4. "Obsessive Brother"

Ethan’s POV (Harriet’s Stepbrother)

Because our family's business was struggling, I had been working extra hours and hardly ever went home. So, when I finally got the opportunity to step back inside the house, I was really looking forward to spending some time with my stepsister, Harriet.

However, Mom asked us to welcome an important guest who turned out to be nothing more than a rogue with no Pack. Nevertheless, he was a potential investor, so I decided to stay put, hoping that I would get a chance to talk to Harriet afterwards.

"Hello, Mr. Lucas. I'm Amelia, Connor's wife," Mom introduced. She pointed towards me and added, "And this is my son, Ethan."

Lucas's intense red eyes locked onto me. I raised an eyebrow and greeted, "Good evening."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wonder and Ethan," Lucas replied before shifting his gaze to my sister.

And damn. The way he looked at Harriet didn't sit right with me. I was so used to seeing men staring at my stepsister with intense gazes, but his was different. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't quite put my finger on, but it annoyed me nonetheless.

"So, who might this beautiful lady be?" Lucas asked, gesturing towards Harriet. "Is she your daughter?" he inquired, looking at Dad.

Dad nodded and replied, "Yes, she's my youngest child, Harriet."

Harriet took a deep breath before stepping forward and politely introducing herself, "Hello, I'm Harriet." She remained calm and composed, extending her hand for a handshake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Harriet," Lucas said, taking her hand. But it didn't stop at just a handshake.

That bastard bowed his head and kissed the back of her hand!

What the…!

Couldn’t take it anymore, I walked in between them and pulled Harriet’s hand away from his grip. “WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?” I bellowed with a growl.

"Ethan," Mom interjected, trying to calm me down.

“I THINK IT’S INAPPRORPIATE FOR YOU TO SUDDENLY KISS MY SISTER’S HAND OUT OF NOWHERE,” I warned.

“I am sorry,” that bastard apologized. “In the place where I came from, its customary to greet a lady in this way.”

“Is there a place for a rogue,” I went on, mocking his origin.

“Ethan. THAT’S ENOUGH!” When Father warned me, I had no choice but to shut my lips. He looked at the irritating guest and said, "Mr. Lucas. Please try to understand. My son tends to be overly protective of his sister."

Overly protective? Huh! Bullsh*t. How can I not react when he slyly kissed Harriet as much as he wanted! I cannot even hold my sister’s hand in front of everyone!

“No worries. I get it,” Lucas said.

Father then suggested, "You must be hungry. Let's have a meal together."

"Absolutely."

They made their way to the dining room, with my mother shooting me a stern look before following my father. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but observe our guest closely.

Something inside me just didn't sit right about this rogue being in our house. And that feeling only grew stronger when I caught a glimpse of Harriet's expression.

Her cheeks were flushed as she stared at the rogue's back with a longing gaze.

Did she really fall for him just because of his looks?!

Damn it!

I have to teach her a lesson so she learns to behave!

** **

Harriet’s POV

When I was standing in front of Lucas Hayes, I could feel the ground giving way beneath me. It was a crazy coincidence that the person who took my virginity turned out to be our guest!

But what if it wasn't a coincidence at all?

If Lucas had known who I was all along, it changed everything. Using him as a pawn backfired, and now my whole plan is at risk.

The anxiety was overwhelming, a sharp pain in my chest as my mind raced to find a solution.

Luckily, I was excused from dinner and went back to my room, locking myself in.

"He's going to be here for months. How long is this going to last? He wouldn't spill everything to Dad, right?"

I paced around my room, looking for any answer.

“Maybe, I should just ask him to keep it a secret and pay him for keeping his mouth sh…” I stopped murmuring as I realized how stupid I was.

Did I really have to pay him with money?

I mean, he's loaded, so my money probably means nothing to him!

"Ugh! I can't believe I actually gave him money after we slept together."

I bet he's just enjoying messing with me, isn't he?

I plopped down on the bed and gazed out the window of my room. The only option I have now is to confront him and plead.

With that in mind, I stepped out of my room, hoping to run into him. But to my disappointment, there was no sign of him anywhere.

If anyone catches me wandering around the guest's room, they'll definitely find it suspicious.

“Maybe, I can just see him tomorrow,” I said to myself.

Feeling suffocated, I opted to take a stroll in the garden. The night air was refreshing, helping to clear my mind.

As I walked on, the smell of tobacco drifted towards me. I turned my head and spotted a man's silhouette under the tree where the smoke was coming from. He was leisurely smoking, his profile visible as he turned his head.

"Could it be...?" I whispered in shock as I realized it was Lucas.

My heart raced as I watched him, his dark hair swaying in the breeze and his intense red eyes gazing up at the starlit sky.

 ‘He’s captivating, really.’

I had been hoping to catch a glimpse of him earlier, but now that I finally did, I was completely at a loss for what to do. When he suddenly turned around and spotted me, my immediate instinct was to make a quick getaway.

So, I swiftly turned on my heels, ready to make my escape. However, the nimble man swiftly grabbed hold of my wrist, preventing me from fleeing.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his breath coming out in heavy gasps. I glanced back at him, meeting his gaze.

"You walk so fast, despite having such short legs," he playfully teased. "I know you saw me. Why are you trying to run away, Miss Harriet? Or should I address you as 'master'?"

