Chapter 4

Knox's patience was gone. He put his arm around me and turned, signaling the guards to lead the way.

As we passed Isla, I heard her whisper, "Eden, you are so pathetic."

My heart twisted.

So in their eyes, I only deserved pity.

I used to be envied by countless women.

They envied Knox's complete devotion to me. They envied how the women around him came and went, while I always stayed by his side.

But when they realized I didn't have the courage to say how I felt, only surviving by clinging to the title of his adopted sister, their envy turned to sympathy, and even contempt.

One of his ex-girlfriends once said, "At least I had the guts to take my clothes off and climb into his bed. You don't even have the courage to take that first step."

When it comes to feelings, the longer you hide them, the stronger they get.

A secret kept carefully hidden would spill over at the slightest touch, and you could never take it back.

It was like a loaded gun. The longer you waited to pull the trigger, the deadlier the recoil.

I realized this couldn't go on.

Today Isla saw right through me. Who could guarantee that next time, Knox wouldn't find out himself?

My nails dug into my palms as I forced myself to face reality. No more lying to myself.

On the way back, the car was tense. Knox sat next to me and tried to talk, but I ignored him.

After a while, I gathered my courage. "People are talking about us. Why don't you ever clear things up?"

Knox raised an eyebrow, thinking the question was stupid.

I tried to reason with him. "You tell people you don't want relationships with women so they'll back off."

I took a breath.

"And yet you act so close to me. Anyone would think I'm your girlfriend. Other families will just think you made up an excuse, and the women who want you will still hold onto their fantasies."

Knox leaned against the car window, his tone casual. "I don't give a damn what those idiots think. Besides."

"I want everyone to know that you're mine to protect. If anyone dares to touch you, I'll kill them. With this bond between us, if those women still don't back off, tossing them out is the right thing to do."

His possessive declaration made my heart skip a beat. His tone was so serious, as if I truly was already his.

I pushed those thoughts away, took a deep breath, and looked at him.

"That does save a lot of trouble. But Knox, acting like this is going to ruin my chances of finding a husband."

Knox stopped swirling his whiskey. The ice cubes hit the glass with a sharp clink. "You want to find a husband?"

Because of my casual remark, Knox turned into a paranoid, controlling monster.