CHAPTER THREE
PRINCE CHARMING TO THE RESCUELAURA’S POV“Oh my gosh! You scared me,” I said as he helped me out of the water. I could see that he was trying his best not to laugh, but eventually, he yielded to the urge and began to laugh.“Were you scared because I have just heard you confess that you think I'm cool, or because you weren't expecting anyone to come after you?”“Both.”“I’m sorry about that. For eavesdropping on your conversation and shocking you.”“It’s fine,” I said, and then I noticed his eyes had drifted towards my gown, which was now very transparent and sticking to me due to the wetness. I looked at him and cleared my throat.“Take my jacket; you can return it after you have changed into something dry,” he said as he gave me his suit jacket, and I nodded with a smile as I headed into the room. We will have to go to their home tomorrow, and I wonder if they have a vacation house this luxurious, how much would their real home be worth? Not that any of these freaks me out, but I think my mum is attracted to only the wealthy. Funny, who wouldn't be?I ran inside. Thankfully, I did not have to go through the dining room. At least, I would be able to avoid the idiot who had messed with me, the source of all of this.Although, now I have him to thank because he had brought me a little closer to Chris, and now, I will be able to savor his cologne from his jacket. I sniffed deeply as I opened the door to the room and met my mum sitting on the bed, looking at the picture of our family that I kept on the bed.“Oh my God! What the hell happened to you?”“Don't be dramatic, mum. I just fell into the pool, but I’m fine.”I quickly took off my clothes and changed into something else.“Is that Chris’ jacket?”“Yes, why?”“I just hoped it would be Sebastian’s.”“Why?”“I saw that you guys didn't like each other much, although your age is quite closer than that of Chris, and Chris seemed a little stuck-up and more of the busy man. You have always wanted a brother, and Sebastian seemed to be the one that would fit into all those criteria you wanted.”“Well, mum, like you said, criteria ‘I’ wanted, I know what is good for me, and Sebastian is not. He is bad news.”“I hear you. Did you talk to your dad?”“Yes.”“I just wanted to make sure that you are fine.”“You need to stop worrying. I am fine!”“Well, I know all of this is new to you, but I hope you will be able to adapt well, and if you can't, just tell me, and I will do whatever will make you happy.”“Even if what will make me happy is for you to return to Dad?”“Well, everything except that.”“I know. I was just messing with you.”"Goodnight, daughter.""Goodnight, Mum." I repiled as she planted a kiss on my forehead.As soon as the door closed, I jumped into the bed. I would have gone out to look for Sebastian to return his jacket, but I wanted to hold onto it a little longer.It would be hard living in the same house with him, although I wonder why he still lives with his family when he is old enough to live alone. But I want to understand that it means nothing.My phone chimed with messages, and when I checked, I had a slew of messages from my best friends, Bryan, Talia, and Ashley. Don't even get me started on why we have a male in the mix. Bryan is a sweetheart who looked out for us as if we were his sisters, and we love him more than anything. Other than messages from them, I saw one from my dad and one group message from a new group named "To Family."I opened the chat and saw Mum and Anselm's numbers pop up with two other unknown numbers. I did not need anyone to tell me who they were, and when I checked their profiles, I saw Sebastian had a profile picture, while Chris had a silhouette. Shortly after, I got a message from Sebastian."Hey, you! Changed yet?"I wondered if he was asking if he could take his jacket back, so I jokingly teased him no."I am only asking to be sure you're not still wet, you know? Because in the cold, it gets pretty cold here at night."He had no idea what these words did to me, especially the 'wet' part."Oh! I have changed now, but I think I might have caught a cold, so I will stay in the room all night and return your jacket tomorrow. I hope that is okay.""Yes, I will have one of the maids here send you some tea. You did not eat much, so maybe something to eat?""I'd like that."See why I wanted a brother? If this one came in the form of a brother, I would love to be 'not a brother.' My hand went towards my thigh as memories of how he held me when he got me out of the water filled my head.His arms were gentle around my waist, and he held me as if he did not want to break me. When his arms disappeared from my body, I regretted immediately that I had not protested like I was too weak to walk on my own. But what excuse could I have had?I smiled to myself as I ignored the message from the group chat with my friends and sent a message."I think I want to fuck someone."CHAPTER FOURPLAYING NICESEBASTIAN’S POVLast night had been more interesting than I thought it would be. Originally, I only woke up late for dinner because I had thought it would be no fun. Although Dad and Arya have been going on for a long time, now And I knew they had to be very serious about tying the knot, but I knew it was another avenue for them to talk about my brother, and I had not found someone to marry or even talk about getting married.That was not a discussion I wanted to have, especially with strange people at the table.Seeing her again after two years was a surprise to me. I had met her on a dating app a few years ago when I almost gave in to Dad's pressure for me to get married. I also thought it would be a good thing to show my mum something new, although who was I kidding?Something happened to Mum that day we were supposed to meet, and that was the last time I heard about it. Now, in this age, finding someone was as easy as it could get, but that would be when
CHAPTER FIVEMAKING AN ENEMYLAURA’S POVChris had been so charming last night that I was so sure I would call him, and he would come running immediately as soon as he could. But to my surprise, I called him, and he wouldn't pick up, and when I was directed to voicemail, I sent him a message, but there was no reply. After calling the third time, a female voice picked it up.“This is the CEO’s phone; he said to tell you he would call as soon as he was free.”“Oh, okay. Thanks.”I sank onto the pavement, seeing how the only chance I had to reach my class, which would start in thirty minutes, was gone. I should have brought my car.I began to walk towards the gate, but suddenly, I cried out in frustration.What is the use of waking when I knew it was hopeless?“Need my help now?”I heard the annoying voice ringing in my ears as I buried my face in my palm and looked up. I am not sure I will ever be this relieved to see him again, so I immediately rushed to the side of the car.“Please,”
