Chapter 15

Evelyn

I shove Sebastian away from me with all my strength, absolutely furious with him. Why do I constantly let myself get caught up in his schemes? He’s such a menace.

“You are the worst, Sebastian Cain! I hate you!”

He shakes his head but doesn’t argue with me. Instead, he actually laughs.

What’s to laugh about? I roll my eyes, wishing I could smack him upside te head.

“Let me go check to see if William has left, okay? Then you can sneak on out of here and back to your dorm.”

I stick my tongue out at him for his pathetic jokes. As he goes out the door, he pauses before it can close, looking back at me.

“Don’t worry, Princess. As long as you keep your promise, the recording stays between you and me. And if you don’t? Well, it’ll be up to social media to determine your embarrassment.”

This time, I grab his pillow off the bed and chuck it at him, letting out a frustrated groan when I miss. Why does he do this to me? He knows how important it is for us to stay siblings, yet here he is, making me hate him and destroy my own life!

As I find my clothing and shoes spread around the room, I get a message on my phone. The vibration makes me jump, but I grab it and read the message.

Lucas is here! Oh God, how could I have forgotten about this? Fuck!

“Hey, I just arrived. I hope I can see you soon. I want to talk.”

Talk? What the hell do we possibly have to talk about? Isn’t this the same man that I caught cheating on me just a few weeks before?

After I’m dressed and doing everything to fix my wild curls, Sebastian walks back in, telling me William is gone.

I quickly show him the message from my ex. “We need to get back home today.”

“Okay.” Why does he not care about this? Aren’t they buddies? And even then, why does he look bored? “Just get ready; I’ll give you a ride back home.”

I do as he says, and we run back to my dorm to grab a few things I need. Olivia is passed out in her bed, so I quietly move around her before leaving her a note to let her know I’m okay, and I’ll be back soon.

Once we arrive back at Gregory and Mom’s house, Lucas is the first person to come outside and greet us. He smiles at me, a sight that used to make my knees buckle.

Now I just stare straight at him.

Is it so unbelievable to think I no longer care about him?

No. I don’t think so.

As soon as Sebastian rounds the car, I watch Lucas’ expression change rapidly.

“What’s going on?” he asks, anxiety climbing up his features.

Since when the hell does he care about anything like that? The last time I spoke to Lucas, he called me crazy to another woman he was with.

“We’re stepsiblings. Found out a few weeks ago.”

Sebastian snorts loudly, pushing past the both of us. He knocks Lucas in the shoulder as he goes inside, slamming the front door closed.

Okay, fine, I’m lying to him. But who cares? When was the last time Lucas was honest with me?

Thankfully, Lucas seems to be shocked by this news. “Oh! I thought you were dating him!” He lets out a laugh, but I don’t change my demeanor.

“Nope. Not dating,” I say cooly.

“You’re serious, though? Like, you’re going to be stepsiblings with Sebastian Cain?”

I’m not lying about that, but why does he question me like I’m playing a prank?

“Uh, yeah. I really am.”

“Wow! So, you and Madelyn get to be part of the incredibly wealthy family line. That’s great, Evelyn.”

“Thanks,” I deadpan. What is he on about? Like, I’m glad he believes me, but what is he doing here when we’re not even together anymore?

“Listen,” he starts, but I decide I’m done listening to his bullshit.

“Lucas, we’re broken up. What are you even doing here?” I’m cold towards him, but it feels exactly the way it should: good. “I want you to leave after the wedding. There’s no reason to be here.”

“That’s why I’m here. Listen, we both made mistakes; I think that’s pretty obvious. So, I’ve come to give us another chance.”

Now it’s my turn to let out an incredibly loud laugh. Is he serious? Does he really think that’s how this is going to work?

“What? Why is that funny?” He questions, crossing his arms.

“Lucas, the last thing I want right now is to have you back in my life. I don’t give a shit about you. You cheated on me while I was at the same party as you and then pretended I was some crazy chick.”

He sighs. “Like I said. I made mistakes. I ended things with that other girl. You’re the one I want to be with, Eve.”

I shudder at the nickname only my mother can say. Lucas used to.

But he’s nothing to me now. And that alone feels extraordinarily powerful.

“No. You don’t get to be with me or call me that. We’re done. Leave after the wedding tomorrow and never, ever come back.”

I spend the rest of the day avoiding dealing with Lucas or my mother. I still haven’t had a chance to tell her why inviting the cheating scumbag was doing more harm than good.

Then again, I don’t want to ruin her wedding.

I sneak down the hall to Sebastian’s once it’s nighttime, and knock lightly before I enter, close the door, and lock the damn thing.

Sebastian stands up from his bed, curious but clearly enthralled by my appearance in his room.

“Look, Lucas believes that we’re siblings. Just siblings. I need you to help me keep up the act until he’s on a flight back to Hawaii.”

I know pleading with him will give my stepbrother some amusement over my stress from the current situation.

But he doesn’t answer. Instead, he quickly descends on me, pressing me against the wall next to the door. “Oh yeah? Like this kind of sibling?”

He brings his lips in close to mine, and I know he’s laughing at my heavy breathing. I let my eyes travel down his face, trying to guess the racer’s next move.

And then, Lucas’s voice comes from outside the door.

“You always seem to bring people to my room, Princess.”

I glare hard up at him. “I do not!” I whisper. “Just, get rid of him!”

“Lucas won’t leave until he sees me. He might be a douchebag, but I don’t expect his habits to die hard.”

So, instead of doing as I ask, Sebastian walks over to his walk-in closet and opens the door. “Well, get in, my dear sister.”

Exasperated, I groan as I merely whisper to him. “Again?”\