Family Meeting.

Richard's Pov

I looked dead straight into her eyes, she was fuming and I had to choose my words carefully.

“Did you just say Knight? What has he been telling you?” I asked, pinning her to the wall.

“Leave me alone. You don't deserve to know anything. You should answer my question first.” She exhaled, struggling to get out of my grip.

I knew I had to keep the truth from her. I sighed, releasing her.

“Fine. I knew my dad was going to get married. But I couldn't actually guess that it was your mum. You shouldn't blame everything on me.” I said, pocketing my hands.

“Yeah, I shouldn't.”

She tried to walk away, I held her hands and pulled her into my arms.

If I hadn't made sure my plan went well, dad would have probably found out about everything. No one should know nothing. Not Sia, not my father or that motherfucker.

Knight probably said something to piss her off. I had no intention of messing things up, I just wanted to give my little pet a taste of something she was clearly craving.

“You can't change anything now, Sia. Nothing can change. Can we just move on?”

“You knew and you kissed me. Is that how you bag other girls in college? I'm not one of them, Richard, I'm not.”

Damnit! She's so graceful.

“Listen, you want to walk out there and denounce what we have going on, which you clearly are trying so hard to deny… fine! Do it. It wouldn't be my problem anymore if everyone keeps sucking at you. Jesus, Sia. God knows what Knight has been telling you, and you? You just want to ruin it all.”

“You could have said something earlier about our parents getting married.” She countered, her voice low.

“I don't know how to convince him to not marry the woman he chose to stay with for two weeks even at the expense of missing his son's birthday. It was never my choice to make.”

“Well, good thing you know that it all can not work out. We have to choose one.”

“Which is?” I asked, keeping my cool knowing the urge to hold her in my arms was a cup filled.

“Stay step siblings and stop the damn news of me dating a Smithfield brother. Now I can't even have a perfect life.”

“So… does that mean we’re going to be step-siblings?” I asked, feigning surprise.

She exhaled like it pained her. “Yeah. Which means we have to reannounce that we broke up.”

“We can’t do that,” I replied quickly. “Not until I figure out who leaked those pictures. If we suddenly announce a break up and they find out we’re step-siblings, it’s going to blow up worse.”

She blinked, clearly exhausted. I could see the frustration in her shoulders, the way her breathing slowed like she was trying to keep herself together.

“Fine,” she muttered. “If we’re going to fake date, there have to be rules.”

I raised a brow. “Rules?”

She looked me straight in the eye. “Yes. Rules. Like no sudden kisses. No touching. No weird staring like you’re doing now.”

I smirked. “That’s a rule?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “No feelings, no games. We’re step-siblings now. The kiss never happened and it won't happen again.”

“I can’t,” I said.

She froze. “What?”

“I can’t forget the kiss,” I repeated, quieter this time.

She looked away, jaw tight. “You better forget about it, Richard. Before everything gets more complicated than it already is.”

“I’ll try.” I smiled, a sinister idea roaming my thoughts.

I didn’t plan on forgetting any of it. There was one more thing to do, teach a worthless being a lesson.

“I have rules too.” I began. “You attend every hockey game and cheer for me, not for Knight.”

“What?” She exclaimed.

“I'm dead serious. You'll move in soon anyway, you'll get used to having me around. And because of that, no private conversations with Knight.” I added.

“You're ridiculous.” She said and adjusted her dress.

Sooner or later, she'd be in my arms removing those dresses. Taking it easy on her was never the plan from the start, but I had to. I couldn't risk her slipping out of my hands on my watch.

We walked back to class holding hands. She tried to act like it was normal, but her hand twitched in mine like her body wasn’t on board with her brain.

Knight stared at us the moment we got in, the whole class started murmuring. I gave Sia a bright smile and everyone else minded their business. Except Knight, of course.

After class, the driver showed up, standing by the sleek black SUV like always.

Knight got into the car, I took one more glance at Sia, passing a blow kiss.

“Mr. Smithfield said I should come along with Miss Sia,” he said.

I glanced at her. “Well, well. Looks like you're riding with us.”

“I'm not supposed to move in yet.” She protested.

“He said I should make sure you come with us.” The driver insisted.

She rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath, but she came along.

The ride home was quiet. She stared out the window. I stared at her and thought about one thing I had tried so hard to keep.

I had one more thing to do—Kill Chris. It had to be more convincing that someone went missing. No one messes with my girl and gets away with it. Guess following Sia's schedule and her movements did pay off.

I had to make sure Chris doesn't wake up to the next English class and my plans were already in motion. I smiled to myself, as I watched the gates of the house open.

Dad sat down, his hands crossed over Sharon. She looked way too young than I had expected. No wonder Sia caught my eyes at first sight.

The table was already set with a full five-course meal, wine glasses, and most of the things we haven't had in months now. Dad went his way to impress his new wife's daughter. Typical.

I could tell the second Sia saw it, something shifted in her. She wasn’t ready for this.

“Keep your cool,” I whispered to her, brushing her hand lightly under the table.

She didn’t pull away. Knight joined in, looking like he had swallowed something sour. Great.

I watched him as he circled the table, his eyes scanning Sia, then landing on me.

“What’s your problem?” I asked him.

He leaned close, his voice low enough so the others wouldn’t hear. “Are you really dating her? You know she’s going to be our sister.”

“You never cared what happened to me,” I shot back. “Why do you now?”

He gave me that arrogant smirk. “Just saying. Don’t screw this up for the family. I wouldn't want a bastard son tainting this family's image.”

I leaned closer. “I see your hatred hasn't passed down after giving you the pass as the best hockey player, uh?”

“Just keep it from Dad.” He patted my shoulder, then walked off like he had won something.

Bastard? I scoffed, my mind drifting back to the things I had to let go for Knight. I wasn't sure what he was planning, but I hoped Sia wasn't part of it cause I was definitely not going to let her go this time.

We all sat down. Sia, my dad, Sharon, Knight, me.

I watched her across the table. She was holding it together, barely. Picking at her food and avoiding eye contact.

Dad clinked his glass. “So, Sia,” he said casually. “Do you have a boyfriend?”