MY HYBRID STEPBROTHERS AND I

Chapter 3

VIOLET

My body was practically shaking as I went upstairs to my room.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I prayed that what I saw was not real. It could not be. My s**t streak of luck was not that bad, or was it? I was sure that what I saw was real. The insane amount of alcohol I took last night was not in my system anymore. The hangover was a testimony of that. How was I going to face the man that I had railed just a few hours ago, and he just happened to be my new family member?

What if he decided to tell them what happened? My mother would be even more disappointed with me than she already was. I shouldn’t have gone. I should have stayed at home and finished the book I was reading, or I should have even slept. This was bad. So bad. I wanted to hide out in my room, but then it did not matter because I was eventually going to meet him. No matter how long I hid, we are going to face each other one way or the other. It was just better if I went now. My mother wouldn’t let it rest that I had decided to miss the first family breakfast we had.

I stepped into the shower and had a bath that barely lasted five minutes. I wished I had more time to get ready, since I am sure she wouldn’t allow me to stay home. Not after sneaking out and embarrassing her in front of Victor. I picked up some random clothes from my travelling bag and then I brushed my short hair with my fingers. I picked up my phone and checked it.

I sucked in a breath when I realised that Oliver, my ex-boyfriend, has been blowing up my phone. I broke up with him through text and he must have been heartbroken. I was too, but just for a little while because I was not sure that he and I would last for long. We were childhood best friends and we chose to have a thing. We were just so different. I read through his messages and sighed before I popped my phone back into my pocket. I was going to reply to him when my mind was more at ease.

I strolled downstairs to the dining room. I had a few breathing exercises to calm myself down before I entered. He was sitting near his father, and his eyes were on me. I could remember them from yesterday all too well. His hair, which was rough and unkept yesterday, was now perfectly gelled neatly to the side. His tattoos were well covered with his long shirt and the boyish grin was replaced with a poker expression. He did not look like he even smiled, as opposed to the version of him that I met yesterday.

“Good morning.” I whispered to all of them after I sat down on the seat opposite of him, because it was the one nearest to my mother.

I did not want to seem too fazed. Not even a single look of surprise was in his eyes when he saw me. Has he perhaps forgotten what I looked like already? That felt like a huge blow to my ego. He said he hadn’t met a girl as gorgeous as me before. Or maybe he was just saying all of that to get to sleep with me. Of course, he was. A man like this, disgustingly gorgeous and incredibly rich. He is bound to be a serial womaniser. And I had just been used by him. Fallen into his trap like a fool.

That made me feel offended.

“Good morning, Violet. I would have asked how your night was but you did not spend it sleeping, from the looks of it.” My mother eyed me.

“I just went to take a look at the city. Lost track of time. I’m sorry.” I apologised to her, my lips pursing as I spoke. She wouldn’t even bother to ask where I was or if I was okay. She just needed to know if I had broken a rule or not.

“Your mother told you that you are going to college today?” Victor asked, chirping into the silence when it started to feel uncomfortable. “I have spoken to the Chancellor of your new school. He is going to start handling your transfer. What is it you said that you were studying?” He asked me.

“Criminology.” I muttered. I knew it was probably dumb to him. Rich people like them always went into business.

“Really?” He sounded impressed.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“That is what Aaron studied. He is now the CEO of the security company that I started when I was young. You know what, I think you should start interning there. It would make you learn more about your major while you get to know your new brother. Is that fine?” Victor asked, occasionally turning his head to my mother for approval.

I almost choked on nothing. My new brother. How could all of this be one big coincidence? LA was filled with a lot of people. Why did I have to be with the man that I was going to be sharing the house with and that I had to see everyday? Worst of all, my body still reacted to him as he was sitting across from me on the table. His face was still so attractive, like how I had seen it under the strobe lights and the moon yesterday night.

“I would love to, but I do not want to impose. I could—”

“She is going to do it.” My mother cut in, replying for me.

I knew then to keep quiet. I looked over at him— Aaron— and he was looking down at his half cleared plate of food. I wanted to know what he was thinking of. Was he thinking of yesterday night or not?

“You could also take her to school, Aaron. I’m sure you are tired, Violet. He can drive you, maybe show you around before he leaves for work. Right, Aaron?” Victor asked. He looked positively pleased like he was so sure he was doing the right thing, making his new daughter and son bond together as soon as he could.

Poor man, if only he knew.

“Right. I will do that, father.” He agreed to it with a little nod.

Aaron’s eyes met mine after and immediately, he looked away. We continued to dig into our food even though mine felt like it had the consistency of wet paper and the taste of soap. I could not enjoy my breakfast. Not with all of the anxiety that was brewing up in the pit of my stomach. After Victor and my mother had cleared their plates, a maid came in and took their plates. Mine and Aaron’s plates were still half full. I wondered if he remembered, and he was feeling just as anxious as me.

I took a glance at my mother and there was a smile on her face when her husband whispered something into her ear. I wondered then if she had married Victor because she had feelings for him or simply because of the billions he owned. She was not a materialistic person but recently before she got married, she quit her second job and I could see how she started to build resentment for her last remaining job. She hated it, and maybe she accepted the proposal because she did not want to continue that lifestyle anymore.

“We are going back upstairs. Make sure you finish your food, Violet. You should brush your hair also.” I am sure she attempted to say the last part quietly but everyone on the table had heard her.

I instinctively ran my fingers through my hair and I gave her a tightlipped smile. I was sure it was rough, from Aaron’s hands going through them multiple times yesterday.

“Good luck on your first day of school, Violet.” Victor hooked his hands with my mother before they scurried away, leaving only the both of us sitting in the dining.

I couldn’t cut through the tension with a blunt knife. It was thick. The blurred memories of yesterday were all that came to my mind, and the repercussions of it. I wished I could go back in time and change it. If only I had that kind of power, because I needed it desperately now. I had to speak to him. We were going to ride the same car, and we were going to live in this house until one of us decided to move out. All I had to do was stay as far away from him as possible.

“Listen I—” I started to speak, and he cut me off as he spoke at the exact same time I spoke.

“I am not going to take you to college.” He cut me off. His voice was still the same, dangerous and deep.

“Why?” I asked, with a raised brow.

“Can’t you drive?” He questioned.

“I can.”

“Then you can take yourself to college.” His lips formed into a thin line as he stood up from his seat, leaving his half empty plate behind.

“Jerk.” I whispered to myself.

At least now that I have seen a reaction from him, I knew he remembered my face from last night and I was just not some fleeting one-night stand that was so forgettable. It inflated my ego, but not enough to take away the crippling anxiety. Why didn’t he want to take me to school? Was I not up to his expectations, not that I really cared. Or maybe I did. Aaron was all I was thinking about as I dug into my food.

And once I was done, I headed to my car. I opened it up and ignited it. A car was coming from the garage and when I turned around, Aaron was staring at me from the driver's seat. His eyebrows were furrowed as he studied me, and then he looked away when we made eye contact. Aaron definitely hated me.

And if I said that didn’t sting a bit then I would be a liar.