Secret

“Shit,” I groaned, clutching my head as soon as I woke up. It felt like it was splitting apart from the pain. My vision was blurry, but I forced myself to scan the room.

What happened yesterday—Shit! Where am I?! The last thing I remember was that asshole Troy dragging me to God knows where—shit, did I get raped?!

Is this his room? Beige walls, rustic interior design… huh? Why does it look like my—room?

I quickly looked down at my clothes, my frown deepening—I was wearing my pajamas?

Am I going crazy? Was last night just a dream? No, that’s impossible. I was about to call Sue when someone knocked on my door.

“Shit, my head.”

“Laura, don’t you have class? It’s almost 7 AM,” Mom’s voice called out. She stood by the door, wearing an apron, her hair tied up in a bun, frowning slightly. No wonder—I’ve never overslept before. “You were so exhausted last night that you fell asleep while doing your research, or so Cole said. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, dear,” she added, making me freeze. “Get ready and come eat with us. I’ll be done cooking in 20 minutes.”

I couldn’t respond before she closed the door.

Shaking off the confusion, I took a quick shower and changed into my school uniform. My head still throbbed, and I felt dizzy, but I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs anyway. Even before I reached the dining area, I could already hear the clinking of utensils against plates.

“Oh, Laura,” Edward greeted me as I walked in. “Come eat. Your research must’ve been tough.” His voice sounded tired, but I couldn’t care less.

“Yup, it was really difficult, right, Laura?”

My jaw clenched at the most annoying voice in the room.

“Yeah, good thing Cole was there to bring you home. I was surprised you didn’t wake up, not even when he carried you to your room,” Mom added. I bit my lip in irritation and embarrassment. “She’s a light sleeper, Cole. That’s why I was surprised. She sleeps like a chicken—”

“Ma, stop,” I cut her off, taking a seat at the end of the table and digging into my fried rice and bacon. I was starving. “By the way, Ma, my driver’s license exam is scheduled for next week. Do you think you can finally get me the car I’ve been asking for since last year?” I asked between bites.

“Uh, about that, sweetheart…”

I looked up, my brows furrowing.

“We were planning to focus on the wedding first before the car—”

“Of course. I’m always last on your list,” I muttered bitterly, shoving the last spoonful of food into my mouth before standing up with my bag. “Forget it. Just pretend I never asked.”

“Laura—”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. I can commute. What am I in this family anyway? I almost forgot—I’m just the outsider now that you have a new family.”

“Laura, that’s enough! Don’t be disrespectful!” Mom snapped, her voice sharp with anger. But I felt worse.

I smirked. “Well, you should’ve thought of that the moment you told me you were getting a new husband.” My tone was cutting as I looked at the three of them before quickly walking out of the house. The moment I slammed the gate shut, the tears I had been holding back finally fell.

I glanced at my watch—it was almost nine-thirty. Good thing my first class wasn’t until noon. Since I couldn’t book a taxi, I decided to walk to the guardhouse instead—

“Hey, dear step-sis, hop in.”

I ignored the little devil behind the wheel and kept walking.

“Wow, so this is how you thank your stepbrother for helping you last night?”

I stopped in my tracks, throwing him a sharp glare. “The hell? What did you do to me?”

“I’ll tell you if you hop in,” he said with a smirk. I exhaled heavily and, with an annoyed huff, climbed into his car, “That’s what I thought,” he murmured, but I still heard it, “Seatbelt, please,” he added. I stayed silent and simply obeyed, “I’ll step on the gas.”

I closed my eyes, but for some reason, a memory suddenly flashed through my mind.

I tried to ignore my hangover, but it was still there. My mind was still hazy.

“Seriously?”

“Damn it, kiss me!”

“You’re going to regret this, Faye.”

“I need this. I need this.”

“That goddamn guy… Just to sleep with someone, he’d stoop this low?”

I clutched my temple, leaning against the car window. My head still felt heavy, and my thoughts were a mess. Did that really happen last night? The last thing I remembered was Troy dragging me somewhere, but after that… everything went blank.

I exhaled sharply and shook my head. No, it must’ve been a dream. There’s no way Cole—

I touched my lips. Shit, why do they feel warm? My mind flashed back to that hazy image—Cole hovering over me, his face too close, and then… No. No way.

“You sure you didn’t enjoy it?”

I snapped my head toward him, glaring. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Cole smirked, eyes still on the road, but amusement was clear in his expression. “Oh, come on, step-sis. You were clinging to me like a damn koala last night. I had to pry you off just to put you in bed.”

My jaw clenched. “Shut up.”

He chuckled. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember? Tsk, tsk. That hurts, Laura. I was a gentleman, you know.”

“Stop the car. I’m getting out.”

“Relax, I’m just messing with you.” He glanced at me, that stupid grin still on his face, obviously enjoying my reaction. “Besides, I don’t think my girlfriend would like it if I had any funny business with my dear step-sister.”

I blinked. “Girlfriend?”

“Yeah. She’s waiting for me at school.”

My fingers curled into fists on my lap. For some reason, that word—girlfriend—sent an uncomfortable weight to my chest. Not that I cared. Obviously.

“Why do you look so shocked?” Cole teased, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”

“As if,” I scoffed, looking away.

I heard him chuckle under his breath, but I ignored it. My mind was still trying to process everything—the weird tension last night, waking up in my own room, and now… this?

“Take care, Faye!”

I quickly walked away from his car, glancing toward the parking lot.

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I was barely able to adjust my bag properly when Sue suddenly appeared in front of me with an all-knowing smirk. This lunatic.

“Well, well, well… Look who finally made it home last night,” she teased, crossing her arms. “Care to share the juicy details?”

I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing to tell. I just went home.”

“Seriously?!” She looked disappointed. “I was looking for you! You just vanished, girl! And now you’re telling me nothing happened? Lame.”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but there’s no scandal for you to find out,” I replied, heading to my locker. Of course, she followed me.

“Ugh, you’re such a killjoy sometimes,” Sue groaned. “But next time, you’re not getting away! We’re hitting the club again this weekend—”

“I’m not coming,” I cut her off, putting my books inside my locker.

“What?!” Sue gasped like I just told her the world was ending. “Laura, girl, what’s wrong with you? Did something happen last night?!”

I had no intention of answering that, so I simply closed my locker and faced her. “I’m just not in the mood for your party life. Get over it.”

“Bullshit,” she scoffed. But before she could interrogate me further, the bell rang.

Thank God.

My classes ended early—an announcement suddenly came in that our last class was suspended due to an emergency faculty meeting. That was fine; I wasn’t in the mood to stay in school anyway. So instead of wasting time, I headed straight home.

As I stepped inside the house, everything was quiet. I was about to go straight to my room when I heard a low voice coming from Edward’s study.

I stopped. The door was slightly ajar.

And then I heard him.

“I miss you…”

My brows furrowed. His voice was soft—almost affectionate.

“Of course… Soon. I promise.”

A slow, uneasy feeling crept up my spine. Who was he talking to? I couldn’t hear the other person, but the way Edward spoke… it didn’t sound like business.

I took a step closer, my pulse quickening.

“Don’t worry… I’ll make time. You know I always do.”

I stepped back.

What. The. Hell?

I wanted to barge in. I wanted to confront him right then and there. But what would I even say? That I overheard him? That I was assuming things? Maybe—shit!

But something told me I wasn’t wrong.

Instead of confronting him, I turned around and quietly walked upstairs, each step heavier than the last. As soon as I entered my room, I shut the door and sank onto my bed, clenching my fists.

Edward. That bastard.