Lahat ng Kabanata ng Love At First Taste: Her Stepfather's Pet: Kabanata 111 - Kabanata 120

"Uh, sorry? I don't understand." I say. "What do you mean why? This is her home. Where else would she stay for summer break? Especially as she is interning at my firm according to Kathryn's wishes." Linc cuts in. He doesn't sound bothered or anything like that. It's not even defensive. He says it like he also doesn't understand Cecilia's question. Like her question was unfounded. Which is a perfect lie. We both know why she is asking. Everybody in our collective circle knew I left that first summer, and it wasn't likely that I would be back. They all just assumed that since Kathryn died, I cut ties with Linc. Which was understandable, seeing as we didn't have anything linking us anymore. I didn't want to be lugged along with Kathryn and her wild social life. As soon as I was eighteen and independent to an extent, I was ready to leave her and her crazy life behind. But then, she died just a year later. That kind of muddled everything else. "Well, I guess that makes sense. But then,

Linc POV::It is with great effort that I don't fly out of my seat and start pacing the length of the den with stomping footsteps. That is how frustratingly mad I am right now. I am livid but I manage to keep it reeled in. I know Amelia would be thinking that Cecilia knows something about us. But I seriously doubt that is true. It is highly unlikely. I haven't seen the woman in over two years and the only connection we had was Kathryn. Our circles never quite got intermingled. Besides, it is not like I have gone around telling everyone I know that I am in a relationship with my stepdaughter. Even Chris, my best friend doesn't know yet. It is not that I am ashamed of us and the beautiful thing we have created, but the choking guilt of it all is close to shame. The line is muddled and it is tough, especially on days like this.Cecilia is just bluffing with her subtle jabs. She walked in not expecting to find Amelia here, and when she does, she starts weaving suspicions out of the air.

"You do realise I didn't come here to actually ask you for anything, however you thought you could contribute to something as important as this, I assure you, it would be basically useless." Cecilia says after a second of an intense stare down where I squirm in place and keep my face frozen in my innocent earnest smile. Finally, I drop the smile and take a breath. "Oh." Is all I manage to say. The rudeness is more familiar. Not that scary sweet façade she put on with Linc. This is the woman I knew. And hated. "Imagine the frenzy that would be generated if it is revealed in yet another exposé that not only is Kathryn's daughter still living shamelessly off the poor heartbroken Linc, but she is also fucking him? You think you know scandal? Oh dear, you wide eyed innocent poor thing." I stumble backwards. The icy hard hitting well timed words hit me like she reached out and slapped me right across the face. My neck burns with the heat of it and it spreads to my face, I know I currentl

"Why can't you? You realise I would be the worst hit if Cecilia takes this up right? It already happened with the whole exposé mess and I wasn't even directly linked to that. I don't even know what the artist looks like. I have never met him. I didn't even know my own mother was in Paris for that long. And yet, I am the easy target for the anger of thousands of internet strangers. So, please, Linc, tell me why you can't yield this once?" "Because it makes no sense to just yield. Do you really believe that doing those vapid women this little inconsequential favour would be the last we hear of it? No!" Linc raises his voice on the last word and I jump. Startled. It is the first time he would be raising his voice when talking to me. The first time he would be using that tone on me. I don't know what to make of it. My anger ebbs within me. A part of my brain, the logical part, gnaws at me with the acknowledgement that I am not mad at Linc, he hasn't done anything wrong. I shouldn't tran

"What is wrong? Who is it?" Linc sees the hesitation on my face. I probably look silly in my strawberry pajamas set, crazy hair and sleep drawn face, lying flat on his bed. But all I see in Linc's eyes is love. Tender emotions. Warm feelings. It makes my heart swell with so much love, I fear it might explode. "Ashley." I say. Panicking, the longer I don't take the call because I know if I miss it, she probably wouldn't call back. "Oh. Why aren't you answering?" "I don't know." I push the answer button feeling silly for holding out so long. "Hi." I say tentatively. "Amelia! Hi." Ashley sounds lighter than I remember. More like her usual self. My heart stretches. Linc sees the smile on my face and gives me a reassuring nod, then he steps out of the room to give me some privacy even though it is not actually needed. "Ashley! How are you?" I ask. Keeping my tone light and neutral. "I am good. I called to check on you. I thought of you yesterday when I went to our apartment for som