The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 12

**One Step Changes Everything**
**By Ruby Parker**
**Chapter 12: Percy Gets Caught**

“Axel! How could you possibly side with Venus? She’s nothing but a liar!” Percy’s voice cracked, his fury bubbling over like a pot left to boil on the stove.

“She’s just jealous because my grades are soaring higher than hers. She’s trying to set me up!” His words were punctuated by the tremors of his sobs, and he pointed an accusing finger at Venus, his face a canvas of hurt and betrayal. “Everyone in this family despises you except me! I was the only one who welcomed you into our home! How could you treat me like this?”

His anguish painted Venus in a harsh light, making her appear as the callous sister who had no regard for the bonds of family.

Yet, Venus remained unfazed, her demeanor cool and collected. “Right, you call me sister in front of everyone, but behind closed doors, you treat me like I’m your personal servant,” she retorted, her tone laced with a sharp edge.

“If you were a real man, Percy, you would take responsibility for your actions. What I’m doing now is actually saving you. If you don’t face the truth, you might find yourself serving a life sentence one day.”

The mention of a life sentence hung in the air like a dark cloud. The Burns family had pulled every string they could to have the charges reduced, desperate to avoid the worst possible outcome.

Her words caught Axel’s attention, and he abruptly turned, heading toward the garden as if drawn by an unseen force.

“Axel!” Panic surged through Percy, and he dashed after him, his heart racing.

Megan, sensing the tension, felt a wave of unease wash over her. She didn’t know what secrets her son was harboring, but she needed to intervene before things spiraled further.

“Wait, Axel!” she called out, her voice tinged with urgency.

“Percy’s just fascinated by anatomy. I think he’s been experimenting on small animals in the basement. It’s really not a huge deal! When Neil was studying medicine, he dissected animals and cadavers too. Maybe we should just avoid that area for now; we wouldn’t want him to start hating school.”

Axel halted, his footsteps faltering at her words.

Percy’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he murmured an apology. “I’m sorry, Axel. My dream is to become a renowned coroner. I just wanted to expand my knowledge. I promise I won’t do it again.”

Axel finally let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “So that’s all it is? You should have just said so. If you want to study forensics, that’s perfectly fine. I’ll get you some lab mice next time—they’re clean and safe, with no diseases.”

Harvey shot his son a sympathetic glance, his brow furrowed with concern. “Oh, my poor boy. Why would you want to pursue a career as a coroner? It’s grim and exhausting, dealing with dead bodies day in and day out. But if that’s your true passion, I’ll stand by you.”

Venus observed the family dynamics with a cold detachment.

They were so quick to trust one another, so effortlessly bonded. She felt like a stranger in their midst, an outsider looking in.

Yet, this was precisely what she had anticipated. This family always had a knack for minimizing their problems, turning monumental issues into mere trifles.

She glanced at her watch, a sly smirk creeping onto her lips. They should be arriving any moment now.

“Bad news!” Bob Barker, the butler, rushed into the room, his breath coming in frantic gasps. “There are police officers at the door!”

The family’s attention snapped to Venus, their expressions shifting to one of suspicion. They were convinced the officers had come for her.

Harvey’s lips curled into a sneer. “Let them in! Take this troublemaker away!”

Venus’s smile was sweet, yet it held a hint of malice. “If I’m the troublemaker, then that makes all of you guilty as well.”

The room fell into a stunned silence.

Axel’s eyes narrowed, his gaze icy as he addressed her. “Venus, when you do something wrong, you must face the consequences. What have you done to attract the police’s attention this time?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “I merely shared a few facts.”

Percy, who had finally begun to relax, felt his heart plummet once more. A wave of dread washed over him, cold and unforgiving.

Moments later, the police stepped into the grand mansion, their presence heavy in the air.

Without missing a beat, Harvey pointed at Venus, feigning righteousness. “Whatever she’s done, we won’t shield her! No lawyer, no excuses. Take her away and deal with her as the law dictates!”

However, the lead officer pulled out a warrant and began to read aloud, “Based on our investigation and multiple witness statements, we suspect that Percy Burn is in possession of illegal substances. We are authorized to search the premises.”

A thick silence enveloped the room. Venus’s grin widened, revealing her gleaming white teeth. Harvey, Megan, Axel, and Percy stood frozen, shock etched on their faces.

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