All Chapters of Entangled With My Cheating Ex And Stepbrother : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

ArlynI have never been nervous in my entire life the way I was tonight. I wasn't the type who attends high-end parties and fundraisers… Like hell, I don't even do clubs yet. Here I was, standing before a full-length mirror and feeling uncomfortable in a dress Bradley had bought that probably cost an arm and a leg. Maybe even a full body.My mother walked in dressed as the president's wife herself and carefully inspected me, tucking a stray hair there and adjusting my dress here. Just when I thought I could bear it no longer, she stepped away, finally satisfied with my appearance.“You look marvelous, baby doll,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands over her mouth in joy.I rolled my eyes, not really feeling the excitement she was feeling.“I don't feel marvelous, Mum. I feel like a mannequin being decorated to be placed on display. This is just so not my style.” I complained, looking down at the long silver fitting dress with a risky slit up one side.Mun walked up to me, shaking her he

ArlynI hadn't realised I had been gripping the back guard of a chair so hard until I felt something moist and warm against my palm, slowly carving a path for itself as it slid downwards. I carelessly wiped the blood on my dress, this evening event fresh in my mind.In all my years of being with Liam, he never got drunk… and he never hit me or tried to attack me. But tonight, I had seen another side of Liam that frightened me… he had been hopelessly drunk and had even tried stabbing me with a broken bottle. I wondered what would have happened if Reid hadn't shown up.And that infuriated me… that I had to depend on Reid to rescue me. I didn't want to be indebted to him and didn't want to owe him anything. But I guess that desire wasn't viable anymore.All around the guests were beginning to leave one by one, no one in the mood to party or donate anymore until, eventually, I was left alone in the ballroom… alone with my thoughts.What had Liam whispered to Reid back there at the end?Wh

ArlynI finally caught up to her in the anteroom, and I moved to intercept her, standing in her path. She tried going back the way we just came, but Reid was already there, leaning against the doorway with his legs crossed at the ankles.“I’m late for a meeting, baby. How about we talk when I’m back?” She tried to bargain her way through, but I wasn’t going to be swayed… I refuse to be swayed.“Answer your daughter. I think she deserves the right to know…or don’t you feel bad for withholding this information from her for so long? I mean…she practically grew up believing the wrong man was her biological father. She deserves to know her entire life had been one big lie.”I saw something like guilt flash on my mother’s face, but then she frowned at Reid, shaking her head in denial. “You think you know everything, but the truth is that you don’t. You don’t know anything at all.”She walked purposefully up to Reid, wearing her anger on her sleeve, but Reid was unbothered, still leaning aga

ArlynI couldn't sleep the night Reid stormed out.Not even for a second.I kept thinking about everything… his shaking voice, the tears he didn’t realize were falling… his pain.But what struck me most was how he had smacked my hands away when I tried touching him… like I was something repulsive.It stung.God, it stung so badly I could still feel the phantom pain on my skin like he was presently smacking me.Finally, it was morning, and I went in search of him, knocking at his door.Once.Twice.There was no response.I thought I heard faint sounds of movement on the other side, but the door stayed shut. I went back to my room with slumped shoulders.And that was only just the start.Three days went by like that.Three long days where his presence filled the house, but not a single word left his mouth in my direction. I’d walk into a room, and he would walk out like it was a sin to be in the same space as me. I would speak, and he suddenly went deaf. Every time our eyes accidentally

ArlynFor a terrifying second, my mind refused to be logical.Ella was saying something, but I was already moving before Ella finished her sentence, my legs racing off in the direction of the gunshots, throwing all caution to the wind. I didn't even care about being shot at. Ella had no choice but to run after me.And so, we ran.The corridor blurred as we flew down it, bare feet slapping against cold marble, my pulse roaring so loudly in my ears I could barely hear Ella calling out my name.Another crack split the air. Another gunshot.We burst through the side doors that led to the back of the estate, the cold slamming into me like a slap. The night air was sharp, biting, and laced with the smell of pine and damp earth. My breath fogged instantly, chest heaving as my eyes scanned the darkness beyond the floodlights.The woods loomed at the edge of the property, black and restless.Another shot rang out again.Ella skidded to a halt beside me, grabbing my arm so hard I hissed in pain