?Chapter 1297:


    Jerome nodded and started to walk away. But he paused. “Next time we’re all together, don’t leave me out for my brother.”


    “I won’t,” Nina promised with a nod, though no one knew if she meant it.<fn6eb3> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FιndＮovel</fn6eb3>


    Jerome took her word to heart.


    After waving goodbye, Nina skipped back to the living room where Freya and Ellis were.


    Spotting Jesse on the couch watching a movie, she marched over. “Jesse! Why did you embarrass me in front of Jasper today?”


    Jesse stayed calm. “If I wanted to embarrass you, I would have shown him all the math problems you’ve already solved. I only threatened you about dinner.”


    Nina crossed her arms. “That’s still mean!”


    Jesse raised an eyebrow. “So?”


    “You owe me!” she huffed.


    “What?” Jesse asked, curious.


    “You should have Jerome or Jasper back!” she demanded.


    Jesse smirked. “I’ll tell Mom. She’ll invite them over for you.”


    Nina’s eyes widened in panic. “No, wait!” She jumped in front of him. They weren’t supposed to tell their parents.


    “Traitor!” she muttered, puffing out her cheeks.


    Jesse leaned back. “Didn’t you tell Jasper I’m always mean and call you silly? Isn’t that telling tales?”


    Nina’s shoulders slumped. She poked her fingers together, guilty.


    “And pretending you didn’t know how to solve a problem you’ve done before,” Jesse went on. “Isn’t that fibbing?”


    “I just wanted to spend more time with Jasper,” Nina mumbled. “He’s quiet. I didn’t want him to feel left out.”


    Jesse grinned. “Or is it because he’s cute?”


    Latest stories on gα?ησv???s


    Nina’s cheeks puffed up. “Ugh, you’re so annoying!”


    “Go think about what you did before a wall,” Jesse said, sounding like a big brother. “Stand over there for thirty minutes. Promise not to do it again, and I won’t tell Mom and Dad.”


    “Jesse!” Nina whined.


    Jesse’s face didn’t budge. “No one’s saving you this time,” he said firmly.


    “You’d make your sweet, adorable sister stand there?” she tried, batting her eyes.


    “Spreading stories about me is sweet?” Jesse asked.


    Nina froze, out of excuses.


    “Calling me mean is good behavior?” he added.


    Nina felt cornered, her lips trembling.


    Jesse nced at the TV. “One minute to decide.”


    “Fine,” Nina sighed, trudging to the wall. She knew better than to argue with him. To her, Jesse was the best, right after their parents. Even when he was strict, she trusted him.


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