All Chapters of Hook, Line, and Sinker: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

My cousin, Erin Johnson, had been divorced for three years. However, she was still living comfortably on the alimony her ex-husband, Eric Banks, sent her every month.I would find her having one-night stands with models and bankrolling any pretty boy she got her eyes on. Suffice it to say, she was living the dream.Recently, she had found her next target—my boyfriend of six months, Dean Langdon.Honestly, I wasn't surprised that Erin learned about him so quickly. After all, my blabbermouth of a mother, Donna Whittaker, had bumped into him when she dropped by at my apartment to pick something up.If we were talking about fatal flaws, Mom had one called "envy". She loved comparing herself to others to the point of insanity.Erin had married well. So well that after the divorce, she was practically swimming in cash. My aunt, Abigail Whittaker, loved rubbing Erin's good fortune in Mom's face.Because of that, Mom had made it her personal mission for me to nab myself a husband who was

Chapter 2

"My mom probably gave her our address," I said casually. "That's just how Erin is. You can just ignore her."Although Dean kept swearing that he really hadn't given Erin the time of day, I still couldn't shake the discomfort. It didn't help that the image of them sitting together on the same couch kept replaying in my head.Dean wouldn't betray me like that, would he? I'd tried so hard just to win him over. I spent six whole months on that endeavor before he finally agreed to date me. He wouldn't fall straight into Erin's embrace after spending just one night with her, would he?I couldn't help but feel uneasy, no matter how hard I tried to think otherwise. Part of it was due to my insecurity, while the other part was that I wasn't sure just how long Dean could keep Erin at arm's length.…Dean didn't stay over that night. He had another apartment in the next building over, so he slept there instead.However, he still came over to bring me breakfast the next morning.He had

Chapter 3

Dean claimed he had been out of town overseeing the operations as he would be opening several stores at once.Still, I saw Erin behind him in a few of our video calls. When that happened, he hurried to explain, "Erin called me to ask how things were doing. She dropped by when she heard I was in the neighbouring city. "I can't thank her enough for what she's done. She's really saved me a ton of trouble. My dad's been praising me for my success too."Ambitious scions born with a silver spoon in their mouths had the tendency to strive to surpass their parents. Dean was no exception.His father and grandfather were both formidable entrepreneurs. Dean had also been blessed with a sharp business acumen. Unfortunately, he had always been overshadowed by their success. Because of that, he was desperate to prove himself.He had opened several DTC stores across multiple cities. He had struck hard and fast, opening those stores at the best locations possible. As a result, his father and gra

Chapter 4

Erin had gotten what she wanted yet again.Honestly, I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself.Erin grew up with parents who adored her. She had everything she could ever want ever since she was a kid. She was also beautiful and rich.Meanwhile, I was just another love-starved kid with a controlling mother.Whenever we appeared together, I always felt as if people would always pick Erin over me.People naturally gravitated toward those who never lacked attention and adoration. Erin had never been short of men who'd do anything to pander to her whims.Still, that didn't mean I'd have to resign myself to a life living in her shadow.Did I really have to spend my entire life being yanked around according to her desires?I stopped contacting Dean, but I would still hear about him through Erin.She would text the family group chat about what she'd been working on lately, informing everyone where she'd gone and what market research she'd done.Everyone would promptly fall over the

Chapter 5

Eric froze upon hearing my words. "She invested?" he asked. "How much did she put in?"I pursed my lips. "I'm not sure. I didn't ask for details, but I know my boyfriend has invested quite a sum. At least tens of millions. I figured you wouldn't mind. After all, you do have the money."Then, I looked up at him and said earnestly, "Sometimes, I really envy Erin. She will always be loved, no matter what she does. It's the same even after her divorce. Honestly, I feel like an ugly duckling next to a swan like her.""I think she feels inferior to you," Eric replied solemnly. "That's why she's afraid that you'll have something she doesn't. It's why she's always taking your stuff. It's actually rather childish. She's basically like a kid trying to snatch another kid's toy."Tears rolled down my cheeks as a bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaped my lips. "So, her constantly stealing my boyfriend is just mere childish behavior to you? You think that's just her acting like a kid?"Eric f

