Chapter 1

“ Let's break up. You are not the one for me.” The words felt like a hot slap,the weight of them landing on me, crashing my heart into a thousand tiny pieces.

 I stared at Ryan,my boyfriend of two years with whom we had finally agreed to get engaged,ready to tie the knot.

 “ What?” I chuckled nervously, hoping and praying that he would burst out laughing and tell me that he was only pranking me. But the serious look on Ryan's face told me that this was not the joke I was hoping it was.

 “ You heard me Pearl! I don't want this anymore. I don't think I can push through when I don't even love you.”

 If the first batch of his words was harsh,I don't know what to call this. After dating for two years and getting my hopes up,what did he mean by he didn’t love me? Was this some kind of a joke or something?

 Was everything a lie? 

 “ Ryan—” I called,my voice breaking.

 “ Don't give me that expression,Pearl. I agreed to date you because I thought it was fun to have someone who loves me. But now, I'm tired. I am in love with someone else and I plan to make things official with her.” 

 My heart trembled and I curled my hands into fists. So this is what everything was about? He was here for some fucking experience, bask in free love while finding his true love? Technically speaking,I was dating myself, fooling myself into thinking that what we had was long-lasting? That it was beautiful and perfect?

 My tears threatened to spill but I pushed them back,met his gaze with a weak smile.

 “ Alright. Good luck.” I said, stood up, turned around and walked away.

 Today was supposed to be perfect. Ryan had called me earlier to meet him at our usual cafe. I dressed up for that damn meeting but now, walking away in my heels,I could not help but mock myself.

 Two fucking years! I gave two years of my life to an asshole who didn't deserve it? Everyone around me said that Ryan was not the right man for me. Only I insisted that he was a good man because apparently, I loved him. 

 Anyone who dared badmouth him ended up getting sidelined with me. 

 As I walked down the familiar pathway we would walk, holding hands and sharing icecream, a mocking smile curled on my lips. 

 I thought I had it all, a perfect boyfriend, a happy relationship away from the chaos called my home. 

 Two years ago, I left New York, my homeplace and ventured to a new city. 

 I had a simple dream, to live a simple life and find love, probably get married and start a family. 

 I don't hate New York, I just didn't like how chaotic life was there. Always living on the edge, chasing that adrenaline every day? 

 That's a life I was never cut for. After college, I chose to relocate. My father, Flinn was against it but eventually, he agreed. 

 Escaping chaos was one thing, maybe the excuse I used to get away because the real chaos came in the name of Zander, my asshole stepbrother. 

 He was everything I loathed yet couldn't keep my panties dry around. He was the type of man I could never commit to yet looking at him, he was the perfect object of my darkest imaginations. 

 His half assed grin, like he could see through me, through every dark and sinful thought I could never admit out loud never ceased to piss me off. I never concealed how I disliked him yet every time he looked at me, I could swear he saw it, that tingling desire to be held in his arms and punished like his little whore. 

 Coming here helped me keep my mind and lust off him. Then I met Ryan–sweet, charming and handsome of course. 

 I set my eyes on him and didn't bother being subtle about my interest in him. 

 Months later, we got together. Everything was going perfect, well, until that damn meeting happened. 

 After dragging my feet across the streets for what felt like forever, I stood before my small apartment. I fumbled for my keys and unlocked the door, kicking the heels immediately I stepped inside. 

 I pushed myself forward, my body and mind screaming for a good afternoon nap. You see, one thing I mastered after being my father's daughter is that tears don't look demure on a beautiful face like me. 

 I have seen and been through so much to cry over an asshole who thinks I am not enough. 

 If Ryan needed that satisfaction when he announced our breakup,then he will have to wait for his next target. 

 “ You look like a mess.” A deep familiar voice sounded from across the room. My eyes scanned the area until they landed on him. 

 Zander fucking Johnston, my stepbrother. 

 A groan left my lips involuntarily. 

 “ What the hell are you doing here? This is my house.” I snarled, a scorching glare fixed on his face. 

 He grinned, that all too familiar annoying but panty dropping, heartbreaking, smile that I know so well. 

 “ It's our house, technically. Our father owns it.” He fired back. 

 “ He is my father, not yours.” I snarled. After being raised by my dad all my life, sharing his affection with someone else, a grown ass man at that never felt right. 

 Exactly four years ago, my father brought home a wife and guess who else, Zander. 

 He shrugged, seemingly unbothered by my words. 

 “ I am still waiting for a fucking answer. I made myself clear that I didn't want anything to do with New York so why come here?” I snapped, my annoyance bubbling again. 

 “ You need to come back home.” Zander announced, his expressions suddenly turning grim. 

 For a moment,

I am stunned but I manage to recover, ready to lash out. 

 “ Dad needs you to send him off. He is no more.”