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As we drove back, the morning sun spilled over the Sterwalt Mansion, bathing it in warm, golden light. For a moment, it didn’t feel like a place that held the fragments of my disturbingly chaotic life. It was like for a split second I forgot the complications—the messy reality of what we were—and focused instead on how the light softened every contour, easing even the harshness that crept into my thoughts.
The closer we came to the front door, though, the more slowly Kaiden walked. I turned toward him, puzzled. Before I could even ask what was on his mind, Kaiden faced me, his hazel eyes alight with a spark of mischief. I could feel trouble brewing before he’d even opened his mouth.
“Kaiden, what-”
He didn’t let me finish.
In one swift motion, he cupped the back of my neck and pulled me close, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that was anything but innocent. It was slow and deliberate, a playful kind of possession that left me breathless.
“Kaiden!” I gasped against his mouth, my
pushing lightly at his chest, even as my body betrayed me by leaning closer.
“What?” he murmured, his grin devilish as he pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. “I’m just saying good morning.”
His voice was so casual, so unbothered, that I couldn’t help the flush creeping up my neck and into my cheeks.
“In front of the door?” I hissed, glancing around as if someone might step out and catch us. “You want my mom to murder me?”
“She won’t. Trust me,” he said with a wink. “I’ll protect you.”
Before I could protest–or process his words–he turned and pushed open the door, strolling inside as if he hadn’t just set my entire world spinning.
I stood there for a moment, my fingers brushing over my tingling lips, before finally following him inside.
The day had barely begun, and Kaiden had already thrown me off balance.
After stepping into my room, I let out a shaky breath of thrill. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it for a moment, the memory of Kaiden’s kiss replaying in my mind like a song stuck on repeat.
My lips tingled with the memory of his touch, and I couldn’t help but smile like a madman.
Shaking myself out of it, I went to the bathroom to freshen up. Cold water against my face did little to cool the fire rising each time he came into my head.
My reflection in the mirror caught my eyes as I reached for the towel.
“Get it together,” I said gruffly, though the slight tugging at the corners of my mouth was a dead give–away of the sternness in my tone.
As I dried my face, the pink blush on my cheeks was noticeable. I tried with all my might to veer my thoughts from him, but my mind continued to whirl around: that mischievous grin, the soft touches, and the way his voice dropped when he teased me–and how he looked at me, as if I was the only person in this world.
I hummed to the soft melody without even noticing it. “I love you, baby… And if it’s quite alright…”
Lost in my thoughts, I wandered out of my room, still humming, the corners of my lips lifting into a dreamy smile.
“Lucy!”
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10:39 Thu, 17 Apr.
Chapter 65
A shrill voice jerked me back to reality,
I froze in my tracks, my heart leaping up into my throat as I swiveled around to see Mom standing in the doorway.
“Mom!” I yelped, my voice a little too loud. “You scared me!”
Perfectly put together as always in her sharp pencil skirt and that neutral–colored blouse she loved so much, she looked ready to grace the cover of a magazine or march into a boardroom. “Why are you so jumpy this morning?” she asked, suspicion lacing her tone. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sweeping over me like she was trying to read my mind.
“I’m not jumpy,” I said quickly, smoothing down the front of my t–shirt. “Just… startled, that’s all.”
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She tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “Humming a love song, daydreaming, and now acting all skittish–what’s going on with you?”
“Nothing!” I blurted, the heat rushing back to my cheeks. “Just… in a good mood, I guess.”
Her gaze lingered for a moment longer, and I held my breath, hoping she wouldn’t press further. “You’re glowing,” she said finally, her tone dripping with mocking bitterness. “Did you get a sperm facial?”
“What… What are you talking about?” I quickly grabbed a hairbrush off my dresser to give myself something to do.
She didn’t answer. Not right away. Instead, she crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe like she owned the place. Though not legally, but technically, I guess she did.
She scoffed. “Oh, don’t play dumb, Lucy. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“Mom!? I am not good with your dumb charades. Either say it clearly or stop disturbing me.”
She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. The sound felt louder than it should have, like the walls themselves were holding their breath to intensify the situation deliberately.
“Do you really think you can fool me?” she said, her voice low now, sharper. “Do you think I didn’t double–check where you were last night? How cozy were you at the door with Kaiden?”
The mention of his name sent a jolt through me, my voice cracking immediately on defense. “I wasn’t—”
“Oh, spare me,” she cut me off, rolling her eyes. “The way he kissed you right there in front of the door? Like a shameless little-” She stopped, tilting her head like she was savoring the moment. “Well, no wonder you both are attracted to each other. A playboy and a slut. The perfect couple. Next time, why don’t you bunk school and go to a brothel? That suits you more than West Sterlingo Sunset Point.”
