In Love With My Evil Stepbrother
Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Three Years Ago

Natalia’s POV

“What? Where did this come from?”

I almost laugh out loud.

That is the most ridiculous I’ve ever heard. I’m literally shaking with laughter.

Before I moved to Miami for good, Jenna flied here once and stayed with me for a week to help mepack. She met Eason a few times that summer. 1

But it was such a long time ago! And they didn’t even speak to each other. So something is definitelywrong with her memory.

“You got it wrong. We were friends, but nothing more. In fact, I saw him dated at least 4 girls thatsummer. I even had dinners with his girlfriend! Do you still think he had a crush on me?”

Jenna frown, shaking her head in perplexity. “No, I’m pretty sure about it. He used to stare at you in afunny way, like he was ready to take you as his personal prisoner any minute.”

“Ewww, gross!” I shiver in disgust. “You are totally fantasizing things. He was probably just sick of mefollowing him around.”

“No! I know it for sure because-”

“Because?”

“One day you were out with your dad and I was waiting for you in your room. He came knocking onyour door, with a bouquet and a letter in his hands. When I told him that you weren’t here, he asked meto give the flower and the letter to you. He didn’t seem like his usual self that day. He was shy andstuttered a lot. It was kind of cute though. But he seems like a total asshole now.”

I’m stunned.

I have absolutely no memory of this.

“Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Back up,” I hold up my hand and stop her. “When was this exactly? And wheredid you leave the flower and letter?”

“On your desk! I didn’t stay till you get back, so I just put them on your desk. Oh, and that was like aweek before we left for Miami.”

I think hard for a moment and suddenly remember that day.

I went to school with my dad to get my paperwork done. When we got home, we even bumped into Mr.Ramirez, Ms. Griswold and Eason on the doorstep. They were heading out for a charity event. Momwas upset about Mr. Ramirez going out with his ex-wife, so I ordered pizza and stayed with her.

Me and mom talked for a long time that night, about her marriage and her new life. So I remember thatday vividly.

But I have zero memory of the flower and letter.

“Wait…” Jenna gasps. “Don’t tell me you never get his flower and letter.”

“Well, I didn’t! Are you sure you left it on my desk?”

“Of course! Where else would I put it? It was sitting on your desk when I left your room. I swear.”

But I didn’t get it. For sure.

If both of us are telling the truth and none of us suffer from memory loss, then there’s only oneexplanation

“Someone took it before you came back,” Jenna murmurs.

A shiver travels down my spine immediately.

So Eason did give me a flower and letter three years ago. But hat’s the letter about? What was hetrying to tell me?

And most importantly, who came into my room and took those things without me knowing?

“So who was in your home that day?” Jenna asks.

“Well…” I try hard to think back. “There was me and my mom of course. Mr. Ramirez and Ms. Griswoldwas also there before I got home. And there were a few maids. So I guess 5-6 people?”

I don’t think any of the maids would take my stuff away without my permission.

That left me with three people, Mr. Ramirez, Ms. Griswold and my mom.

And Eason, if he came back and retrieved those things himself.

“I bet it’s that old hag!” Jenna cries, waving her fists furiously in the air. “How could

she”

Yet before she finishes, the door suddenly opens. We snap our head back and replace Eason standing bythe door with a tray of food.

His eyes light up immediately when he sees me.

“Thank god you are awake,” he strides over and kisses me on my forehead. “Your mom would skin mealive if anything happened to you. She is venting it all on my dad right now.”

Jenna suddenly cried out in surprise, pointing a finger at us and yells, “What the hell? You-are you guys—”

“Shh. No one knows about it yet!” I shush her. “I’ll tell you in a minute.”

She pouts and mutters some complaints. When Eason turns around to fix my food, she mouths me:Ask him!

I gulp, suddenly feeling a little nervous.

“So Eason...?”

“Yeah.”

“Three years ago, and you’ve probably already forgotten about it…but before I left, you went into myroom and gave me some flowers? And a letter? Do you remember?”

A silence fills the room.

I hold my breath waiting anxiously for his reply, and so does Jenna. Yet Eason doesn’t

say anything for a long time. He slowly pours a carton of milk into the glass and turns at me, his lipscurving up a little.

“Did I?” he asks in a light tone. “I forgot.”

Jenna is such a hot temper, and she cries out immediately, “No way! How could you forget? It’s a weekbefore she left and—”

“No. Doesn’t ring a bell. Sorry,” he shrugs and hands me the milk.

Jenna wants to say something, but I stop her with a look.

It’s odd. Something happened but Eason doesn’t want to talk about it. If he decides to keep his mouthshut, there’s nothing we can do to force out the truth. Plus, I have some trust issues with him. I’d ratherreplace out the truth myself than ask for his side of the

story.

He watches me drink the milk and says, “I’ll go see if they are done talking with the lawyer. Your momwill interrogate you later. Don’t let it slip.”

Oh shoot! I almost forgot. There’s still that business with Zack! So did he die? Did they know I waskidnapped? What should I say to mom!

I want to ask him to stay so we can work on our story together. But Eason has already turned aroundand left, like running away from a crime scene.

Jenna stares at his back and snorts, “That dude just gets weirder and weirder. You know what? I’ll helpyou replace it out. Maybe he’s planning on something super evil and wicked and you didn’t know about it.We’ll unmask the villain’s veil together.”

I sign, “Eason got a tight mouth. If he doesn’t want to tell, you can’t get it out of him.”

“From him, probably not. But he has friends, right? Maybe we can poke around and see if his friendsknow anything?”

That’s not a very bad idea actually.

“He does have a very close friend James,” I say thoughtfully. “I’ll introduce you guys later.”

Eason’s POV

I let them know that Nat is awake and head out myself. I need some air.

I’m a little fidgety, probably because too much has happened in the past two days. So I sit on the benchoutside for a long time before taking out my phone and call James.

He picks up on the first ring. “Hey man! Everything OK? You all disappeared right after the dance. Whathappened?! All guests are still talking about it. Rumors are flying everywhere! And what about yourrevenge plan on Nata”

I interrupt his ranting, “We’ll forget about the plan and put it behind us now.”

“…What?” he sounds shocked.

I take in a deep breath and clear my mind. Her face appears in my head again, which suddenly makesme feel more determined about my decision.

“She was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend Zack. And I went to save her,” I say in a low

voice.

“What?!! Fuck why did he—”

“And I realized that I would do anything for her just to keep her safe. So no one can hurt her, and thatincludes me.”

I prepare myself before continuing.

“… I think I’m in love with her.”

The moment I say that, all the frustration and anxiousness in my heart vanish like magic.

Yes, I love her.

I have been loving her for a very long, long time. Can’t lie to myself anymore.

I set a huge trap for her but it’s me who end up fallen.

James is too shocked to say anything for a long time. But he eventually sighs, “I’d be lying if I said Inever thought of this. So…abort the plan?”

“Yeah. And keep your mouth shut about everything. She even mentioned three years ago today. I don’tknow why, probably to test me or something. But I swept it under the rug. So just don’t go near thatsubject,” I warn him.

“OK, OK, chill. I won’t say anything if you don’t. So what now? Just happily ever after?”

I can’t help but smile, picturing my future with her.

“Yeah, I guess so. We’ll still have to face my dad and her mom, and my mom of course. But basically…happily ever after. Yes.”

We’ll be the happiest couple on earth if she doesn’t know what I planned.

So she can never replace out about it. Absolutely not.