Mercy's eyes widened in concern as she heard Isabella's answer. Safe? That didn't sound good.
She took a step closer to her sister, her voice soft.
"Are you in trouble?"
Isabella tensed at Mercy's question, her expression hardening again.
She took a step back away from her sister.
"I'm fine," she said firmly.
"You don't need to worry about me."
"Why shouldn't I worry about you?" Mercy asked with a frown on her face. She looked at Isabella expression which was extremely cold one could not read what she was thinking about.
Isabella looked at Mercy, her eyes narrowing slightly. She was used to people worrying about her but not for the reasons that Mercy was probably thinking about.
She let out an exasperated sigh.
"I don't need anyone's pity," she said firmly.
Mercy was taken aback by Isabella's response. She hadn't meant to make her sister feel pitied or weak.
"I'm not pitying you," she protested softly.
"I just want to know that you're okay."
"Mercy do you have some money? I am living Los Angeles," Isabella said coldly she didn't want to stay at a city that destroyed her she didn't want to watch her sister Ella get the man she once loved, she didn't want her future four little babies to grow in family like Frost that are full of selfish asshole beside her brother.
Mercy's heart sank as she heard the coldness in Isabella's voice. She could sense that there was more to her story than just being pregnant at a young age.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small wad of cash. It wasn't much, but it was something.
"Here," she said quietly, holding the money out to Isabella.
Isabella stared at the cash she nodded her head and she gently smiled which showed on her chubby cheeks.
"Goodbye little sis," Isabella said it shocked Mercy it's the first time that Isabella was warm and kind not only that she called her little sis!
Mercy's heart fluttered as she heard Isabella call her "little sis" for the first time. It was such a small thing, but it meant so much to her.
She wanted to reach out and hug her sister, but she knew that wouldn't be welcome. So instead, she just smiled back at her.
"Bye," she said softly.
"Mercy your number so we keep in contact you are the first one who never judged me for my size," Isabella said firmly not allowing any emotions to show as she looked at Mercy with her firing scarlet eyes.
Mercy's heart skipped a beat as she heard Isabella's words.
She quickly rummaged through her bag and pulled out a pen, writing down her number on a piece of paper.
"Here," she said quietly, handing it over to Isabella.
"I'll be waiting for your call."
After Isabella left Mercy felt sad she came from a rich family and she has always been spoiled finding a Big Sis like was honestly wonderful. Mercy was from the third biggest family clan that had connections threw out America the Reed Family Dynasty. She stepped outside and she saw cars pulling over as the youngest child also the only girl in the family she has always gotten what she wanted her brothers protect her and love.
"Youngest Miss we finally found you please go home."
Mercy scuffed out but she nodded her head understanding she didn't have much of a choice.
Mercy followed the bodyguards back to her family's estate, a grand mansion in the heart of Los Angeles. As she walked through the doors, she could feel her mother's disapproving gaze on her.
"Mercy," came a stern voice from the top of the stairs.
"A word in my office."
Mercy sighed and trudged up the stairs towards her father's office. She could already feel a lecture coming on.
As she entered the room, she saw her father sitting behind his desk, looking as elegant and stern as ever.
"Daddy I am your only little princess I only wanted to see the world," Mercy said and rushed over to her father and lead her head on his lap as she acting pitifully.
Mercy's father couldn't help but soften at the sight of his daughter acting so pitifully. He sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"You are my little princess," he said softly.
"But you can't just run off like that without telling anyone where you're going."
"Daddy eldest brother Elijah ran away from home but you gifted him a mansion, second brother Noah once decided to run away from home for three days you rewarded him with a fancy car, third brother well he got into a fight while partying you rewarded him with a master boxing teacher and I ran away from home for three months and all I get is a stern talk," Mercy whines and pouted.
Mercy's father chuckled at her whining.
"Your brothers are all grown men," he said gently. "You, on the other hand, are still a child."
He placed a gentle hand on her cheek.
"I worry about you more than them. I can't just let you run around without any supervision."
Mercy mother Ira touched her daughter head and hugged her tightly.
"I was worried about you, your brothers can protect themselves but you can't," Ira said gently to her only daughter with pure love and care.
Mercy leaned into her mother's embrace, feeling safe and loved. She knew that her parents were just worried about her.
"I'm sorry I ran away," she mumbled, burying her face in her mother's shoulder.
"I just wanted some freedom."
"You can have freedom but you must take at least four professional bodyguards," Mercy stern dad Jett said to his daughter in a tender tone.
Mercy rolled her eyes at the mention of bodyguards. She didn't like being followed around all the time, but she knew that her father was not going to back down on this.
"Fine," she said with a huff.
"Four bodyguards it is."
Jett chuckled at her pouting expression, knowing that she was still not happy about the idea. He gently patted her head.
"You may be a princess, but you're also a part of this family," he said firmly.
"And as such, we need to keep you safe."
Mercy nodded her head. She then saw a message from a none number she jumped so fast her pouting face changed with a bright smile.
Unknown: Thank you for the money
Mercy: Big sis?
Big Sis: Mmm
Mercy chuckled she is still cold but at least she texted her!
Isabella sat on a park bench in the middle of Los Angeles. The sun was setting behind her and casting a warm glow over the city.
She glanced down at her phone and saw Mercy's text. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Mercy who did you meet and why are you happy," both her parents asked her. Mercy grinned foolishly.
"I found a big sis!"
Jett and Ira both knew their daughter didn't make friends easily she dislike people who used her for money so she just always kept small group of friends.
Jett and Ira exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued.
"A big sister?" Jett repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Ira placed a gentle hand on Mercy's shoulder.
"And who might this big sister be?"
Mercy looked up at Jett and Ira, her expression a mix of surprise and happiness.
"Her name is…actually I don't know her name, she is cold and indifferent but she is a good big sis," she said softly.
"She's...she's the best big sister friend anyone could ask for."
Jett and Ira exchanged another glance, concern etched on their faces. They were not used to seeing Mercy talk about someone so positively.
Ira gently squeezed her shoulder.
"Mercy," she said softly.
"You don't even know her name, how can you be sure she's a good person?"
"Because I know don't go looking into it," Mercy said as she rushed off she knew her parents will ask her more and more questions. It would be annoying to be asked numerous questions. Elijah her first brother pinched Mercy cheeks.
"Did anyone bully you?" Elijah asked.
"Yeah we can beat him up for you," Noah asked with a playful smirk.
"I can punch them for you," Elliot said with a grin the three of them looked at Mercy.
"Elijah aren't you getting married? Maybe you should plan to give us baby nieces or nephews," Mercy asked and the other two laughed.
"Well Kerry is your future sister in law, I might be twenty years old but she is pregnant," Elijah said a grin.
Mercy sighed.
"You will suck as a dad I feel bad for your wife," Mercy said as she walked away.
Elijah rolled his eyes as Mercy walked away, a smirk on his face.
"I'm going to be the best dad ever," he called after her. "You'll see!"
Noah and Elliot both laughed, shaking their heads at Elijah's confidence.
Mercy smirked and she waved her finger her red hair was in a ponytail.
"I will praise you when I see that," Mercy said before she disappeared to the third floor and closed her bedroom.
Elijah chuckled and shook his head as he watched Mercy disappear upstairs. He knew she was just trying to rile him up, but he couldn't help feeling a bit defensive about his future parenting skills.
Meanwhile, Noah and Elliot continued to laugh at their older brother's expense.