The Stepbrother

Sylvia made no effort to engage in the conversation nor did they take the initiative to include her. Her mother did the talking for the most part while Liam gave occasional responses.

Concentrating on her pasta, Sylvia assessed the man, really feeling Lydia got involved with someone noteworthy this time. Earlier, she had seen the prices at this restaurant, and to call them astronomical would be an understatement.

The plate of pasta in front of her cost more than two months worth of her monthly expenses, and that was one of the cheapest dish on the menu. Neither the taste nor the quantity was worth the price in Sylvia’s opinion.

She could totally whip up something better!

The high class society was something she very much felt separated from, and she felt angry at her mother for getting with such a man. Couldn’t she have chosen someone normal?

Sylvia’s inner thoughts were put on a pause when the door was slammed open, and she turned her head towards the noise. Her breath was stuck due to the hunk.

His black hair was styled messily, and the smell of tobacco followed him. He had a chiseled jaw, and his cheekbones were prominent. Those fierce blue eyes of his made her almost shudder.

His posture was casual yet charming. From what she could make out, he was muscular as well and stood tall at the height of over six foot. The veiny hands of his drew her attention before she moved on to admire the tattoos that peeked out of his garment on his chest.

Her cheeks heated up as all sorts of inappropriate thoughts filled her mind. That’s when, his eyes had met hers, and feeling electrified all over her being, she blinked her eyes before concentrating on her pasta. She hope she was as natural as possible.

But her rapidly beating heart and her thoughts constantly wanting to take another glance at this handsome man didn’t help her calm down.

“You are late,” Liam commented— his tone holding enough coldness to rival that of North Pole’s.

“Whatever.” He rolled his eyes before going to his seat.

His husky voice felt equally tantalizing to her.

Being opposite to her, Sylvia could very much feel his scorching stare on her. Coping with the newfound attraction, she didn’t have the courage to meet her eyes with his. However, she had a strong feeling he didn’t appreciate both hers and her mother’s presence here.

Well, she could see where his sentiments came from.

“The marriage will happen on fifth of this month,” Liam announced.

The suddenness of the news got Sylvia choking, and she stared at her mother with shocked eyes. How come she has never heard of any marriage? Moreover, they have barely been together for two to three weeks. Why are there talks of marriage so soon?

One should know that even though her mother had been in countless relationships, she never approached the topic of marriage with them. Probably because the position of husband was sacred to her.

“Marriage?” Sylvia softly questioned her mother, hoping she could clarify the matter.

But before Sylvia could receive a reply, her glass was thrown across the floor, breaking and creating large noise in the presence. Sylvia flinched and stared at enraged teenager.

His hand, clenched into a tight fist, punched against the table, and his eyes were red with anger as he spat out, “I will not allow the whore or the baggage with her at my house.”

Sylvia frowned. Albeit this wasn’t the first time she heard such words, it didn’t change how unpleasant they felt.

“Mind your manners,” Liam commanded.

The atmosphere got drastically thick, and the ferocity was vivid in both of their eyes, making the resemblance uncanny. Sylvia felt as though he was very close to assaulting Liam before he stepped out with heavy footsteps, harshly shutting the door behind her.

°°°

“How could you not tell me you’re getting married? And that too within a week?” The dissatisfaction was clear as day on Sylvia’s face while she questioned Lydia.

Lydia entered the password to their apartment and unlocked it. Sylvia followed after her into their home when Lydia voiced out, “Well, I wanted to give you a surprise.”

“You sure as well did. But how did you manage to snag up a man like him? He is way beyond your league. Did you blackmail him or what?” Sylvia was genuinely curious.

Lydia looked at her daughter with a frown and flicked on her forehead before saying, “What do you by blackmail? We fell in love and found each other to be compatible.”

Sylvia rolled her eyes.

“Just don’t get tricked into anything crazy. You aren’t that smart.”

With that, Sylvia walked over to her room. Although Sylvia knew she deserved a better mother, at the end, the fact that Lydia gave birth to her wouldn’t change. That’s why, she wanted Lydia to not get lonely when Sylvia left.

She hoped this marriage would go well for Lydia.