In Love With My Evil Stepbrother
Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Heroic Behavior Her sharp green eyes fix on my face. Those eyes are just like Eason’s, butthey glint with an icy shine that makes the hair on my arms to stand up. “Do I know you?” she asks in asharp tone, as if I’ve already offended her. I instantly regretted calling her. Hell, why can’t I just keep mymouth shut and quietly walk away?

“Umm…” under her perching gaze, I gulp nervously before saying, “I’m Natalia. Natalia Moore. Maybeyou didn’t remember but-”

“Oh,” she raises her brow. “Right, Natalia.” She studies me, from head to toe, as if she’s examining alivestock. The way she looks at me is so arrogant and condescending that I can’t say I’m notembarrassed at all. “I’ll bring over your water Ms. Griswold,” I say hastily trying to get her to stop looking.“Wait,” she raises a hand. “Do you work here?”

“Yes.”

“But why?” she leans back squinting at me. “You and your mom don’t really need the money, right?Since…you have Shawn now.”

I instantly understand the implication behind her words. She’s implying that my mom stole Mr. Ramirezfrom her and that makes mom a shameless gold-digger.

But I know that isn’t the case at all. When mom met Mr. Ramirez, his first marriage was already on theverge of falling apart. Ms. Griswold stayed abroad most of the year and the only reason they were stillmarried was because of some legal issues. As soon as they sorted out the division of assets, they filedfor divorce instantly. And that’s when mom started dating Mr. Ramirez for the first time.

Sure, mom picked up the bad, upper-class mindset after she married to Mr. Ramirez, but I know shedidn’t marry him solely because of his money.

So how can Caroline Griswold accuse mom of her own failed marriage.

I grip on the tray, trying to sound as calm as I can manage, “I’m saving up for college on my own.” Iemphasis the last few words. “By working in a coffee shop?” a faint smile appears on her lips. “You needto take a few extra shifts to cover the tuition.”

I puff my chest and look straight into her eyes, “Thanks for the advice. Now if there’s nothing else, I’llleave you to it.”

“Actually there is,” she says in a forceful tone. “You are not busy, are you? Sit down and tell me moreabout the anniversary party.”

“There are other customers waiting for me. So if you’ll excuse me–”

“Oh dear,” she smiles looking at me with an almost pitying expression on her face. “You are a waitress ata coffee house. How busy can you be?”

I grind my teeth and scowl at her. And right at this moment, the door opens behind me and Eason walksinto the meeting room. I’ve suspected that she’s meeting someone here, but I didn’t know it was him.

Now it makes me want to escape this room even more. “Where have you been?” Ms. Griswold turns tohim. “You were gone for a long time.” “I had to take a call,” Eason pulls a chair and sits down. “Hey Nat.Didn’t know you are on call today.”

Didn’t know my ass. It’s obvious that he asked his mom to meet him here.

“So as I was saying, when do you think is a good time to-”

“Mom, I’ll stop you right here,” Eason interrupts her without hesitation. “I’m not meeting the girl you setme up with. End of discussion.”

What? I’m startled by the information I just received. Ms. Griswold is asking him to meet a girl? Hismarriage partner perhaps? I knew this day would eventually come…but so soon? I instantly feel a surge

of mixed emotions. It’s really none of my business since we’ve already broken up. But I just can’t stopmyself from picturing the girl in my head. What’s she like? I bet she must be elegant and beautiful, andshe must come from a well-off family. She and Eason will make a lovely couple for sure. I blink and try tofight back those jealous dark feelings.

Ms. Griswold’s voice turns cold immediately, “End of discussion? Eason, where’s your manner? Youbetter give me a very good reason for this. I’m not asking you to marry her tomorrow, only for you to takeher to the anniversary party.”

“I have no interest in being your puppy,” Eason sneers. I almost admire him for standing up to Ms.Griswold like this.

“Plus, I already have a date for the party,” he announces calmly. “And may I ask whom that is?” his momnarrows her eyes dangerously. A bed feeling crosses my mind and I instantly want to escape the scene.But before I can do that, Eason points a finger at me and says, “I’m going to the party with Nat.” I feelhard to breath, as the way Ms. Griswold looking at me is absolutely terrifying. “You are out of your mind,young man,” Ms. Griswold snap. “What are you thinking? Going to the party with her? She is nothingmore than a—”

“She is dad’s stepdaughter. She’s my sister. And most importantly, she is my friend. I bet I’ll have a muchbetter time with her at the party than with some strange girls that I’ve never met before.”

With that said, he stands up from his seat and casts his eyes down on his mom’s angry face.” And don’tinsult her in front of me. She doesn’t need to tolerate your bad temper.”

What he did was crazy…but so cool. I am still processing everything that just happened and the nextsecond he walks over to me

and takes my hand, “let’s go.”

Then he simply drags me out of the room and leaves his mom alone in the room.

I follow him all the way downstairs. He’s going to take me out of the coffee house, but I stop abruptly

“Wait,” I frown. “What was that?”

“What was what?” he turns back to face me.

“Are you using me again to irritate your mom?” I ask, a little suspicious.

His face drops instantly, “No. Why do you always assume the worst of me?”

“Umm…because you have a history?” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “Otherwise, why do you haveto meet her here? You know I work here.” He sighs deeply, “I wanted to see you, OK? You were avoidingme all the time. And” “And?” I hold my breath involuntarily. His green eyes lock with mine, “And I wantyou to be my date to the anniversary party.”