Lucas burst into a deep, hearty laugh that seemed to reverberate from the very depths of his being. He pulled me closer, causing my chest to press against his solid chest.

"You know we still have some unfinished business, Master," he remarked with a mischievous grin.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips. I couldn't keep pretending I didn't recognize him.

Summoning all my courage, I pushed him back, putting some distance between us. Then, I spoke up, "Did you seek out my father and come here already knowing who I am?"

His expression changed, a touch of false sadness in his gaze. "Oh dear. It hurts to hear that question from you."

"What?"

"I distinctly remember telling you that we would meet again," Lucas replied. "And you vowed to keep living until that day arrived."

My frown deepened as I tried to remember any such conversation. I recalled making that promise, but only because I was certain we would never meet again. It was a promise made in jest, a way to brush off the idea of our paths crossing.

 "So, stop pushing me away," He continued. "Let's be friendly, shall we?"

I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. Lucas had something up his sleeve that could really change things. I couldn't just turn him down, especially with so much on the line.

"What's your plan then?" I asked.

Lucas stopped briefly, his gaze sweeping over the beautiful garden that enveloped us. "You know what," he pondered, "How about we kick things off with a little walk around the garden? I mean, I am a VIP guest here. It wouldn't hurt to enjoy a nice stroll, right?"

My shoulders drooped in defeat. "Fine," I replied, exhaling heavily. "Just come with me."

I led the way and gave Lucas a tour of the garden. We eventually found a quiet spot hidden by bushes where we sat by a fountain.

I finally mustered up the courage to ask him the burning question. "Will you use my secret against me?"

With an enigmatic aura, he responded simply, "Lucas."

Confused, I questioned, "What?"

"Call me by my name. Not 'You'," he clarified.

Was this a demand or a plea?

Reluctantly, I complied. "Lucas," I said. "I don’t know why you're doing this, but I hope you'll keep my secret safe."

 “Then, I need a reward,” Lucas replied.

 “A reward?”

 “Yup.” Lucas leaned back on the bench, "Well, if I am to bear the weight of your secret, shouldn't there be something in return? A token of appreciation, perhaps?"

 My forehead creased, feeling like a crumpled piece of paper.

Lucas' request for something in return made me feel unjust. It was almost like a form of manipulation.

However, I was aware of the weight of my secret, knowing that its disclosure could have significant consequences.

"So, what is it that you want in exchange?" I inquired.

 Lucas's lips formed a mischievous grin. "I've got two wishes," he announced. "First, I want us to be at ease with each other. When we're around your family, we can put on a formal act. But when it's just the two of us, let's be comfortable. I love your playful nature. Just like that night."

Although his words held weight, I chose to ignore them. I brushed them off without a second thought.

"However," I interrupted, "you need to understand the boundaries that exist. Public displays of affection, like the kiss you planted on the b..." My voice trailed off as Lucas's hand suddenly tightened around my wrist, swallowing my words.

"You're not eating properly. You've lost weight," he murmured.

I pulled my hand away from his grip, gasping, "Why do you even care? It's my body."

 He swiftly slipped his hand into his pocket, catching my attention. I couldn't help but be intrigued. Next, he took out a small box and opened it. Inside was something that made my mouth water.

"Try this," he said, placing one in my mouth. Before I knew it, I was savoring the delicious treat.

"What is this?" I inquired, fascinated.

"It's a dried Kalu, a fruit native to my homeland, Aya."

I blushed, realizing how absorbed I had been in the fruit.

"Besides feeling at ease with me, there's one more thing I ask of you. I want you to accept whatever I offer," Lucas requested.

Lucas's words were cryptic, leaving me puzzled. However, my heart was pounding with excitement. He softly placed a box in my hand and closed my fingers around it. As I gazed at the box, I noticed a variety of dried Kalu inside.

"Take this with you. Eat it all. And if you find the box empty, let me know, and I will give you more.”

This act of kindness was new to me, making me feel uneasy and doubtful. Receiving generosity was always an odd experience for me.

“Please, take it back. I don't need this kind of food,” I replied, handing it back.

"But you enjoyed it, didn't you?"

"Well, even if I did, I simply can't... I'm not able to eat it.”

"Why not? Is there some rule in this place that says you can't eat foreign fruits?"

 "Nope. I'm just being careful with my food. I'm on a diet," I explained, trying to make him understand.

"What's with the diet?" He asked, looking puzzled.

"I'd rather not discuss it," I replied sharply, turning my gaze away.

But Lucas, being persistent as always, continued to pry. "It does matter to me," he insisted. "I've made it clear that I want you to accept whatever I offer. If you don't, I might have to talk to your dad. Let him know what really happened between us that night."

His threat made me clutch the box tighter. I almost forgot that he had the upper hand in their relationship.

"Just accept it. I promise to keep your secret safe," Lucas said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

 My eyes landed on the box in front of me. Should I really be accepting food from him? What would my stepmother, Amelia, say about this?

‘She will definitely freak out if she catches me hiding food in my room. She might even throw it away.’

As I thought about this, I suddenly heard footsteps approaching, and my heart started pounding.

The noise got closer and closer until I finally heard someone calling out, "Harriet!"

I quickly turned around and saw my stepbrother, Ethan, standing there.

Startled by his unexpected appearance, I accidentally dropped the box that Lucas had given me.