<i>"Xander only came to tell me about what your father had done to you yesterday," she added, her eyes finally settling on the bandages around his body. "What happened to you?"</i>


    <i>"It’s nothing," he replied as fast as that question flew out of her mouth. </i>


    <i>"Where did you spend the night?" Xavier questioned with concernced in his tone. </i>


    <i>Xander tore his gaze from Arabe to meet with Xavier’s. Thetter truly sounded concerned but after remembering what he’d just witnessed a few minutes ago, he couldn’t bring himself to believe Xavier was concerned about him. </i>


    <i>"At a family friend’s house," he replied.</i>


    <i>Confusion clouded Xavier’s expression. "Whose?"</i>


    <i>Xander ignored Xavier and refocused on Arabe. </i>


    <i>"It’s gettingte. I’ll help you get close to the shop," Xander offered. </i>


    <i>The girl nced between him and Xavier, understanding that their rtionship had deteriorated even more.</i>


    <i>She nodded and began cleaning up while Xander assisted in whichever way he could.</i>


    <i>When they were done, he dropped her at her house in Bruce’s car, while Xavier drove right behind them. He still had questions he needed to ask his brother.</i>


    <i>Xander waved goodbye, and Arabe returned the gesture, though her smile faltered under the weight of what she’d overheard their father discussing earlier. The knowledge pressed heavily on her chest, desperate to be set free. Her hands trembled ever so slightly as she struggled to suppress the fear simmering in her heart.</i>


    <i>Even so, she casually waved him goodbye and entered her house.</i>


    <i>"Where did you spend the night and how did you get these many injuries on your body?" Xavier asked as soon as Arabe’s back disappeared behind her door.</i>


    <i>"That’s none of your business," Xander responded, his tone sharp. "You must be happy because I’m no longer living in the house. You’re dad’s favorite and all of his attention will be on you. You must like that, right?"</i>


    <i>"You’re being a dickhead again," Xaviermented. "I know you won’tply but—"</i>


    <i>"I’m nevering back home." Xander rejected the idea even before Xavier could finish the sentence. "I was attacked by some bandits and met one of Dad’s friends. His name is Bruce rie. He took me in and I’ll probably be living with him until God knows when."</i>


    <i>"Mother is worried about you and she wants you toe back home." Xavier tried to convince him but Xander looked like he wasn’t having it.</i>


    <i>"I’lle visit her if need be. Now, about the little charade you disyed in the salon earlier, don’t ever try it again," he warned and Xavier could only scoff.</i>


    <i>"You’re making it seem like I kissed her or something. Arabe is just a friend to me. I don’t harbor such feelings like that towards her," he tried to exin, but Xander only believed what his eyes saw. </i>


    <i>He hoped that Xavier didn’t have any feelings for Arabe and that he was only just trying to save her from falling t on the ground.</i>


    <i>All his life, he’d always felt overshadowed by Xavier and he could only hope that Xavier didn’t have such feelings towards his girlfriend. He would really despite fighting his brother over a girl, although he’d already done so. </i>


    <i>Xander red at Xavier before he turned to head back towards the car. But then he halted. "I won’t be attending school any longer," he said.</i>


    <i>Xavier’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion but Xander didn’t exin anything any longer as he got into the car and vanished.</i>


    <i>Xavier could only shake his head in disappointment. He was disappointed in his father for what he’d caused. They were so happy and close before, that one would think an invisible glue had been applied on them.</i>


    <i>But now, they’d started to fight, throwing punches at each other. </i>


    <i>Xavier sighed, knowing there was nothing he could do, especially since Xander acted like he didn’t need any help at all.</i>


    <i>He got into his car and the driver asked, "Are you going somewhere else, sir?"</i>


    <i>"NO! Just take me home."</i>


    <i>Mr Wace nced at the window wherehe assumed would be Arabe’s room before looking back at Xavier’s departing car.</i>


    <i>"That girl must have bewitched my sons to have them wrapped around her fingers like that, with no shame at all," he thought out loud, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.</i>


    <i>Mr Wace had been unsure about Arabe overhearing his talk with Bruce in the morning, and he feared that she might have already told someone, especially Xander.</i>


    <i>However, from their interaction, he concluded she hadn’t told him anything. </i>


    <i>"But not for long. I’ll have to get rid of her before she leaks out my secret to the public," he added. "Most especially to her parents."</i>