Chapter 8 Severing Ties with the Six Older Brothers

"Simple enough." Derek let out a cold snort and set his teacup down on the table. "Given her character, who knows if she copied Tina."

"This has gone too far." Edward spoke up, which was rare for him, his voice hard. "Tina spent so long preparing her figure skating submission, and Serena just swooped in and stole the spotlight without a word. It's obvious she's targeting Tina."

"Have Serena pull her submission, whether she copied Tina or not." Brian broke the silence. "Tina worked on this for so long, she can't just walk away with nothing. Serena's program is apparently so great, it's no big deal to have the judges send it back. She'll have plenty of chances later. This is Tina's only shot."

"Brian's right." Fred immediately agreed. "Besides, hasn't Serena always said she doesn't care about these competitions? If she doesn't care, what's the problem with letting Tina have it?"

On the other end of the phone, Serena had just finished getting her bandage changed at the school clinic. Silas was bent over wrapping gauze around her arm. "What is it?"

"Albert wants you back. Come home now." Derek's tone left no room for argument.

The line went dead.

Silas could tell right away that the girl's mood had darkened. "What are they up to now?"

Serena looked down, already piecing together what had happened. A cold smile crossed her lips.

"They probably want me to step aside again to comfort their precious Tina. I have to go."

Serena pushed open the door and walked in. All six of them were already lined up on the sofa.

Tina was huddled at the far end, her face a picture of misery, sobbing heavily.

When she saw Serena, she jumped to her feet. "Serena, I honestly didn't know you'd entered that competition too. If I had known, I never would have submitted, but you can't just..."

Serena looked straight past her like she wasn't there, not listening to a word, and turned to the others. "What do you want."

Albert didn't beat around the bush. He slid his phone across the coffee table, the screen showing the preliminary results announcement. "This 'Crossing Snow.' When did you prepare this?"

"How is that any of your business?" Serena's voice was flat.

The vein at Albert's temple twitched.

He took a deep breath and pushed down his anger. "Serena, I know you've had a gift for figure skating since you were little, but Tina really has been working on this for a long time. Her parents back then..."

"You're going to bring up how her parents saved my life again?" Serena cut him off. "Because I owe them my life, I have to hand over everything I have to her? Albert, tell me, is there anything I'm allowed to keep for myself?"

The room went dead quiet.

Brian shot to his feet, his face drained of color.

"Serena, what kind of attitude is that! We're not telling you to give up figure skating forever. Do you have any idea how crushed Tina was by those comments from the judges? If you have even a shred of decency, don't compete against her right now!"

"Compete against her?" Serena let out a sharp laugh. She turned to look at Tina, her gaze cutting. "Tina, why don't you tell them where that submission of yours actually came from. The one the judges sent back."

The color drained from Tina's face instantly, and she looked like she might collapse. "Serena, what do you mean? Are you saying I stole from you? I really didn't..."

"There's no way Tina stole anything from you!" Derek stepped in front of Tina.

He glared at Serena. "You went behind our backs and entered without telling anyone, and now you're turning on us? Serena, when did you become so completely unreasonable!"

Her six brothers had her surrounded, looking at her like she was a suspect being interrogated.

Not one of them showed the slightest pride in what she'd achieved. Not a trace of admiration for her talent. Only anger, accusations, and a bottomless need to protect Tina.

"I'm not withdrawing."

Serena looked each of them in the eye, her voice steady. "'Crossing Snow' is something I poured countless sleepless nights into. Every step sequence was designed and revised by me personally. Why should I give it up?"

"Because Tina cried? That's supposed to mean I should step aside?" A bitter smile touched Serena's lips. "That's not how the world works."

"Serena!"

Albert lost his temper. He slammed his palm on the coffee table, sending the tea set rattling.

"Do you think you're old enough now that the Seymour family can't touch you?"

"Touch me?" Serena looked at him, unable to hold back. "The only time any of you remember I exist is when you need me to give something up."

She turned and walked toward the door. Brian moved to block her, but she slipped past him.

At the doorway, Serena looked back.

"The preliminary results are already out. I earned that recognition myself. If you have the power, go get the organizers to pull my program. If you can't, then don't talk to me about stepping aside."

"And Tina plagiarized me."

The door closed behind her. The living room fell into complete silence.

Tina immediately buried her face in her hands and burst into tears. Derek and Edward crowded around her. Something nagged at the back of Derek's mind, a vague feeling that something was off.

Brian kicked the coffee table in a rage. He was the hottest-tempered of the six, and the one who doted on Tina the most.

Chris sat quietly, eyes on his phone, and shot a suspicious glance at Tina.

But watching her cry without stopping, he immediately felt like he was overthinking it.

How could Tina possibly plagiarize Serena?

She was the kindest girl there was. Serena must be picking on her again.

The others thought the same. None of them took a word Serena said seriously.

The Seymour family meeting was held at ten the next morning.

When Laura knocked on her door and called her downstairs, all six brothers were already lined up in the living room.

Tina sat beside Albert, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried again, looking like someone had wronged her terribly.

On the coffee table sat a printed document. A competition rights transfer agreement.

Serena glanced at it without breaking stride, walked over, and sat down in the armchair across from them.

Albert spoke first, with the calm authority he always carried.

"Serena, after talking it over last night, we all agree that Tina needs this figure skating competition opportunity more than you do. You'll transfer the entry rights for 'Crossing Snow' to her. You can keep the credit as the creator, but the competition spot and the stage go to Tina."