Chapter 5

When I woke up, it was a new day. The sun had risen and sun rays seeped in through the blinds. Although it was a bright day, the day was long gone.

I ran my hand over my hair flipping it away from my face. I was still in the shorts and top I wore the previous day and I stank. 

Wait. When and how did I get in from the rooftop? 

Hazy images of me stumbling down the stairs and slumping on the sofa flashed into my head. I grunted as memories of the previous day came back to me, rushing like a flood.

I remembered Brian and Sammy’s betrayal and my heart swelled in pain. But I shrugged it off instantly. It was my reality now and I had to live with it. 

I dragged myself into the bathroom. I had to prepare for the day.

I had barely dressed up when I heard a knock on my door. 

“A minute,” I yelled and rushed to get the door.

When I opened up, I froze on the spot. Brian was standing by the door, looking sober.

“What audacity!? How dare you show up in front of me!” I gnashed my teeth and pulled the door shut, but his next words stopped me.

“Take this cheque of five hundred thousand dollars and let's bury the hatchet.”

“What!?” My lips suddenly went dry and my eyes burned like an inferno.

“What did you take me for? You have definitely lost your mind! Get the fuck out of here!” I stuck out my hand to push him away but he ducked to the side and snatched my hand.

“Selin…. I am sorry…”

I drew my hands from his iron-like grip and turned inside but his words stopped me again.

“I am sorry… and I am not sorry,” he yelled.

What the heck! You are definitely beyond salvation! Leave, Brian! I…”

“Yes! I am despicable!” He cut in. “...But not as despicable as the members of your family!”

“Don't you go there!”

“Listen, Selin… I didn't love you from the onset, they set me up to seduce you…”

“What are you talking about? Who…”

“Your stepmother wanted you out. She hired me to make you fall in love with me and…”

“What?” I shifted uneasily on my feet.

“Yes. Your stepmom wanted Max, her son, to take over from your father. They wanted you out and your father made it easier for them when he threw you away.”

“What? My eyes widened

“I am sorry, Seline But it's the truth… I played along because of the juicy reward… I didn't know you would eventually fall and what we had would come to mean a lot to you… please accept the check and let the past be bygone…

“Stop! Stop!! Brian!!!” I yelled and marched around in circles. 

“Wait. What about the rabid dog accident, the one you saved me from?” 

“It was all set up. Max came up with it. He said you hated pets… a rabid dog was also his idea.”

“Gosh! So you set me up with a rabid dog and pretended to save me!”

“I am sorry… Take this…” Brian insisted and held the check-up.

Furiously, I snatched it out of his hands and threw it at his face.

“Get lost! You bastard.”

He snatched it up in the air and began to walk away.

“I will make you pay for toying with me. You and everyone.” 

A faint smirk spread across Brian's face as he walked away.

I pressed against the door and crashed on the floor.

Like a fool, I was played! Who could have believed Max and his mother put Brian up to seduce me? And that bastard also played along!

I paced the room back and forth, clenching and unclenching my fists. Sweat dripped from every hole in my body and I sobbed.

I thought I had escaped the caprices of my stepmother. I thought I had defended myself well enough against my stepbrother. I thought I had it all, love and peace of mind but it turned out that I was just a victim of circumstance, cycling around the edges of a bottomless pit.

No, I won't go down this way! I will bounce back! Those scoundrels want to take over my father's company! No way! I won't allow them!

There was no child between the old hag and my father. She must have had a perfect plan before she married my father!

I am going to sabotage their plans and make everyone pay for toiling with my heart.

First, I will return home like the prodigal son.