Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 123575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Aries isn’t having it and grasps my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. His expression darkens, a flash of possession flickering in his warm hazel eyes. “How could I ever have been so stupid? To deny us both what we want?”
“I don’t know, but I won’t do this again with you. I won’t put myself in a position to have my heart broken because you’re too afraid to face your feelings.”
Aries’s lips part, and he’s seconds from responding when the French doors fly open.
He takes a step back, his touch leaving me, and my mother appears in the doorway, her gaze narrowing in suspicion. A breath gets trapped in my lungs, and I hesitate to move, to react at all for fear she’ll draw conclusions I can’t talk myself out of.
“I brought Lilian out here for some fresh air. She was looking a little pale.” Aries recovers first, giving my mother that dazzling smile that always gets him out of trouble.
“You’re such a good big brother,” she dotes, giving him a grin in return. “Always so kind and considerate of your sister’s needs.”
I’d roll my eyes at her response if I knew it wouldn’t earn me a conversation on disrespect and proper obedience later.
“That’s my job.” He licks his lips, and a sudden heat creeps into my cheeks as indecent thoughts tumble into my head.
“It certainly is, however, you have a more pressing matter on your hands. Your father has been looking for you all evening. Maybe you should go speak with him.” It’s not a suggestion. All three of us know it.
“Yes. Of course. Let me go find him.” Aries nods, and then slips in the doors.
There’s nothing abnormal about his response; it’s pretty much standard, but for some reason, I get this twist in my gut, the strange feeling that something is wrong.
Stop being paranoid, Lilian.
“I’m sorry for disappearing like that,” I apologize and peer into her blue eyes, looking for the woman she used to be.
Physically, she’s still my mother. She looks like my mother. And every once in a while, I catch a small glimpse of the mom she used to be, who took me to every single heart appointment, who braided my hair, and read me bedtime stories. Those moments are nothing but memories from a time that seems so far away I can no longer tell if they were real or not. Or maybe some fantasy I made up in my head. Just like this stupid thing with Aries.
Even her eyes, which used to be filled with warmth and life back before she married Richard, have grown duller and vacant of joy. More than anything, I miss her smile, the real one, not the fake one she paints on for charity events or political interviews.
How did we get here?
She shakes her head at me. “Every time I think you might understand your place in the family, you find a way to disappoint me.”
My chest aches, because even if I hate the person she’s becoming, the idea of disappointing her hurts me. I want her approval, her love.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I will try better next time.”
“I’m sure you will, although I’m starting to wonder if there should even be a next time. Maybe you aren’t cut out for this family after all.”
I can’t fathom what that even means, and I’m unable to wipe the shock from my face. “What does that mean?”
In typical fashion, she shakes her head and dismisses me. “It means you need to stop disappointing me. Now leave. You’re free to go. George will drive you home.”
I bite my tongue and swallow the questions queuing up in my head.
If I thought Aries’s reappearance was strange, nothing tops my mother’s words echoing with disappointment in my mind.
Maybe you aren’t cut out for this family after all.
While her words leave a gaping hole in my chest, a bigger question needs to be answered. What will they do with me if I continue to make mistakes and I’m no longer cut out to play my part?
Arson
This newfound information puts a wrench in my fucking plans. I slam the warehouse door behind me, still feeling the phantom touch of her skin against my fingertips. Little Lilian with her doll-like face and pretty blue eyes. The one person I never intended on touching has now become the most prized possession.
I should’ve done more research, should’ve thoroughly examined who Lilian was to my dear brother besides apparently...a stepsister. Maybe if I had, I would’ve seen her and Aries’s interest in each other. Then I could’ve devised a better thought-out plan on how to use her against him. Dammit.
I prowl through the darkened warehouse, kicking aside a stray box.
The sound reverberates through the cavernous space, punctuating my fury. It’s sad how much time I’ve spent planning this. Years of cataloging every detail about my twin brother—the golden child, the chosen one. I’ve watched him, studied him, learned to mimic his walk and talk, and even the way he signs his name. I can forge his signature so perfectly that not even banking software can tell the difference.