Page 71 of His Untoward Hate

Without waiting for a response, Sky walked off toward his class, relieved that he and Kevin were not sharing the same period. As expected, Sky arrived late to Practical Research. Leizel was already mid-lecture, rambling on about research topics that only made Sky’s head ache. Her voice grated on his ears, irritating him further.

Sky paid her no attention and simply walked into the classroom, casually taking his seat. Almost immediately, her lecture stopped. She seemed shocked by his lack of reaction, as if she had expected something different.

“Wow! Just like that?!” she exclaimed, raising her voice in disbelief. “Who permitted you to just walk in without greeting your teacher? Where are your manners, Mister Granger?! And why are you late?!” she continued, practically on the verge of a meltdown.

Sky completely ignored her, not even looking at her once as she went on babbling about whatever manners and ethical behavior.

“I couldn’t believe that Jasper is your brother. How come Jasper is way different from you?”

Several pairs of eyes landed on Sky. Leaning back against his chair, he casually tapped the table with his fingers. He ignored every word that came out of her mouth as she kept going on and on. She was already crossing the line, but Sky did not have the time or energy to deal with her.

Instead, his gaze drifted toward Jude’s empty seat.

His brows furrowed as he bit the inside of his cheek.

Where the fucking hell is he?

Sky’s eyes stayed fixed on the vacant chair, so focused that he failed to notice Leizel had already stopped ranting. Sky could not stop the heavy worry settling in his chest for Jude.

What if his foster parents had hurt him?

What if he had nowhere to stay last night?

Where was he now?

Why wasn’t he coming to school?

He fucking promised me to come to school. I fucking warned him, and when I do warn, he never misses conforming to it.

Lost in those thoughts, Sky abruptly stood up from his seat in the middle of Leizel’s tedious discussion and walked straight out of the classroom without a second thought. He vaguely heard Leizel calling his name, but he did not bother listening to whatever she was saying. Sky hurried out of the school building and effortlessly slid into his Chevy. The tires screeched against the concrete as he pulled away from the curb. His eyes stayed firmly locked on the road, but his thoughts were consumed entirely by Jude.

Why do you always make me worry this much? Who the fuck do you think you are? Sky thought.

Frustration clawed at him as he pressed harder on the accelerator, speeding past a massive dump truck. He ignored the speed limit completely, even running through a red light without slowing down. Before long, Sky brought the car to a screeching halt in front of Finn’s house. He climbed out impatiently, shoving his clenched hands into his pockets as he strode toward the house. Leaning against the doorframe, he knocked hard enough for anyone inside to hear, yet no one answered.

Sky’s irritation only grew.

Sky pounded on the door even louder this time, almost wanting to break it, until it finally swung open, revealing a man in his mid-forties with a deep scowl etched across his face.

Jude’s foster father.

“Don’t you know how to use a doorbell?” he snapped, the remark sounding more like an insult to Sky.

“Where is Jude?” Sky asked bluntly.

“And why should I tell you where he is? Who the hell are you?” Francisco shot back, his face twisting into a glare as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Honey, who’s that?” a woman of indeterminate age asked as she emerged from what seemed to be the kitchen, judging by the apron she wore.

It was Elvira Finn. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, and Mitch clearly took after her biologically. Sky could not spot a trace of Jude Finn in her, nor in the man beside her. There was not a single resemblance between Jude and this family. Jude looked nothing like them. He was far better than these ugly motherfuckers.

“Some rude asshole here looking for that faggot,” he answered cockily, throwing a glance at his wife.

“Say that word one more time, and you’ll regret it,” Sky said firmly, his tone cold and serious.

Francis turned back to him, locking eyes with a piercing look.

“You think you’re tough enough to mouth off like that?” he shot back.