Tasting 137

137–Her Angry Stepfather

Nora:

“What?” Cain asked again. I could tell he was having a hard time believing what he was hearing.

“Are you okay?” His eyes were wide open and scanning me.

He usually never showed such reactions, but right now, the way he was looking me over was

scary.

“That’s not true,” Daphne quickly grabbed her stepfather’s arm, and he paused, staring at the

connection between them. It was odd, but it did make him lean forward in his seat and shield her

behind him.

“Nora! Tell me what happened?” Cain hissed. Without waiting for my reply, he grabbed his phone

and rushed out of the living room while the others watched him go.

I could tell he was going to call Nash because his name was on the screen when he left the room.

“This is the issue. Your stepdaughter has been lying about her own incompetence. Nora left to

speak to her boyfriend and that’s when she got herself in trouble. But she spun it around and

accused Daphne of it all. And now they’ve broken up because of her,” Ford kept talking while

Daphne stared at the entrance, probably wondering when Cain would return.

I bet she knew what Nash would tell his brother and how she would end up looking like a liar.

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I groaned, wondering what was going on.

13:07

132 Her Angry Stepfather…]

11

“I suggest you two leave now. Because when my son returns, I’m not sure I can hold him back,”

Lord Atwood was clenching his jaw and shaking so much that I was worried for him.

“So you think he will find out that Daphne is lying?” Ford seemed offended, but the change in

Daphne’s color should have been hist

concern.

“I am sure my daughter never lies. So yeah, you are lucky I am not the one taking outrageous

action against you two right now,” Lord Atwood warned him. Daphne swiftly whispered something in

her stepfather’s ear, and he nodded to her.

“I get it. I will leave now. But know one thing, this girl is not what you think she is. She has lied to

you and is still lying to you. I will be very sad the day you find out about her lies. You will be left

shattered. This girl is not so innocent; she is after your sons and is sabotaging their relationships,”

Ford muttered as he pointed his finger at me.

“Get out!” Lord Atwood closed his eyes and grunted. I felt bad instantly but was also shocked that

Ford said all that so confidently. Before Cain could return, the two had run out to avoid

confrontation.

“I am so sorry you faced that,” Lord Atwood couldn’t even meet my eyes, which made me feel even

guiltier.

To think about Ford’s words, he didn’t really lie. I have been hiding so much from him and had been

having strange encounters with the ones Lord Atwood thinks are my stepbrothers.

“It is not your fault, and Nash was there to take care of me,” I mumbled softly, feeling low in energy.

“Can I go back to my room and rest?” It was a cry for some alone time. I wasn’t feeling well

anymore. There was this feeling of guilt that I couldn’t sit and speak to Lord Atwood

anymore.

137–He Angry Stepfather

“Sure, please go ahead and rest,” he uttered sadly. Even his forced smile was broken. I am sure he

felt bad that he couldn’t keep me safe from the crazy people of his pack, but at the same time, I was

guilty that I had been lying so much to him.

I went upstairs to lie down and think over my actions. I have been lying to everyone about myself,

my identity, and every aspect of my life.

The trust I saw in Lord Atwood’s eyes today crumbled my fake. confidence. What Ford said was

true. The day Lord Atwood learns about my truth, he will lose belief in everything and everyone.

I changed my position and stayed in the dark. Every time a thought occurred, I shifted in bed. But

then a new thought, a new guilt would take over, and I would have to change my side again. The

brothers and Lord Atwood knew I wanted to be alone.

That’s why when they asked me to join them for dinner, I excused myself without opening the door.

It was around 3 am when I heard a knock on my window, and my eyes shot open from the

nightmare I was having. With a racing heart and heavy breaths, I sat up in bed for a few seconds

before walking over to the window. I could tell who was pacing around my balcony.

“Ryker!” I frowned.

“What is going on with you? I heard you haven’t eaten anything ever since you returned,” he

hunched over, glaring at me through his bushy eyebrows.

“And why do you care? Aren’t you too embarrassed by my existence anyway?” I rolled my eyes at

him, not feeling like myself as I argued with him.

137 Her Angry Soplather

My energy was so low that even I was alarmed at the change in me.

“Nora! I am not embarrassed by you. I just think that is the best way to deal with things–,” he

paused after recalling what exactly had brought him here tonight.

“I heard about Daphne and her stepfather. They had the nerve to accuse you, but don’t worry, we

brothers have started a secret investigation against the two. We will–,” he was yammering nonstop

when I couldn’t help but remember all the things going wrong and had to intervene.

“You could have waited until morning to say all that to me. You didn’t have to come here. Or did you

do it because you thought I am miserable and would jump into bed with you?” I hissed bitterly,

recalling his initial argument about being embarrassed by me.

I was still upset with him. He suddenly stopped talking and straightened his back.

“Okay! Goodnight,” was all he said before he stepped back and then jumped off the balcony to

leave.

I stayed put, wondering if I had gone too far because I was hurting too.