Chapter 14 - 14 14 Commotion

Words : 1423 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

14: Chapter 14: Commotion 14: Chapter 14: Commotion James Brown had noticed Gina Lopez’s pale face long ago and immediately said as he approached her, “Must’ve been waiting anxiously, right? Emily twisted her ankle, had to rest for a while before coming down.” That simple sentence explained everything, and Gina’s previously unpleasant expression instantly turned to worry as she supported her sister’s other arm, “How is it? Do we need to go to the hospital?” “You see I can walk, don’t we? No need for a hospital; let’s go home.” Gina frowned and said, “You really don’t let people worry less. How can someone your age still twist an ankle just walking? When will you ever let me not worry?” “Big sis, quit the nagging, will you? I’ve realized that when you get old, you’ll definitely be just like Mom, nagging endlessly every day.” “You… Do you realize I’m concerned about you?” “No need, save your concern. Better let brother-in-law enjoy it.” Gina, who could command the wind and rain in her company, really had no solution when it came to her younger sister, so she could only leave the mall with James supporting Emily alongside. Once at the parking lot, Emily said to Gina, “Sis, you drive.” Gina hadn’t planned on letting Emily drive anyway, so she took the car keys and headed for the driver’s seat, while James helped Emily into the back seat. He had intended to sit in the passenger seat, but Emily pulled him back saying, “Brother-in-law, sit in the back; it’s easier to talk to you there.” James looked at Gina, saw that she had no reaction, and so sat in the back with Emily. As soon as they settled, Emily giggled, “I have to say, big sis, are you feeling a bit jealous? Don’t worry, don’t worry, I won’t steal your brother-in-law.” “You’re quite grown-up yet can’t seem to speak with any seriousness.” “Don’t worry, I’m genuinely happy for you that you’ve found someone. I always thought, with that temper of yours, you might never get married in this lifetime. I should really talk to brother-in-law about how to train you properly.” “Hmph, like you have a better temper. So why don’t you have a boyfriend?” “I’m not in a rush. I still want to enjoy myself for a couple more years. If I hurry and get myself locked in the fortress of marriage, that would just be looking for misery.” “Well, now that my issues are dealt with, Mom and Dad will definitely start focusing on you.” “Ah, that’s true, now I’m really in trouble. You see what you did by bringing home a boyfriend, you’ve really made a mess for me.” “Hmph, you always talk about me, now it’s your turn to taste this feeling.” Emily wailed, “Oh my god, Mom and Dad’s nagging is truly a deadly weapon.” All the way home, the three of them chatted and laughed, except it was Emily and James who seemed to be enjoying the conversation most, while Gina found it hard to join in. For one, she was usually tight-lipped by nature, and for another, their topics about having fun and enjoying life were things she scarcely considered. “Stop the car! Stop the car!” Emily suddenly started pounding on the back of the seat, yelling loudly. “What are you doing?” Gina exclaimed, startled and annoyed, but she still pulled over to the side of the road. “Firecrackers! Didn’t you see the firecrackers? We haven’t bought any for our house yet.” “What do we need those for? No one at our house sets them off.” “That was before, now we’ve got a brother-in-law, right? Brother-in-law, you can set them off, can’t you?” “I haven’t set off firecrackers for many years either. Buying some to add to the festive atmosphere isn’t a bad idea.” “That’s right, brother-in-law, let’s go down and buy some.” “Don’t buy them, they pollute the environment.” “And all your grand principles—driving a car pollutes the environment too, yet I don’t see you walking everywhere.” Gina was left speechless by that remark and could only watch as the two got out of the car. She hesitated for a moment, then followed them. As a child, James Brown also liked setting off firecrackers, but back then in the orphanage, such a luxury was out of reach. Later, when he joined the military and was part of a special unit, setting off firecrackers was even less of his concern. Now, buying some firecrackers and setting them off somehow stirred a faint sense of excitement in him, like stepping back into his childhood. Although Gina tried to stop her, Emily ended up buying a lot, including two large fireworks, leaving Gina genuinely helpless. After loading everything into the trunk, Emily and James Brown became even more cheerful, discussing which of the items they’d bought looked the best. When they got home, Gina’s parents were busy preparing lunch. The New Year’s Eve meal had to be the most sumptuous of the year, a tradition passed down from the older generation. Previously, due to poor living conditions, good food was only spared for the New Year’s feast, but now life had improved. The delicacies one wished to eat during New Year’s were available anytime, which made many feel that the festive atmosphere had diminished. As soon as she entered the door, Emily excitedly called out, “Mom and Dad, we bought a lot of firecrackers!” By then, her foot had healed. Jonathan Lopez laughed heartily and said, “Right, right, it’s time we bought some. Before, with just you two girls at home, and neither of you fond of setting them off, it was quiet. Now that we have James here, it’s quite fitting to be more lively.” Emily was even more smug and made a face at Gina, saying, “See, Dad agrees with me, and you still don’t want us to buy them.” “Hmph!” Gina huffed and went into the living room to change into slippers. While Gina was changing shoes, James Brown inadvertently glanced at her feet and realized they were probably no different from Emily’s. It seemed he might have been overthinking things. Not long after entering, Emily ran straight back to her bedroom and shortly after emerged wearing the outfit that James Brown had bought for her. She proudly ran to the kitchen doorway and called out, “Mom and Dad, what do you think of my outfit?” “Not bad at all, it’s really nice. It must have been your sister who bullied you into buying it, right?” Emily’s mother asked with a chuckle while picking vegetables. “Not at all. My sister doesn’t have that kind of taste. It was my brother-in-law who helped me choose it.” “Well now, you really have got someone to spoil you, but… Searᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. don’t go too far.” Emily’s mother whispered the latter part softly. “I know, I know. This set only cost a bit over six hundred, it’s economical and looks good. I really admire brother-in-law’s taste.” “That’s good then.” After showing off in front of her parents, Emily ran over to Gina, who had just changed clothes, proudly displaying her new outfit, “Sis, look at the clothes brother-in-law bought for me. They look good, don’t they?” Gina hadn’t seen them at the mall, but now that she did, she was genuinely impressed. The outfit was less flashy than what Emily usually wore and added a bit of maturity, yet it didn’t lose the youthful vibrancy. The loose sweater gave Emily a touch of sophistication, and the tight pants accentuated her liveliness. These two seemingly conflicting styles somehow blended together perfectly, making it a rare set that Gina actually admired. Glancing over at James Brown, Gina grew even more curious about this security guard who had such good taste. “Does it look good or not?” Emily, not receiving the praise she expected from her sister, urged with discontent. “It finally looks somewhat decent.” Dropping that chilly remark, Gina entered the kitchen. “Tsk, such an act.” Emily mumbled discontentedly. However, such a comment from her sister was already quite rare, and feeling triumphant, she happily ran back to her bedroom to change clothes.

Chapter 14 - 14 14 Commotion

Comments (0)