Chapter 4

Stefan's POV 

I watched the light die in Daphne’s eyes. Her hopeful smile didn't just fade; it collapsed, leaving her expression fragile and vacant. I held my own faint smile rigid, focusing on maintaining composure.

"Oh, okay," she managed, her voice a thin thread.

"I will always be your big brother, and you have nothing to worry about," I insisted, forcing a finality into the words. "What did you want to tell me?" I hoped the sound of my heartbeat wasn't audible.

"Hmph... It’s nothing, I just wanted to see you. Now that I have, I should get going." She offered a flimsy wave and turned. The click of the latch as the door secured was the loudest sound in the room. I sucked in a ragged breath and immediately gripped my chest.

The last thing I needed was to see her today.

I dragged both hands through my hair, pulling the strands back hard enough to sting. What the hell was I thinking? The memory of the kiss, mint and desperate heat, slammed into me. I wanted to blame the alcohol, but the guilt was a sober, acidic churning in my stomach. Kissing my fiancée’s sister wasn't just a mistake; it was a cataclysmic betrayal.

I hadn't just acknowledged the crush Daphne had nursed for years—I had fueled it, confirmed it, given it undeniable life. I’d seen the fever in her wide, seeking eyes. I knew what she wanted. I knew what she was about to say. And I let myself fall for it.

"Fuck!" I didn't yell, but the word tore from my throat, loud in the silence.

I have to tell Bella. The thought was a stone in my stomach. The kiss meant nothing—a moment of weakness—but if I hid it, the secret would spiral, destroying everything. Bella needed to know now, so I could finally be free from this guilt. I snatched my phone and texted her, suggesting a quiet café meet-up to confess what I had done. Her short reply confirmed thirty minutes. I dressed and drove instantly. I ordered two club sandwiches, their favorite, and checked my watch. She was a minute late.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” her voice sliced through my anxiety before I could prepare myself.

I turned toward her, blinking in surprise. She looked nothing like herself. Large sunglasses hid half her face, and a scarf wrapped tightly around her hair as if she had something to run from. “Why the disguise?” I asked, trying to sound amused, even though confusion pressed at my chest.

“It’s Mom. You know how she is.” Bella lowered herself into the seat with a slow, tired movement, sinking into it like someone who hadn’t slept in days. Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a soft breath before continuing. “She’s still mad we partied last night. She said we acted like children who had no home training.” Bella paused, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “She would be damned if she knew I slipped out again to see you.”

I stared at her, trying to understand the weight she carried.

“Now that we’re engaged,” she went on, her voice dropping, “she believes we shouldn’t be seen together until the wedding. Something about tradition… appearances… whatever she keeps saying.” Bella sighed, long and heavy, the kind of sigh that came from being exhausted in every way—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you out here."

"Don't worry," she said, managing a tired smile. "I can handle her." She leaned forward. "So what's so important?"

The question brought the nerves and anxiety back, crashing over me all at once. My throat tightened. How do I even start?

"Bella, I..."

A notification chimed from her phone, interrupting me. "One second."

I watched her tap a quick response, then she dropped the phone onto the table with a discouraged gesture. "What's the matter?"

"It’s Mom again. She found out Daphne skipped school and she’s furious." Bella ran a hand over her concealed hair. "You know, ever since Dad died, Mom and Daphne’s relationship has been so strained. Now that I’m leaving, I can’t help but worry how it will be without me. I really hope Daphne can find someone, maybe even get married so she can move out, too. But that'll be hard; she once told me she could never fall in love with anyone if it wasn't her imaginary crush." She gave a light, amused shake of her head.

I swallowed a hard knot of panic. Imaginary crush.

"I’m getting off track," she said. "What did you want to tell me?"

The memory of the kiss, the confession, and the truth shriveled up inside me. I couldn't shatter her fragile hope for her sister, not when she was already so worn down.

"I... I have someone who might be interested in Daphne," I stammered, the words appearing out of thin air.

Bella snatched the sunglasses off her face. "Seriously?" Her surprise was genuine.

"Yes. That's why I called you. You're her sister; I wanted to know what you think." I managed a faint, desperate smile.

"This is wonderful, Stefan! I am totally in for this. Maybe he will finally make Daphne soften her heart." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'm so happy." She eagerly grabbed a sandwich.

I watched her eat, the lie cold and solidifying in the space where guilt had been. I hadn't solved anything; I had just traded one problem for a much bigger, orchestrated lie. My only immediate thought was who I could drag into this mess.

Adrian.