Chapter 5

I curled up under the covers, tossing and turning as tears soaked my pillow. Every time I closed my eyes, those cruel words replayed in my mind like a recurring nightmare.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning, just as I was drifting into a hazy sleep, that a cold body pressed against mine.

"You left your phone in the private room. Why didn't you borrow someone's to message me? I was worried sick when you didn't pick up."

I snapped awake, struggling to break free from his hold. "I was just exhausted when I got home. I forgot."

Kieran locked his arms around my waist, pinning me in place. "Esty, I've been worrying about you all night, yet here you are, sleeping like a baby. Didn't we agree you'd wait up to give me my gift? Where is it?"

The image of the carefully wrapped box hidden in my drawer flashed through my mind, and my eyes stung again. "I lost it."

Kieran didn't press the issue. Instead, he nipped at my ear, his hot breath trailing down my neck. "It's fine. You're the only gift I need. I just want you to always be with me."

Sensing what was coming, I bit down hard on the webbing of his hand. He let out a low groan of pain and reflexively let go.

I scrambled to put some distance between us and muttered, "I'm not feeling well tonight."

As long as I was still living under the Brocks' roof, I couldn't afford a total fallout.

Frowning, Kieran stared at me through the darkness for a long time. In the end, he sighed and pulled me back into his chest. "Fine. I won't touch you. Just sleep."

Maybe the birthday party had drained him because his breathing soon became rhythmic.

Then, his phone on the nightstand vibrated. Somehow, almost on instinct, I unlocked it and tapped on a notification.

It was a group chat.

Photos were flooding in, one after another, all featuring the same pair—Kieran and a young woman who looked polished and elegant from head to toe.

My heart skipped a beat.

This had to be Vivian Fowler, the woman he intended to marry.

In one photo, Kieran had his arm around her waist while they shared a deep kiss under a sky full of fireworks.

The messages kept scrolling by.

"Kieran really is head over heels for Vivian. It's his birthday, yet he spent it putting on a fireworks show for her."

"You don't get it. That's what you call effort. His stepsister definitely doesn't get that treatment. She's just for blowing off steam. LOL."

"Good thing she left early. It would've been awkward if she bumped into Vivian."

"Who cares? They're getting married on April 8th anyway. That's two weeks away. Even if she found out today, the revenge would be just as sweet."

Kieran claimed to have been worried sick, but he was actually setting off fireworks for his fiancee.

It felt like my heart had been sliced open, bleeding out in the dark.

I wiped my tears, carefully climbed over the sleeping Kieran, and grabbed my phone. The moment the screen lit up, a missed call notification popped up. It was from Kieran.

I choked back a sob and deleted the log. Then, I opened my email. I stared at the draft I had written days ago but never had the courage to send.

I deleted it, letter by letter, and typed a new one.

"Hi, I'm pleased to accept the dance troupe's invitation to perform abroad. I will be departing on…"

I paused, glancing back at Kieran's phone before finishing the sentence.

"I will be departing on April 8th."