Claimed by the Villainess’s Brother

Chapter 19

“Please don’t tell me you’d stoop so low as to eavesdrop for your sister?” I snapped, my irritation rising.

Lucas tilted his head, a smirk playing at his lips. “You’re so quick to jump into bed with me, but you can’t say hi?”

“Seriously, you are an as*hole.”

He simply grinned, clearly amused, and didn’t offer a reply. Instead, he casually pulled out the chair Elena had vacated and slid into it, settling so close that our shoulders touched. When I tried to stand, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me back down with a firm but surprisingly gentle grip.

“This isn’t a coincidence, right?” I sighed, glancing at him sideways.

“It could be,” he replied, his tone light but with a teasing lilt that made my irritation spike. “Or it could be fate.”

I glowered at him. “You don’t look like someone who believes in fate or destiny.”

“Why are you always judging me?”

“Because you’re not answering truthfully.”

He clicked his tongue. “Always so suspicious. Don’t you remember me texting you and asking about the best study spots on campus?”

I paused, my frown deepening as I searched my memory. I do remember him asking that.

And darn it.

I did remember having told him about this place.

Mine and Elena’s sacred place.

“Well, I’m using this spot now, so you should go to the study hall instead,” I told him, pushing his side in an attempt to get him to leave. Elena could change her mind about studying and return. I didn’t want her to see I was talking to the brother of her bully.

But instead of moving, Lucas leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a murmur. “I wonder why you’re always going out of your way to help Elena.”

His tone was contemplative, as if he was genuinely curious, but it was also tinged with something that made me feel defensive.

I stopped pushing and furrowed my brow at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged. “You’re always looking out for her. Makes me wonder why.”

“Elena’s my friend. That’s what friends do. They look out for each other.”

“It must be a relief for her, having a considerate friend like you. Because it can’t be easy being on her side.”

“It actually is quite easy,” I retorted.

Lucas met my gaze, his expression a mixture of curiosity and doubt, as if he wasn’t entirely convinced.

“I don’t have to be anything but myself when I’m with her,” I continued, my frustration giving way to earnestness. “It takes a lot of pressure off, knowing I don’t have to wear a mask like everyone else in this school. A relief? Sure, but she’s not the kind of person who needs other people’s sympathy to get by. She’s not as pitiable and pathetic as you think. I’m just the busybody who can’t let her be.”

His gaze softened. “I thought you felt bad for her.”

I scoffed. “Feel bad for her? I’ve never felt that way. Elena’s stronger than people give her credit for, and she doesn’t need anyone’s pity. Least of all mine. I’m just… there. Because I want to be. Because she’s someone I look up to.”

“Why?”

“She’s just… she’s amazing,” I said, my voice filled with admiration. “Her strength, her kindness, the way she handles everything with such grace… it’s inspiring.”

Lucas absorbed my words in contemplative silence, his face a mask of unreadable calm. He leaned back slightly in the chair, his arm still around me, and his gaze drifted off into the distance.

“So, you’ve also been watching Fernazo all this time, huh?”

I froze, unable to meet his eyes.

I wanted to be angry because he really was eavesdropping, but I couldn’t. His tone had been casual when he asked that question, but the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine, making me afraid to look anywhere but straight ahead.

His hand tightened around my shoulder. “Did you like him too?”

I took a deep breath, feeling the tension coil in my chest. Slowly, I turned to give him a serene look, even though I wanted to glare at him.

“We grew up together and go to the same school, Lucas. Even if I didn’t intend to, of course, I'd keep seeing him around.”

Lucas’s dark gaze was scrutinizing, studying every detail of my face as if searching for something. “But did you like him?”

“His face, yes. Who doesn’t appreciate something that handsome?” I began fiddling with the corner of my textbook, my fingers tracing the worn edges as I spoke. “But if you’re asking if I’m one of those people desperate for his attention, then no, I’m not."

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t like him that way,” I said, my irritation starting to slip through. “And why are you interrogating me like this?”

He shrugged, his hand casually reaching for my pen, which he began to twirl between his fingers. “I’m only looking out for you, you know. Wouldn’t want you getting caught up in a love triangle between your best friend and that guy.”

“A love triangle?” I repeated in disbelief. “Seriously, Lucas? There’s no way that’s ever going to happen.”

For a brief second, something serious flickered in his eyes, but it was gone before I could pin it down.

“You say that now,” he murmured, still fiddling with the pen, “but you never know. Emotions can get complicated, especially when you’re so close to someone. It’s not hard to imagine things getting... messy.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you? Trying to make something out of nothing.”

“How should I say it?” He lifted his other hand from my shoulder and began toying with the end of my ponytail. “You’re someone who doesn’t have any vigilance at all. And when something does happen, you still pretend like it was nothing and endure it all alone.”

I couldn’t help it. My frustration boiled over, and I slapped his shoulder.

“You’re impossible, you know that? There’s nothing going on between me and Jonathan, and there never will be. Stop trying to stir up drama where there isn’t any.” Then, a sudden realization hit me, and I gasped. “This is your plan, isn’t it? To turn Elena against me? Is this what you’re trying to do now?”

Lucas’s response was a burst of deep laughter, genuine and unexpected. The sound caught me off guard, not just because it was so unexpected, but also because of how handsome he looked when he laughed like that. It made me flush, my irritation momentarily forgotten.

“You are, aren’t you?” I hesitantly asked.

His laughter faded into a low chuckle as he gave me an amused, almost condescending look. “And why, exactly, would I want to do that?”

“Because Luna is your sister. She’s already made it clear how she feels about Elena and me, so maybe you’re just helping her out.”

Lucas stared at me for a moment, his amusement not fading. Then he grasped my chin between his thumb and forefinger and gently tilted it side to side.

“You’re being ridiculous, Coline.”

“No, I’m not,” I insisted, pushing his hand away. “I wouldn’t put it past you to do something like that.”

He shook his head as if he were done with the conversation.

“Don’t act like I’m making a stupid conclusion when you keep asking about Jonathan,” I pressed. “If it’s not about that, then why are you being like this?”

This time, he gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Why do you think?”

My mind raced with confusion.

Part of me wondered if he had feelings for me. Why else would he be so invested in me like this?

But that seemed impossible. Lucas had always been a master of games and manipulation, and part of me feared that he was just enjoying making me doubt myself.

“I don’t know,” I muttered, turning away. “I can’t read minds, can I?”

Lucas didn’t reply, and I could feel the weight of his gaze boring into the side of my head. The moment stretched on, filled only by the soft rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of the school grounds. Finally, he removed his arm from around my shoulders and dragged my textbook towards him.

His sudden shift in focus was jarring, and I blinked at him, confused.

“We should study,” he declared, his voice matter-of-fact.

I gave him a look. “Wait, that can’t have been your intention all along.”

A mysterious smirk tugged at his lips. “If you knew my real intentions, you’d probably run screaming.”

Even without knowing, I already felt like running.

I raised an eyebrow, ignoring his cryptic remark. “And you think studying is a better alternative?”

Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. “This subject is boring anyway. Might as well study with you. You can focus, right?”

There was a challenge in his tone, as if he knew there was no way I’d agree to stay in this secluded corner of the east garden with him for longer. I wasn’t about to let him win that easily, especially with the way he was so smug about it.

“Okay, fine,” I grumbled, flipping my textbook open with a bit more force than necessary. ”But the moment you say something absurd again, I’m leaving.”

He chuckled. “Fair enough.”