Chapter 6

I stared at Dean for a good long while. Even after six months together, I couldn't help but think that he still felt like a stranger to me.Dean felt uneasy under my gaze. After a while, he seemed to realize that I already knew what had happened. He then asked me whether he still had a chance.I took out my phone and showed him the pictures. Whatever he'd planned to say died in his throat."You don't even love me any longer," I said calmly. "So why did you still seek me out? We could've just ended things quietly."He replied, "I guess I'm being a bit sentimental. I think I still like you, but I also can't seem to resist my attraction for Erin.""Is that why you want to satisfy us both with your… stamina?" I said in a deadpan.Dean wasn't upset by my provocation. He merely smiled and said nothing. I continued, "You always said you liked me because I was obedient, but Erin doesn't exactly fit that description. She's nowhere close to your ideal type, isn't she?"He answered, "May

Chapter 7

Around that time, I had gotten interested in romance. I quickly became infatuated with Louis, so much so that I wrote it all down in my diary.Unfortunately, Mom found my diary. She took a picture of it and tagged Aunt Abigail and Uncle Arthur. She angrily accused them of not keeping an eye on Louis.Erin had cursed me right then and there, calling me shameless for seducing Louis.As things exploded, Aunt Abigail and Uncle Arthur decided to send Louis abroad. He never returned to the country for years after that.Erin had written me off right after that.Ever since that day, I was never able to have a normal romantic relationship. Erin had sneered and said that this was my punishment for harboring "sinful thoughts" about Louis.I was 17 back then, and now, I was already 29. It had gone on for 12 whole years. I had been stuck living under her shadow for 12 years, all because I had a crush on a brother she wasn't even related to by blood.It sounded both hilarious and insane.

Chapter 8

I noticed Erin was wearing unusually heavy makeup. It was odd because she was exceedingly confident in her beauty. She was never one to wear such makeup, especially when she was at home.Even so, I could still see how worn out and weary she was. No amount of makeup could possibly hide that.Mom was the first to point it out. "Erin looks really tired. Why don't we wrap things up here and let her get some rest?"Aunt Abigail instantly exploded. "You're only saying that because you're jealous that Erin has an island!" she shrieked. "Well, your darling Cassandra will never be so lucky as to feel 'tired'!"Their argument ballooned into epic proportions that they nearly came to blows. And yet, by the end of the night, they still managed to happily rifle through the souvenirs and snacks together. Frankly, I was amazed by how resilient their bond was.Just as I was watching the show, Erin slithered up behind me and hissed, "Cassandra, why do I get the feeling that you're very pleased with

Chapter 9

I calmly took in my current situation.I wouldn't be able to get out of the car anytime soon. It would be against my best interest to provoke Erin.So I said, "Erin, I really have no idea what you're talking about. Can't you give me a hint? Did something bad happen to you recently?"Erin immediately slapped me hard across the face. "How dare you try to lie to me!"She'd probably used all her strength. My right cheek burned immediately after, and soon, it began to swell."Don't think you've won," she hissed. "Do you know where we're heading? We're going to the pier. I already told Dean you're coming to the island with me."I said nothing and turned to look outside the window. We were getting closer and closer to the pier. My body started to tremble in fear.Erin sneered. "Didn't you say you had no idea what's going on? Then why are you so scared? I'm only bringing you to the island as my guest."Just then, I heard Dean's voice coming through the car's speaker. Only then did I re

Chapter 10

I lied to Eric. I told him that I found out after breaking up with Dean, when I went through his things.In truth, I'd found out about the skeleton in his closet the second week into our relationship.Dean had a phone that he never let out of his sight. I could still remember that one time he couldn't find it anywhere. He'd become extremely agitated as he turned his office upside down, making me wait for him in the car.His phone was in the car, having been wedged in a gap. When I pulled it out, the screen had been filled with BDSM slang and talk about switching bedpartners among friends.That was when I found out that they filmed everything. They then used the footage to control the victims, preventing them from reporting their activities to the police.I later overheard him on the phone mentioning an island. He was a frequent visitor there. Every time before his trip there, he would become unusually excited. When he returned, he would have a spring in his step that would last fo

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