Semua Bab Off-limits: My One-Night Stepbrother : Bab 111 - Bab 120

Ariana's PovMum.I answered almost immediately."Mum, are you okay?"The moment the words left my mouth, I heard her laugh softly from the other end."You worry too much," she said, still giggling. "Of course I'm okay."I let out a small breath. "Okay.""I only called because you left the house without telling me."There was a brief pause before she continued. "I wanted you to come with me to the hospital for my check-up today because apparently your father is far too busy for me."The last part was loud enough that it was obviously meant for Dad to hear. Almost immediately, his voice came from somewhere in the background."You have to understand that the meeting is important. I'm not too busy for you, and I already told you I'd make it up to you."Mum huffed dramatically. "You heard him?"I smiled."I did.""Like I said..." she continued. "...too busy for me."I couldn't help laughing. "You two are unbelievable.""We know." She laughed too before asking, "So where are you?""I'm at

Ariana's PovAfter calling him over and over again and getting nothing but silence, I finally gave up.I looked down at the little girl sitting quietly beside Scarlett."Do you have a phone?" I asked gently.She nodded and reached into her pocket before handing it to me.I took it from her. "What's your name?""Alora," she answered softly."How old are you, Alora?""I'm thirteen."I gave her a small smile before saving my number into her phone."If anything changes or you need someone, call me, okay?"She looked at me for a second before giving a small nod. Before we left, one of the doctors came out and told Alora she could finally go in and see her mother. Relief washed over her face as she hurried after the nurse.Not long after that, Mum was done with her own appointment. The doctor prescribed a few medications, which I stopped to collect from the pharmacy before we finally headed back to the mansion.****************I stood outside Kian's bedroom door for what felt like forever.

Ariana's PovAs I walked past, I realized Alora had been standing there the whole time, watching us and probably hearing everything. I looked at her for a second, and I could already see the questions written all over her face. “Are you…” I started, but I stopped myself. There was really nothing I could say to her about any of it. “Take care of your mother, and take care of yourself too,” I said instead, forcing a small smile. “I'll be leaving now.”I turned and walked away before she could ask anything else. By the time I got outside the hospital, I tried my best not to think about what had just happened inside. Kian's words were still in my head, his mother's tears, everything about the whole situation felt like too much, and honestly, I just wanted to get somewhere I could lie down. That was all I needed right now. Just to lie down and forget about everything for a while.I stood outside waiting for a cab when someone suddenly tapped my shoulder. I turned around, already expecting

Kian's POV"Hello, darling."The voice on the other end immediately made my stepmother's face go pale. She didn't even speak at first, just stared at the phone like she'd suddenly forgotten how to breathe. Then she swallowed and tried to keep her voice steady. "Who... who is this?" A low laugh came from the other end. "Don't tell me you've forgotten your boo already."Her eyes widened."Sebastian," she whispered.My dad's expression changed immediately at the name, and I felt something tighten in my chest. I knew exactly who Sebastian was. Ariana's father, My Father had told me about him.My stepmom looked like she was about to end the call, but the man on the other end spoke again before she could. "I know you're thinking of ending the call, but Ariana wouldn't be very happy about that."Then I heard her."Mum?"My entire body went still."Ariana?" My stepmother's voice cracked as she immediately gripped the phone tighter."What the hell—" My dad stepped forward and snatched the pho

Kian's POVShe sat beside me in silence.The tears had stopped, but the fear hadn't. It was still there, written all over her face. She looked so small sitting beside me, and I hated it. I hated that she looked scared. I hated that she'd been through any of this.She was here now. She was safe. Sitting right beside me. Yet I still couldn't stop looking at her.Every few seconds, my eyes drifted back to her like I needed to make sure she was still there. Like if I looked away for too long, something would happen and she'd disappear again.She kept staring down at her hands, lost somewhere in her own thoughts. Then her eyes shifted to me, resting on my hand where it lay on my lap.Slowly, almost hesitantly, she reached over and slipped her hand into mine. My fingers closed around hers without a second thought.That's when I saw them. The red marks around her wrists where the ropes had been.My jaw tightened."Does anything hurt?"She looked up at me for a moment before giving a small sh