174 A request

In appearance, the family seemed perfect. A cozy home, shared laughter, and an air of harmony. However, behind the smiles and appearances, there was a world of secrets and tensions that threatened to collapse that apparent perfection.

The parents, Andy and Laurie, looked at each other with a mix of love and disappointment. Their arguments had become increasingly frequent, and their differences seemed irreconcilable. However, they decided to hide their problems to protect their children.

However, Jacob didn't need anyone to protect him, and if he couldn't leave this house behind, he would do it on his own terms to distance himself from this family to whom he owed so much but couldn't bear to breathe the same air as them.

It wasn't for himself that he was willing to leave, but for his family who was on the verge of complete collapse. They were the ones who needed help, and Jacob didn't want to be a spectator of so much drama until he reached adulthood and could leave home. That's why he intended to go to his grandparents; at least they understood him a little more than his own parents.

And right now, venting some of his forgotten resentment, Jacob caused trouble for his brother Ethan, who, with his absurd statements, had complicated his trial, resulting in the denial of bail. However, he wasn't too harsh on his weak brother, no physical blows or seeking his death... He just wanted to see him in a situation somewhat similar to what he had experienced for years.

"And here is when the little trust they had in you breaks..." Jacob murmured as he saw his father's facial expression when getting out of the car.

Andy, filled with anger and worry, entered the house and grabbed Ethan by his clothes, demanding answers about his internet posts. "What have you posted on the internet?! Tell me right now!"

Ethan, frightened by his father's reaction, stammered a trembling response. "I have no idea, Dad. I haven't posted anything..."

In a fit of fury, Andy snatched Ethan's phone and checked the notifications that had come in response to the post. His expression turned to anger and disappointment.

Andy, throwing the phone to the ground, exclaimed, "Damn it, Ethan! What have you done? This is unacceptable!"

Just as Andy was about to hit Ethan, Laurie intervened and stopped him, grabbing his arm. "Andy, stop! This is not the way to resolve things. We need to talk calmly and find a solution."

Andy, frustrated and overwhelmed, halted and took a deep breath. He looked at Laurie, feeling a mix of anger and pain. "I can't believe he did this. How could he post something so irresponsible and damaging?"

Laurie picked up the broken phone and saw the post on the screen. Her face reflected disappointment and sadness.

"Ethan, go to your room. We need time to think and talk about this."

Ethan, furious and overwhelmed with a suffocated feeling, nodded and retreated to his room.

Andy approached Jacob, who had observed the situation silently, and took him by the shoulders for a closer interaction. "Jacob, I want you to know that you shouldn't take what Ethan posted seriously. It doesn't reflect who you are as a person, and it's not true. I'm here for you, and I'll always support you."

"I honestly have no problem with the childish things my brother wrote. I stopped caring after spending days in prison without a visit from him..." Jacob smiled and moved his father's hands away.

"Jacob, we had..." Laurie was extremely embarrassed about this.

"I know, Mother. You're ashamed to have a murderer for a son, so I asked Lawyer Anderson if I can live in my grandparents' house. In a town like that, I could live peacefully, at least until the drama in this family ends." Jacob said in a direct and insensitive tone.

When Andy and Laurie heard those words from their son, they knew that this boy who didn't like to talk and didn't utter more than ten words to them had completely changed.

But Andy immediately rejected the idea and said, "No, I refuse to let our family fall apart like this..."

"You can stop pretending that we're fine when we're not, Father!" Jacob's words rose, and he shouted, "You're five years too late. You told me to protect my brother, and I did that for all these years..."

"Still, when that guy pulled out that knife and my brother froze on the ground, I knew I had to defend him. I was even willing to give my life for him at that moment. Have you ever thought about that? If I hadn't attacked, the one dead would have been me or Ethan."

Jacob needed to say these final words before it was too late. He didn't want to hold anything back only to later regret and complain about not sharing his thoughts. "I did what any brother would do, but Ethan just shut himself in and harmed me with his stupid statements to the police."

"Jacob, your brother was scared..." Laurie even now defended her son Ethan.

"How long are you going to protect Ethan, Laurie?" Andy then intervened with an incredulous tone.

"It doesn't matter anymore." Said Jacob, pointing out, "To me, my mother failed in raising two children... I no longer care what you say or think. If I don't leave this house officially, I don't want to be sought after once I'm gone."

"Alright, son. Considering that you need to be away from the affected family, it's acceptable for you to move... I'll send a request to your school for a transfer, and Laurie will talk to her parents..." Andy finally accepted Jacob's demands.

"Thank you, Father. At least you could understand me." Jacob looked at his mother without saying a word and retreated to his room, filled with a bitter feeling.

He had understood for a while now that he was special, and the only way to be okay was to understand himself. No one in the world can understand another person and know what goes on in their mind. Jacob believed the wrong things, and that's why he suffered so much.

But now he had made his thoughts clear, and he didn't really care what others thought of him. After all, no one was so relevant that he would be affected by them.

"[Master, reviewing the security cameras, there's an electric car that has passed by your house three times, and each time it slows down!]"

"Have you seen who it is?" Jacob looked out the window and asked his intelligent assistant.

"[Yes, it's the father of the boy who died in your hands. What are your orders?]"

"I can't leave the house..." Jacob thought about it for a moment and after getting an idea, he said, "Can you control his car?"

"[Yes, Master. Being an electric car, it can be controlled!]"

"Good, since it seems he intends to get in my way, we should take care of him... I want it to look like a car accident, avoid harming others, and if possible, I just want that man to be disabled... He probably wants to come for revenge, I don't blame him, I would do the same." Jacob murmured, shaking his head.

"[Understood, Master. Proceeding with your order!]"

"And I will sleep. Wake me up if anything requires my attention." Jacob lay down on his bed, which appeared to be clean, and closed his eyes shortly before falling asleep.