Chapter 8

ROWAN:

For thirteen fucking years, I had watched Nelly live in my father's house and grow into a charming, chubby young woman.

She wasn't entirely my type, but she was undeniably attractive.

The thought of other men wooing her made my chest tighten.

I wasn't supposed to devote myself to loving anyone. But Nelly showing up in my life made it difficult.

I knew the fụcking rules. In Suncrest, it was forbidden to date your stepsiblings or even marry them. But how could I deny this fact?

I hated Nelly from the onset. She was too innocent, too gullible, and I craved to break her. I desired to ruin her. To make her submit to me. But would I be willing to spend six years in jail if the news got out that I was fụcking my stepsister?

Dammit!

My fist clenched so hard that my nails dug into my palms as I perched on the rear seat of her black car.

Her lemon scent filled the air inside the car, making me sweat as my trousers tightened at the mere thought of what I could do to her.

My mind replayed all the activities. First, watching Dave stroll away from Nelly's car. What had he gone there to do?

"Nelly," I interrupted her as she focused her gaze on the road, driving at a steady pace towards my father's house.

Despite the storm brewing, with dark clouds and wind swirling dust around, Nelly maintained a calm driving pace, unlike the other cars driving past us.

"Mmm," she muttered without glancing back at me.

"What was Dave asking you about in your car?" I asked, watching her as the dim streetlight seeped through the windscreen and reflected on her pretty face.

Her cheeks flushed, but she replied, "Nothing."

"You don't have to lie to me," I retorted, keeping my voice calm. But the alcohol I'd drunk made me lose control as rage took over me.

"I'm not lying. It's nothing important," Nelly replied stiffly, and I knew we didn't get along.

Was Dave troubling Nelly? I had received the report that Nelly and Elena weren't close. So, what could Dave be discussing with Nelly? The thought of him getting close to her made my breathing ragged.

"You should stay away from Dave. He's not trustworthy around women. And once Elena and I get married, he'll be family. You know the rules," I started to explain.

Though the words felt bitter in my mouth, and my tongue tasted awful, I couldn't help but try to separate Dave from Nelly. What if he was trying to date her behind my back?

Dave was a creep, even though he was my best friend. I had caught him staring at Nelly lustfully, but I couldn't deny that she looked tempting tonight in her black dress.

Nelly's expression darkened, but she didn't say a word. I took that as a yes, that she had accepted my request, and I felt the weight in my chest lift slightly.

"About Pablo," I began, struggling to keep my eyelids open as sleep enveloped me. "You should keep away from him too. He's not the type to commit to a woman. He sweet-talks her and, in the end, breaks up with her after sex. I'm sure you don't want that type of guy."

Nelly didn't say anything, and I felt she would heed my warning. There was no point in pressuring her to follow it. Besides, she would be interning at one of my companies. That way, I could keep a close watch on her and ensure that she didn't get ruined by either of my friends.

Nelly drove towards the estate where my father's mansion was situated, while I fell asleep, snoring peacefully in her car.

The guilt I'd carried for years made me feel weaker. I shouldn't have kept Nelly at a distance. I should have been more open to her, but I couldn't be a soft-hearted man. That was weakness, and I knew it.

Once the car came to a stop, I felt the engine shut off as the rain started falling slowly.

Nelly parked the car and turned to me.

Though my eyelids felt heavy, as if I were floating in the air, I remained alert in case we came under attack.

I could feel Nelly's intense gaze on me. 'Was she checking me out or what?' I tried to open my eyes and met her light brown ones. But sleep pressed down hard on me.

I couldn't move a muscle, so I waited for her to snap me out of my slumber.

---

NELLY:

My ears burned as I heard Rowan's deep voice warning me to keep away from Dave and Pablo.

Wasn't it Rowan's plan after all? I'd thought he was aware that his friends were after me. But hearing him state that he didn't trust them and that I shouldn't give them a chance made me anxious.

Why was Rowan caring for me? I thought he hated me. That he didn't want to be my older brother? Why should he concern himself with whether his friends broke me? Was he trying to clear the doubt in my mind that he didn't despise me and hadn't sent them to ask me out on the same day?

While Dave was an asshole and only after my virginity, Pablo, on the other hand, was a sweet talker and seemed like he wanted a true relationship. But could I trust him?

I slowly parked my car and breathed out heavily as I turned to stare at Rowan's face. He had fallen asleep. My eyes took in his handsome features. He was strikingly handsome, and I knew that this was the only good time I'd get to admire a handsome man like him.

My gaze settled on his lips, and I felt an intense pull to steal a kiss from him. But what if he found out? I would be thrown in jail. I knew the law. Forbidden relationships weren't allowed.

The previous year, the country's president, Nathan, had passed a stern law because the number of forbidden relationships had risen considerably. He prohibited any stepsiblings from getting married.

However, Rowan didn't fancy me, and I wasn't ready to risk it all and go to jail.

Six years of my life was too much to waste.

Coughing slightly, I tried to wake Rowan. 'What should I call him?' I pondered.

His name felt heavy on my tongue. He had warned me never to call him brother. We rarely spoke, and he would rather send a maid to me than come and speak to me directly.

"Brother... I mean, Rowan," I gently moved to tap his thigh. The firmness of his thigh made me pause as heat crept up my cheeks.

'Get it together, Nelly. What the heck are you doing?' I scolded myself, unable to believe I was sizing up Rowan's crotch. What if he caught me? Since when had I become a pervert?

Seeing that Rowan was asleep, I quickly withdrew my hand from his thigh and pulled my side door open.

I jumped out of the car and turned to call one of the security guards to help me get Rowan out of my car and take him to his room on the top floor.

However, before I could even summon a guard, my mother's sharp voice captured my attention. She stood on the upstairs balcony in a silk white nightdress and called out to me.

"Nelly, you're back. How about Rowan?"