head in frustration. "I was seven years old. Mom and Dad decided to adopt a daughter and we went to an orphanage. You were two years old, just a baby."
"No, no way. You're lying right?" I pulled my hand away from him. Not knowing how to react. I was too shocked and felt like this wasn't real.
"Do you remember asking why there were no baby pictures or pictures of mom when she was pregnant? Mom replied that we moved and our pictures were lost. We had to lie because we didn't want you to know that you were adopted. Because to us, you are our family."
"No way." I covered my mouth, sobbing. My tears spilled over. And I could only remain silent knowing the bitter truth about myself. I never thought that I was adopted instead of my mom and dad's biological child.
"Fey, I'm sorry. I...."
"Tell me that you're lying right now," I pleaded with sobs. My hands were shaking violently. My eyes blurred because of my stagnant tears.
He shook his head with a heavy heart. Trying to calm me down, but I returned to hysterics.
"Fey ... even so, you are our family. We never even thought you were adopted. You're my little sister. Mom and Dad's daughter. And that will never change." He squeezed my arm. Looking at me with pity and guilt.
I couldn't hold back my tears. It was devastating, but it was all for nothing. I hadn't even been a good son to them. To be someone they were proud of. Every memory we had was filled with their love and affection for me.
But I never thought that I was an adopted child.
My tears broke as Theo hugged me tightly. I buried my face in his chest.
"Forgive us, Fey. But believe me, we always love you as our biological family. Forever." He released his embrace and wiped away my tears. Looking at me with his gentle gaze. "Are you disappointed in us? Do you have any regrets?"
I shook my head hard. "No, I don't. I love you guys and am grateful to have a family like you."
"We are too, Fey." He smiled. A bright smile that made me feel relieved.