"You’re lying! Brother would never harm anyone. You’re the one who wronged him!"
"Aster, I’m already eighteen, not a kid. If you won’t stand by my brother, then I will."
Her young face turned with pain and anger. She caught me and tried to pull me aside.
Aster lifted her hand. Bodyguards stopped us.
"Finley, you made a wrong move; you must bear responsibility. You haven’t apologized to Sean.”
My sister tried pushing through the guards but was held in place.
Watching them seize me, she screamed, voice breaking. "Don’t lay a hand on my brother! I’ll say sorry for him. Hit me, yell at me, I’ll accept it!"
With a dull sound, she knelt.
She lowered herself toward Sean again and again. "I kneel to you to make up for it, just don’t shame my brother! He’s a man, don’t force him like this, please, please…"
Her tears hit the floor. My chest tightened in pain.
I kicked a guard's legs, rushed forward, and pulled Cassandra into my embrace.
"Cassandra… forgive me. I caused this… your brother is worthless… forgive me…"
Her crying ran down my neck, hot, like sparks.
Her rough voice shook through sobs. "Brother, I'm only hurting you. I don’t want to go to school anymore. Let’s leave."