Chapter 87
-LANA
(+39)
“Did you see the way he was looking at you?” Isabella teases me.
I couldn’t deny that I felt the heat in Apollo’s gaze when he caught sight of what I was wearing. Yet, I was disappointed that he didn’t act on it. He simply let me walk by without uttering a single word.
I felt there was so much left unsaid, and time was slipping away. I wanted to stop him, I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck and climb onto him. There were so many things I still wished to experience with my step–brother but sadly, I didn’t think any of that was possible anymore.
“Stop looking so down,” Isabella says when I didn’t respond. “I brought you out here to help you clear your mind a bit. The sun’s shining brighter than usual, so let’s make the most of it.”
was already making the most of it.
I was lying on a mat next to the pool, but my thoughts were consumed by Apollo, no matter how hard I tried to push him out of my head. How could I possibly ignore someone living under the same roof?
Who was I kidding? Even if Apollo moved halfway around the world, it wouldn’t change anything. He would still occupy my thoughts, making it impossible to move on. I think Isabella understood this as well. She knew just how attached I was to Apollo.
Just then, I heard my mother’s voice as the door swung open.
“Hi girls, she greets us. “Looks like you’re enjoying a day by the pool. I might join you; it’s been a rough few days.”
I chose not to respond. She was the one who agreed to have these people stay with us until the engagement ceremony, so she had no right to complain. She taught us that every action has consequences, and now she was facing hers.
“Well, mother,” Isabella replies, choosing not to stay quiet about the matter, “that’s what happens when you invite your husband’s ex–wife to live with us, knowing she has harbored animosity towards you for years.”
My mother sighs. “It’s almost over, and soon everything will go back to normal. I promise.”
Inod, remaining silent once again. She seemed to believe that things would go back to normal but I knew that it never will.
“Did you say something to upset Apollo’s mother, Lana?” she asks, her eyes narrowing.
1 frown. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve noticed she seems to harbor a lot of resentment towards you,” she admits. “It feels like she’s much angrier with you than she’s ever been with me.”
Surprised that even she had picked up on Mrs. Reign’s attitude towards me, I removed my sunglasses to meet her gaze.
Isabella glanced at me, equally astonished that our mother had noticed, especially considering she had no idea of the connection between Apollo and
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Thaven’t done anything to offend her,” I assure her. “I don’t understand why she feels that way about me.”
Well, I could think of one good reason for her animosity, but I clung to the hope that she didn’t know about Apollo and me being mates.
“Whers are they?” abella asks. “I just want to know where to avoid so we can steer clear of thern today.”
My mother smiles. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about them for most of the day. They have plans. In fact, they just left.”
“What plans?” my sister asks suspiciously
11:33 Wed, 16 Jul i GO
Chapter 87
“I overheard them telling your stepfather they were going ring shopping,” she replies.
My heart sank, and the air thickened with an uncomfortable silence. The mention of rings made everything seem more real. I had hoped the engagement wasn’t serious, that it wouldn’t happen. But now, knowing they were out looking for rings, I felt like I was getting closer to losing my mate.
“I can’t believe Apollo is actually getting engaged,” my mother continues, unaware of how her words were affecting me. “I’ve seen him bring home so many girls over the years; I never thought he’d finally settle down. But I did notice a change in his behavior even before he agreed to marry Jada. I guess he was maturing.”
His shift in behavior started when I found out we were mates, but I could never tell my mother that.
“How about we go inside and whip something up to eat?” Isabella suggests, practically pulling our mother out of the pool area. I mouthed a silent thank you to her as I watched them go. I was grateful she had forced our mother to leave; I didn’t want to hear any more about Apollo’s engagement.
I leaned my head back, ready to pull the shades over my eyes again when I suddenly noticed a figure in the house, looking down at me. It didn’t take long to recognize my mate. His intense gaze roamed across my body, making me gasp in surprise.
How long had he been standing there, watching me? Anger surged within me. How could he gaze at me like that after constantly pushing me away? Meanwhile, his soon–to–be wife was out picking out rings!
I wouldn’t deny that his attention stirred something inside me, but those feelings were tangled. If he wanted a show, I’d be happy to give him one.
After ensuring the curtains were drawn tight so no one could see into the pool area–except for Apollo, who had a view from his room–I prepared to get to work. My goal was simple: to tease him in every way I could.
I knew his eyes were still on me, I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up in response. Without waiting another second, I remove my bikini top so that he can have a full view of my breasts as I lie flat on my back.
If he thought I was going to make this easy for him, he had another thing coming.
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