LAURA'S POV.“Why on earth would you say such a thing about your sister?" My supposed new father had asked, and I fiddled with the hem of my dress, failing to match the criticizing gaze of my mother, who was absolutely not pleased with the recent turn of events.“Please tell me, what is it I lied about? Will you ask Leek Moss' step sister over here?” Sebastian teased again, leaning closer to my table. He pulled out his chair hastily and sat on it, facing me while I swallowed a lump in my throat. Uneasiness washed through me, and I was not too certain what to think or how to handle it.“Stop this nonsense this instant; Laura is your sister; you will treat her like one rather than pin all sorts of tales on her, " the father retorted, swallowing hard.“No, how about we let Laura speak? I do know I raised her right, but Sebastian's hair has a reason why he stated that he did.” She asked again, narrowing her gaze down to me.I sighed, panting heavily. I didn't want to be screwed over, and
LAURA'S POINT OF VIEW.Thank you so much for a warm welcome.I sat by the table, beneath their pinning gazes, with Sebastian directly opposite me, father at the head of the table, and a woman who certainly hated my guts sitting south of the table.Supposedly she was meant to be the step mother I should know about.Mother had spoken to me before bed. Reminded me that I was to meet with the previous wide this morning, I expected s lot from hee but Jo doubt she hated me, I didn't like her either,At least that was something we both understood at the point.Each one of them stared at me and exchanged glances continuously. Although I couldn't lie, I stole several glances at the father himself, one of the greatest alpha assesses out of the blue, my father. I always admired him. For his ruthlessness and, of course, how firm he was in his words.He had worked so hard to gauge himself's name that no one dared defy or disobey. I !Made some research about him overnight and he happened to be
LAURA'S POV.I pushed my orbs open, a light yawn based through my lips. I fluttered my eyes, turning my gaze around, unable to understand where I was or how I had gotten there. I swallowed hard, rolling around in bed. and then I recalled it: I was no longer the usual poker hopeless and helpless Laura.My mother has remarried. I was longer in our little house; I now lived in a mansion.The curtains pushed open as a blinding ray of light shot at me, deeply groaning inwardly at the sudden situation of things.This wasn't how I planned it all out.I pulled the covers up from my head,"Mother, you can't keep doing this; I'm all grown now.” I complained, but then stopped in my words. I gasped from surprise, only for my eyes to match with Sebastian's scrutinizing gaze; he wasn't pleased, yet more than that heat flushed through my cheeks, feeling really embarrassed. I swallowed hard, not caring to speak out of line.“I'm sorry, I had no idea.”“That it wasn't mommy?” he asked, sarcasm laced
LAURA'S POV."Well, don't you just stand there and gawk shamelessly? You are late, and good riddance if you think I'll pull some special strings just to make sure you get into school.” sebastain explained.I could see the frown he had; he wasn't pleased, and neither was I to him, who only arched me, his eyes filled with amazement while I hopped in the car.“And you go on, get out, be back late tonight. Laura will get home earlier than I would, so I suggest by every means that you both find a coup to cover up or something,” he explained.The more he spoke, the more I realized how much of a cry baby he really was. I was amazed, truth be told, and taken by surprise, but it was not that I had not expected Sebastian to be so acoustic.The last I had seen was Chris passing me a faint smile right before Sebastian slammed the door to the car with every form of gruff and snogging attitude he had to offer.“Driver, please don't be late; let's push up the ride a bit. Our little sister here does
LAURA'S POVA knot tied in my belly on hearing his words, I couldn't help avert my gaze over to him, and then back to that of the building.“You own the school?” I asked again, uncertain if this was one of his plain ass jokes heavy on sarcasm or if he was just wealthy.“You forget how rich I am, sister; you'll get used to it. My father bought most of the shares for Me when I was just nineteen, and I bought the entire shares when I was twenty. I own the school, although only a few important people know about this.” He explained dropping the bombshell on me.I watched as he peered his gaze into the wristwatch strapped to his left wrist before raising his eyebrow.“Well, shall we? I have ten more minutes to get on the road. I've got a busy schedule today.” He asked me. Already sticking to his feet while speaking, not once did he glance back to check my reaction or whatever words it was that I had to say.“Speaking of which, what's your type of car, like the ones that strike your fancy?”
LAURA'S POV.The rest of the day ended more quickly than I had expected. I spent the entire day moving from class to class, checking through the halls, corridors, and different clubs, not knowing which to sign into.Yet the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't stop thinking of what had truly happened.Everyone wouldn't keep their gaze on me; they stated at me like I was some sort of cheap loser, and well, of course, it was mostly certain because they believed my mom to be nothing but a gold digger, and here I was, the shameless one without having anything to offer, do, or take other than attending the school my elder brother had been using to buy off and tease me about it.“Mam?” A voice called out, drawing me out of whatever thoughts I had that had been cooped up on my end. I sighed and rolled my eyes while sudden uneasiness washed through me.I swallowed hard before turning around, but no one seemed to be in the area other than me.“Are you talking to me?” I asked, and my in