I clenched my jaw, silently growling, You smug bastard.
Just then, Ze ran up to Kevin, peering curiously into one of the shopping bags.
“Cousin, what’s in here?” Kevin crouched down, ruffled Ze’s hair, and grinned.
“Oh, lots of good stuff little toys for you, and some cute accessories for your mom.” Ze’s eyes sparkled.
He clapped his hands.
“Wow!
Awesome!” He tugged at Kevin’s sleeve, eager to see what was inside.
Mom watched the two interact, a warm, approving smile spreading across her face.
“Kevin, thank you so much.
You’re so kind to your little cousin.
I really appreciate it.” “It’s nothing, Aunt,” Kevin said, feigning humility.
“We’re family.
And Ze’s such a sweet kid how could anyone not love him?” Pfft.
What a fake act, I thought bitterly.
His forced kindness, his exaggerated affection it was all a pathetic performance.
The smugness in his eyes, the hidden calculation I saw it all.
He’d do anything to win Mom’s favor, and to my frustration, she actually seemed to buy it.
… The night passed quietly.
For once, I had no tutoring on Sunday just a chance to sleep in.
But I was jolted awake by the noisy chatter of Ze and Kevin downstairs.
I groaned, rolling over, trying to sink back into sleep.
But their voices buzzed like persistent flies, impossible to ignore.
With a frustrated sigh, I rubbed my eyes and dragged myself out of bed.
At the top of the stairs, I looked down.
Ze and Kevin were playing by the sofa, laughing and chasing each other.
Kevin had found a small soccer ball and was darting around the living room with Ze in hot pursuit.
“Little troublemaker, catch me if you can!” he teased.
Ze giggled uncontrollably, wobbling on his short legs, doing his best to keep up.
I scowled.
Can’t this guy let me sleep in peace?
Then my gaze drifted to the corner of the room where Mom stood, completely absorbed in her dance practice on the floor mat.
Soft music played in the background, blending seamlessly with her movements.
She wore a dance outfit purple nylon fused with black sheer mesh.
The tight fabric hugged her curvy figure perfectly, highlighting her stunning, mature beauty.
The purple material made her skin look even fairer, smoother like polished silk.
The black mesh panels at her waist and arms revealed glimpses of her bare skin, adding a hint of mystery and sensuality.
Her legs, encased in black tights, were stretched straight on the portable stretching bar.
Long, slender, and perfectly shaped, they extended from her full, toned thighs down to her delicate ankles.
The tights clung tightly, outlining every curve, every muscle.
Her calves, taut and defined, pulsed with quiet strength, their smooth lines radiating allure.
Her upper body leaned forward slightly, hands gripping the bar.
Her back was straight, her spine elegant.
As she moved, the mesh fabric fluttered gently, forming a graceful arc.
The tight dancewear hugged her full breasts, pushing them into a tempting shape.
With each breath, they rose and fell softly, adding to her hypnotic charm.
Her narrow waist contrasted sharply with her round, plump hips her shapely backside even more pronounced in the snug outfit, exuding raw sensuality.
Even as Kevin played with Ze, his eyes kept flickering toward Mom.
His glances seemed casual, but they always lingered especially on her taut backside and long legs.
When his gaze landed on her, a flash of hot, greedy desire sparked in his eyes like a predator spotting prey.
He quickly looked away, but the hunger remained.
Ze giggled, chasing Kevin in circles.
Kevin ran, pretending to be out of breath.
“Brother, I can’t run anymore!” he gasped, slowing down.
But his eyes, out of the corner, stayed fixed on Mom by the window.
He deliberately adjusted his path, pretending to stumble toward her.
When he was less than two meters away, he suddenly stopped, his body jerking forward.
With an exaggerated “Whoa!” he lurched sideways, his momentum carrying him straight into Mom.
His body slammed against hers, his chest pressing into her back, his hands instinctively grabbing her waist to steady himself.
He felt the soft, firm curve of her buttocks, the warmth seeping through the thin fabric of her dancewear.
Mom, caught completely off guard, let out a sharp cry: “Ah!” She had been focused on her stretch, feeling her muscles lengthen.
Kevin’s sudden weight threw her off balance.
She reflexively grabbed the bar to avoid falling.
At the same time, she tried to push him away but he clung to her like an octopus.
In that split second, his hands pressed firmly against her body.
The sensation was like touching warm, smooth jade soft yet resilient.
He didn’t pull away immediately.
Instead, he lingered, savoring the feel of her flesh beneath his palms.
He felt the firmness of her hips, the smoothness of her skin.
Through the thin nylon and mesh, he could almost sense her body heat, her breath.
That brief, forbidden contact sent a jolt of excitement through him intense, intoxicating.
Feeling her body tremble slightly under his touch, Kevin finally stepped back, straightening up.
He pulled his hands away from her waist, pretending innocence, a fake smile on his face.
“Sorry, Aunt,” he said, feigning concern.
“I slipped didn’t mean to.” His voice was apologetic, but his eyes lingered on her face, watching her reaction.
Mom, though startled, didn’t react with anger.
She simply smoothed her dancewear, her tone calm.
“It’s okay.
Just be more careful.
Don’t play so recklessly.” Kevin studied her response.
A small, satisfied smirk tugged at his lips.
Just as I thought, he realized.
Because of Ze, I got away with it.
No punishment.
No consequences.
He felt a surge of triumph, proud of how perfectly he’d faked the accident.
He turned to Ze and gave him a playful wink, then continued playing.
But his eyes, when they flicked back to Mom, held a dark, lewd glint.
In his mind, he replayed the moment her softness, her warmth, her elasticity.
The memory made his blood burn.
I watched from upstairs, teeth grinding in fury.
But then I remembered Monday was just a day away.
Kevin would start school and, like me, would be living at the dorms from Monday to Friday.
He’d only see Mom on weekends.
That thought brought me a small sense of relief.
When I came downstairs, Mom had finished dancing and set out a hearty breakfast.
Ze and Kevin were eating happily.
Kevin even served Ze, saying, “Eat more, grow tall and strong.” Mom watched, seemingly having forgotten the earlier incident, her face warm with approval.
“Kevin, you’re so thoughtful with your cousin,” she praised.
I sat quietly, eating my meal, but my mind was racing.
What kind of trouble will Kevin cause at school?
Then another thought hit me Dad was leaving for Westbridge again in a few days.
And this time, he might be gone for weeks.
A heavy weight settled in my chest.
Kevin would be at school most of the week.
But without Dad around, and with me at tutoring every Saturday from morning till evening, that meant entire days when Mom would be alone with Kevin and a little brother who knew nothing of danger.
Ze was innocent, pure no match for someone like Kevin, whose mind was twisted, whose lust knew no bounds.
I remembered all the times he’d stared at Mom, the way his eyes lingered on her legs, her body.
What if, with Dad gone, he took it further?
What if he pretended to help Mom with chores, then “accidentally” touched her?
What if he tested her boundaries?
And worse what if, driven by raw desire, he lunged at her when she was alone, when she wasn’t looking?
My palms grew damp.
A crushing wave of anxiety tightened around my chest, making it hard to breathe.
I had to do something.
Even if I couldn’t be there in person, I needed to know what was happening at home.
I had to protect Mom from a distance, if I had to.