Her words felt like a slap, heat rushing to my cheeks.
“It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, my voice tight.
She raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Oh, sweetie, it’s exactly what I think. Don’t insult my intelligence, okay?” She narrowed her brows, making a pity look. “You kids really think you’re so clever, don’t you? That I wouldn’t notice and you guys can easily fool me.”
I wanted to yell at her, to tell her that she had no right to interfere in my life like that, but the truth that she was right and she does have the right to interfere caught in my throat.
“I saw you,” she continued, stepping closer now. “You’re practically throwing yourself at him. Do you know how pathetic you look? Flirting with your stepbrother like some… shameless little-”
“Stop!” I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. “You don’t get to talk to me like that.”
Her eyes narrowed, the smirk disappearing. “Oh, I don’t? Let me remind you of something, Lucy. You are here because of
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Chapter 65
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A shrill voice jerked me back to reality.
I froze in my tracks, my heart leaping up into my throat as I swiveled around to see Mom standing in the doorway,
“Mom!” I yelped, my voice a little too loud. “You scared me!”
Perfectly put together as always in her sharp pencil skirt and that neutral–colored blouse she loved so much, she looked ready to grace the cover of a magazine or march into a boardroom. “Why are you so jumpy this morning?” she asked, suspicion lacing her tone. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sweeping over me like she was trying to read my mind.
“I’m not jumpy,” I said quickly, smoothing down the front of my t–shirt. “Just… startled, that’s all.”
She tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “Humming a love song, daydreaming, and now acting all skittish–what’s going on with you?”
“Nothing!” I blurted, the heat rushing back to my cheeks. “Just… in a good mood, I guess
Her gaze lingered for a moment longer, and I held my breath, hoping she wouldn’t press further. “You’re glowing,” she said finally, her tone dripping with mocking bitterness. “Did you get a sperm facial?”
“What… What are you talking about?” I quickly grabbed a hairbrush off my dresser to give myself something to do.
She didn’t answer. Not right away. Instead, she crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe like she owned the place. Though not legally, but technically, I guess she did.
She scoffed. “Oh, don’t play dumb, Lucy. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“Mom!? I am not good with your dumb charades. Either say it clearly or stop disturbing me.”
She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. The sound felt louder than it should have, like the walls themselves were holding their breath to intensify the situation deliberately.
“Do you really think you can fool me?” she said, her voice low now, sharper. “Do you think I didn’t double–check where you were last night? How cozy were you at the door with Kaiden?”
The mention of his name sent a jolt through me, my voice cracking immediately on defense. “I wasn’t—”
“Oh, spare me,” she cut me off, rolling her eyes. “The way he kissed you right there in front of the door? Like a shameless little-” She stopped, tilting her head like she was savoring the moment. “Well, no wonder you both are attracted to each other. A playboy and a slut. The perfect couple. Next time, why don’t you bunk school and go to a brothel? That suits you more than West Sterlingo Sunset Point.”
Her words felt like a slap, heat rushing to my cheeks.
“It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, my voice tight.
She raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Oh, sweetie, it’s exactly what I think. Don’t insult my intelligence, okay?” She narrowed her brows, making a pity look. “You kids really think you’re so clever, don’t you? That I wouldn’t notice and you guys can easily fool me.”
I wanted to yell at her, to tell her that she had no right to interfere in my life like that, but the truth that she was right and she does have the right to interfere caught in my throat.
“I saw you,” she continued, stepping closer now. “You’re practically throwing yourself at him. Do you know how pathetic you look? Flirting with your stepbrother like some… shameless little=”
“Stop!” I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. “You don’t get to talk to me like that.”
Her eyes narrowed, the smirk disappearing. “Oh, I don’t? Let me remind you of something, Lucy. You are here because of
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Chapter 65
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- me. Everything you have now? This house? This life? It’s because I made it happen. And I won’t let you ruin it with this… this disgusting little game you’re playing.”
“It’s not a ga-” I said, my voice trembling.
“Whatever it is,” she said, cutting me off again, “it ends now. Do you hear me? I won’t let you mess this up for me. Not after everything I’ve done to get us here.”
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm but failing on it painfully. I was tired of the fact that she had always made everything about her. It was always about her–her plans, her image, her life. But not now. Not anymore. “You can’t control me forever,” I said, my voice rebellious.
Her laugh was cold as she took out her phone and typed something on it. “Watch me.”
To be continued…
