In Love With My Evil Stepbrother

Chapter 43: Arranged Marriage Oh. My. God.

| almost don’t know if | should laugh or spit in her face. But there’s one thing I'm sure of: she has absolutely no self-respect. She can reduce herself to Eason’s play toy all she wants. I'm not following her example.

Yet before | can voice out my thought, Eason speaks up before me, “Val just cut if off.” Valerie widens her eyes in surprise, as if she didn’t expect Eason to go against her. But Eason has already risen up from his seat and walked up to her with one hand in his pocket. He takes the dress from Valerie's hand and hands it back to mom with a faint smile, “Mrs. Ramirez, you have really a good taste. I'm sure everyone would fall for this dress. But we shouldn't step in like this. Sorry about that.” Mom's face remains cold even in front of his compliment. I'm sure she’s just as offended as | am.

“Don’t worry about it dear,” mom gives him a polite yet frosty smile. “If your girlfriend likes it, it's totally fine she can keep it. Like | said, there are plenty of other choices for us to choose from.” She ignores Eason’s hand and turns to me, “Nat sweetheart. Are you ready to leave?” | immediately stand up, “Yeah totally.” | follow mom and march outside without even looking back. | didn’t change my mind about Eason simply because he stopped Valerie's madness. He's still an asshole. | guess he was just embarrassed by Valerie's behavior.

When we left the store, mom lets out a long sigh, “Dear lord-what was that? That girl has absolutely no courtesy.” “Yeah...that's Valerie.” | respond with a bitter tone. Guess Eason really likes the bitch type. “And she’s in the sschool as you right? Has she ever treated you badly?” “A bit. But | don’t care much about what her.” “You are doing the right thing, sweetie. Just ignore her,” Mom gently pats my shoulder.” Because soon enough there'll be someone else to take care of her.” | can guess whom my mom is referring to, “You are talking about Eason’s mom, right?” “Yes. Shawn mentioned it toonce...Caroline has picked Eason’s marriage partner a long tago. He can date whoever he wants when he’s still young. But you guys are going to college next year, so | guess Caroline will introduce the girl to Eason very soon. She will definitely get rid of any cheap chicks around Eason before that girl comes into the picture.” My mouth parts in shock hearing this.

What the fuck...arranged marriage? And this is already the 21st centuries? “Are you serious?” | gasp in a rather shrill voice, “A marriage partner? Is Eason aware? Is he OK with this?” Mom givesa suspicious look and | quickly hide away the panic on my face, “I- | was just curious, nothing else.” “Well, Eason doesn’t have much choice, isn't he? Caroline Griswold is a very strong woman. If she has picked the right daughter-in-law, I'm positive that she’ll force Eason down the aisle if she has to. And this is how upper society works.” “But you and Mr. Ramirez married out of love,” | point out urgently. “Shawn is the head of the family, so he doesn’t have to listen to anyone. But there's a long way ahead of Eason before he can officially take control of his own life,” mom pauses and looks atagain. “Since when do you care so much about Eason?” My lips twist with bitterness, “I don't...just a little curious.” How naive ofto actually believe that there's a future ahead of us.

Eason already has his life all planned out. He will probably go to Harvard and take over the company after graduation. Then he will marry the girl that his mother has chosen for him and have beautiful children with her.

What we have is nothing more than a short summer fling.

When we get home, | go straight up to my room and lock myself in. Mom callsfor dinner once, but | simply tell her that I'm not hungry. I've lost all my appetite because of what happened this afternoon.

| lie on my bed staring at the ceiling spacing out, till someone knocks on my door. “Mom, | told you. I'm not hungry!” | raise my voice. Then the doorknob turns, and someone just open the door open and walks in. | jerk around and gaze in terror on him, “How did you I locked the door!” Eason showsthe key in his hand and then shoves it back into his pocket. He closes the door behind him, walks over and sits down on the bed, like he’s the owner of this room.

“Excuse me? Hello?” | sit up and snap. “Did | invite you in?” “I invited myself,” he raises his brow with a wicked grin on his lips. “And you didn’t ask for my permission the first time, remember?” | exhale a long breathe in frustration. | don’t have the energy to deal with him today.

“Just say what you want. OK?” He shrugs and places a nicely wrapped box on my bed. | instantly recognize the label.

I'm speechless. “Please tellit's not that silver dress.” “Well, no surprise this time,” he smiles. “You like it?” “You fucking kidding me?” | kick away the box with my feet. “You really think I still want it? It’s already tainted by your dear girlfriend. Give it to her. I'm sure she'll keep it somewhere nice and high and probably worship it three times a day.” Eason sneers. He folds his arms in front of his chest and says indifferently, “Valerie is not my girlfriend.” “Then you are just a fucking fuckboy who deserves to fuck yourself in hell!” | say sternly.” Leavealone.” He laughs out loud, “that’s a lot of fwords.” | bite my lower lip in anger. I've always wanted to hear him explain his relationship with Valerie. But now I've realized that even if it's not Valerie, there will be someone else. He is simply too much for me. “You've giventhe dress. Mission completed. Now can you leave?” | ask in an irritated tone.

He sits there in silence, his beautiful green eyes trailing across my face. Tension gradually builds up at this moment and | feel my cheek getting hotter under his intense gaze.

No girls can last more than ten seconds under that gaze. | have to pinch myself to remain sane.

Eventually he speaks up in a gentle tone, “Hey. Are you done being mad at me? Are we still on that break?” “Letgive you a dating language 101. ‘On-a-break’ means breaking up. Get it?” | say that quickly and feel pretty proud of myself.