In Love With My Evil Stepbrother
Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Arranged Marriage

Oh. My. God.

I almost don’t know if I should laugh or spit in her face. But there’s one thing I’m sure of: she hasabsolutely no self-respect. She can reduce herself to Eason’s play toy all she wants. I’m not following herexample.

Yet before I can voice out my thought, Eason speaks up before me, “Val just cut if off.”

Valerie widens her eyes in surprise, as if she didn’t expect Eason to go against her. But Eason hasalready risen up from his seat and walked up to her with one hand in his pocket. He takes the dress fromValerie’s hand and hands it back to mom with a faint smile, “Mrs. Ramirez, you have really a good taste.I’m sure everyone would fall for this dress. But we shouldn’t step in like this. Sorry about that.”

Mom’s face remains cold even in front of his compliment. I’m sure she’s just as offended as I

am.

“Don’t worry about it dear,” mom gives him a polite yet frosty smile. “If your girlfriend likes it, it’s totallyfine she can keep it. Like I said, there are plenty of other choices for us to choose from.”

She ignores Eason’s hand and turns to me, “Nat sweetheart. Are you ready to leave?” I immediatelystand up, “Yeah totally.”

I follow mom and march outside without even looking back. I didn’t change my mind about Eason simplybecause he stopped Valerie’s madness. He’s still an asshole. I guess he was just embarrassed byValerie’s behavior.

When we left the store, mom lets out a long sigh, “Dear lord-what was that? That girl has absolutely nocourtesy.” “Yeah…that’s Valerie.” I respond with a bitter tone. Guess Eason really likes the bitch type.“And she’s in the same school as you right? Has she ever treated you badly?” “A bit. But I don’t caremuch about what her.”

“You are doing the right thing, sweetie. Just ignore her,” Mom gently pats my shoulder.” Because soonenough there’ll be someone else to take care of her.”

I can guess whom my mom is referring to, “You are talking about Eason’s mom, right?”

“Yes. Shawn mentioned it to me once…Caroline has picked Eason’s marriage partner a long time ago.He can date whoever he wants when he’s still young. But you guys are going to college next year, so Iguess Caroline will introduce the girl to Eason very soon. She will definitely get rid of any cheap chicksaround Eason before that girl comes into the picture.”

My mouth parts in shock hearing this.

What the fuck…arranged marriage? And this is already the 21st centuries? “Are you serious?” I gasp in arather shrill voice, “A marriage partner? Is Eason aware? Is he

OK with this?”

Mom gives me a suspicious look and I quickly hide away the panic on my face, “I- I was just curious,nothing else.”

“Well, Eason doesn’t have much choice, isn’t he? Caroline Griswold is a very strong woman. If she haspicked the right daughter-in-law, I’m positive that she’ll force Eason down the aisle if she has to. And thisis how upper society works.”

“But you and Mr. Ramirez married out of love,” I point out urgently. “Shawn is the head of the family, sohe doesn’t have to listen to anyone. But there’s a long way ahead of Eason before he can officially take

control of his own life,” mom pauses and looks at me again. “Since when do you care so much aboutEason?” My lips twist with bitterness, “I don’t…just a little curious.”

How naïve of me to actually believe that there’s a future ahead of us.

Eason already has his life all planned out. He will probably go to Harvard and take over the companyafter graduation. Then he will marry the girl that his mother has chosen for him and have beautifulchildren with her.

What we have is nothing more than a short summer fling.

When we get home, I go straight up to my room and lock myself in. Mom calls me for dinner once, but Isimply tell her that I’m not hungry. I’ve lost all my appetite because of what happened this afternoon.

I lie on my bed staring at the ceiling spacing out, till someone knocks on my door. “Mom, I told you. I’mnot hungry!” I raise my voice. Then the doorknob turns, and someone just open the door open and walksin. I jerk around and gaze in terror on him, “How did you I locked the door!”

Eason shows me the key in his hand and then shoves it back into his pocket. He closes the door behindhim, walks over and sits down on the bed, like he’s the owner of this room.

“Excuse me? Hello?” I sit up and snap. “Did I invite you in?”

“I invited myself,” he raises his brow with a wicked grin on his lips. “And you didn’t ask for my permissionthe first time, remember?”

I exhale a long breathe in frustration. I don’t have the energy to deal with him today.

“Just say what you want. OK?”

He shrugs and places a nicely wrapped box on my bed. I instantly recognize the label.

I’m speechless. “Please tell me it’s not that silver dress.”

“Well, no surprise this time,” he smiles. “You like it?”

“You fucking kidding me?” I kick away the box with my feet. “You really think I still want it? It’s alreadytainted by your dear girlfriend. Give it to her. I’m sure she’ll keep it somewhere nice and high andprobably worship it three times a day.”

Eason sneers. He folds his arms in front of his chest and says indifferently, “Valerie is not my girlfriend.”

“Then you are just a fucking fuckboy who deserves to fuck yourself in hell!” I say sternly.“ Leave mealone.”

He laughs out loud, “that’s a lot of fwords.”

I bite my lower lip in anger. I’ve always wanted to hear him explain his relationship with Valerie. But nowI’ve realized that even if it’s not Valerie, there will be someone else. He is simply too much for me.“You’ve given me the dress. Mission completed. Now can you leave?” I ask in an irritated tone.

He sits there in silence, his beautiful green eyes trailing across my face. Tension gradually builds up atthis moment and I feel my cheek getting hotter under his intense gaze.

No girls can last more than ten seconds under that gaze. I have to pinch myself to remain sane.

Eventually he speaks up in a gentle tone, “Hey. Are you done being mad at me? Are we still on thatbreak?”

“Let me give you a dating language 101. ‘On-a-break’ means breaking up. Get it?” I say that quickly andfeel pretty proud of myself.