Tasting 121

121–The She–Devil And My Handsome Stepbrother

Nora:

“What is our mission?” I asked Nash after I had filled my stomach until there was no room left.

It was a simple question because I was curious about our journey to what they called the forbidden

land. But somehow, it sounded funny to Daphne. As soon as the words left my lips, she started

laughing with a fist close to her mouth.

“Is there something funny about her question, Daphne?” I didn’t even have to confront her when my

stepbrother was there to back me up like a brick wall.

Nash narrowed his eyes at her and tapped his foot repeatedly, a clear warning that he wasn’t

amused by her picking on me every few seconds.

I had no clue how he put up with her, honestly. There was no spark in their relationship.

“No! It’s just that she agreed to come so far, yet she didn’t ask any questions about where you were

taking her?” she raised her brow, sneakily hinting that I was dumb.

“She trusts her family, and we trust her. As for her coming all the way with me on my mission, I

wanted her here. But let me know if you plan to keep bothering her,” he paused as she stared at

him in disbelief, “Tll drop you home. I don’t want anyone bullying her in front of me,” his warning

was once again clear, but I wondered if she understood.

121–The She Devil And My Handsome Stepbrother

She was picking a fight with me over nothing..

Or maybe it wasn’t over nothing. She probably wanted this journey to be just the two of them so

they could reconcile. Seeing me tag along must have pissed her off.

“Let’s go, we have a long way ahead,” Nash gestured for the waiter to take the tip before he got up

and led us back to the car. The rest of the two hours were spent in silence. I fell asleep in the

backseat while Daphne watched a podcast on her phone.

Somehow, my sleep was broken, and I woke up to Daphne starting a conversation with Nash,

thinking I was still asleep in the backseat.

“Are we never going back to how we used to be?” Daphne’s voice hinted at sadness. I believed it

was because of me that they were so bitter toward each other.

“I told you, what you did left me shocked,” he muttered, still focusing. on the road while she had her

entire body turned toward him.

I lay in the backseat, unwillingly listening to their conversation while trying to go back to sleep.

“But I didn’t do anything. Are you going to believe some letter over my words?” As she started

explaining more, I began to lose track of what was going on.

What letter?

“I will investigate first, Daphne. Until then, just don’t push it,” Nash hushed her, and she sighed.

From what I heard, I realized they weren’t arguing about that incident from months ago. It was about

something else, and she was just accusing me to make me feel guilty.

121–The She Devil

al And My Handsome Stephiroth

I aimed to go back to sleep, but the unusual noise from the car compelled me to sit up instantly.

Our car came to an abrupt halt, and the first thing Nash did was turn around to check on me.

“It’s alright. I’ll see what’s wrong with it,” he gave me a comforting smile before rushing out of the

car. It was past 7 pm, and we had come far. I didn’t think we would get help around here.

“Huh!” Daphne let out a sigh, folding her arms over her chest. The awkward silence in the car

worried me. She was definitely not keen on talking to me because, in her head, I was the one who

ruined her relationship. It was ironic how, she accused me of nonsense when it was all her own

doing.

Goddess knows what she has done now for Nash to be so mad at her again.

After a while, when her scoffing and grunting became too much, I couldn’t take it anymore and got

out of the car to stand beside Nash.

He was standing next to the back, staring at the tires.

“They’re busted,” he sighed, his hands on his waist. He was a little too well–dressed to be on this

journey. His dress shirt was almost ready to tear apart as the buttons were holding on for their

lives.

“What are we going to do now?” I inquired, watching him look around and then at his phone.

“We don’t even have signals, and I guess I left the spare tires back in the garage,” he shook his

head again, showing disbelief over his carelessness.

121. The

She Dey And My Handsome Stepbrother

“It’s okay. Mistakes happen,” I shrugged, and he stopped focusing on the car to look over at me.

A smile covered his lips in appreciation before he opened the trunk to get some stuff out of his bag.

Daphne finally walked out of the car after not giving a damn. Her attitude was very strange, likely

because she wanted to be alone on this journey with her fated mate, but instead, she had to see

me.

“Why is it taking so long?” she stomped her foot, also waving her empty

water bottle.

“Ugh! Somebody please go get some water?” she added. While Nash was busy pulling some

clothes. out of his bag, she kept complaining about everything like a brat.

“I’ll go change in the woods and then get tires from a nearby mechanic shop,” Nash ignored her

entirely and spoke to me, prompting her to scoff

“And what will I be doing here all this time?” she finally raised her voice to be heard by him. I didn’t

understand how she was so clueless that he was extremely upset with her. Instead of making things

right, all she had done was irk him some more.

“You will stay here and look after Nora,” Nash finally had a response for her, but it wasn’t something

she or I had expected.

I wished to accompany Nash instead of staying behind with Daphne, but I had no choice but to deal

with her annoying little attitude now.