Chapter 5

• Violet's POV
• Lucian's hands were slowly but surely riding up to dangerous places. His right hand had somehow slipped in between the bathrobe and was roaming my bare thigh, teasingly going up.
• While his left hand was on my neck, a wild thought of him snapping my neck gave me chills, but the lust of evidence in his eyes assured me.
• "What are you trying to do?"
• "What does it look like? You sure love to ask obvious questions" His face leaned down, coming a few inches away from mine.
• His breath... He drank? I could perceive the rich scent of fruity wine in his breath.
• "Y…you are drunk" I tried to push him away, but those hard muscles beat against my skinny arms.
• "No, it is a fruity wine. I have some more if you want". He leaned in further, his lips hovering over mine as his eyes bored into mine.
• 'Kiss me before I think of pushing you away' I wanted to yell, but I could only close my eyes and anticipate his like on mine.
• "You were pushing me away just now. Why are you closing your eyes, expecting a kiss?" His voice was filled with obvious mockery.
• I wanted to report a good comeback, but I couldn't think of any...wait!
• "Your breath stinks and I don't want to see your face" I felt stupid as soon as I said that, is this my best? Kill me now!
• I was in for a little surprise because Lucian's face twitched. I mean he's not offended, right?
• "Really? Why don't you want to see my face?" He wheezed out as if trying to restrain his rage.
• "That... That is... Uhm... You are "
• Stop stuttering! I want to pull my hair so badly now. Why can't I be outspoken? Why can't I say mean things and not care about how he feels afterward?
• "You can't say?"
• "I don't want to see you or be around you, whether in school or at home" I blurted out.
• The bottled emotion from that morning is pouring out. He can't do whatever he wants with me because I'm not a complete push over.
• "Just like you don't want to be seen with me. " I needed to get away from him. I suddenly felt sheer hatred for him.
• Within a day of becoming family with him, he made me feel a series of emotions. I should stay away from him. I should be the invisible one as usual.
• For some reason I deemed it stupid, seeing him with narrowed eyes full of rage looked hot to me, as in sexy hot! I must be mad, right? The arousal pooling between my thighs is evidence that something is wrong with me!!!
• I was surprised when he moved back, his expression turning blank, he gave me one last unreadable glance and walked out of the kitchen.
• "What was that?" I asked myself, confused.
• He... did he just leave me hanging?
• That is what I wanted, but why does it hurt when he left, just as much as his words this morning did?
• And why am I affected?
• We are siblings!
• I can't have such an attraction to him. I reaffirmed and completed my cleaning before leaving the kitchen.
• ***
• My day at school was a lonely one because Brenda decided not to show up today. I moved around trying to be the wallflower I have always been.
• Brenda is a social media influencer. She had a gig to shoot this morning, an important one that she had to forfeit for today's classes. So I was all by myself trying to avoid the Queen Bees in school.
• I caught sight of Lucian twice, but I made sure he didn't see me. I didn't want to know if he would ignore me as I told him to. I had avoided him this morning too, ignoring my Mum's asking me about why I refused to ride with him.
• Archer let me have a chauffeur for myself. He doted on me and reprimanded Lucian, much to my Mum's dismay.
• "You are being unfair. She came home drunk and Lucian took her home. Why is she being difficult now?"
• "Lucian was probably rude to her", Archer reasoned, while sipping his coffee. He gave me a wink.
• I guess my stepfather likes me.
• "Violet, right?" I was pulled out of my thoughts by a sharp and tiny voice behind me as I made my way to the school gate.
• "Yeah. And you are...?". The face was unfamiliar, big eyes, a small nose and mouth. She was cute. She was shorter than I am too.
• "I'm Layla. I have something for you" She smiled innocently.
• "Something for me?" I was confused.
• I used to see her around, but we never spoke to each other unless necessary, like group work or something of that sort.
• " We should go somewhere quiet" She suggested and pulled me before I could reply.
• We sat at the popular café across from the school and ordered Boba tea as Layla insisted.
• " I'm an artist. I painted a realistic picture of you without your permission, but I drew it for you though" She hesitated, looking down at her entwined fingers.
• "I... I wanted to be your friend but didn't know how to approach you and... The painting is not a bribe. I just... You are so pretty that I couldn't resist painting" She continued anxiously, stuttering in the process.
• "Thank you. Can I see the painting? And you are welcome to be my friend". I was surprised that there was someone who wanted to be my friend. At school.
• She was even hesitant about it. Am I unapproachable?
• "Now? You want to see the drawing now? And you... I can be your friend?" Layla asked excitedly.
• "Yes, yes"
• "Oh my god! Thank you so much! " She hurried out of her seat to my side and gave me a bone-crushing hug, her flowery scent invading my nostrils.
• "The drawing is at home. We can go see it together if you don't mind coming". She batted her eyelashes at me as if to convince me with her cuteness.
• Fine, I needed a distraction anyway. I didn't want to go home early, and I couldn't concentrate on reading in the library as usual. I pulled out my phone and texted my chauffeur.
• He arrived at the café in three minutes. He was already waiting for me at school when I texted him.
• Layla stared at me wide-eyed when the middle-aged man came out and opened the back door of the car for us.
• "He's here for you? I mean he works for you?" She pulled me closer to her and whispered.
• "Yes" I know she is surprised that I have a chauffeur driving such an expensive car to pick me up from school.
• We got in, and she told Mr Liam her address. The car started just as Layla snatched my phone out of my hand.
• She typed her number and texted herself before handing me back the device.
• ' You are from a Conglomerate family?'
• Her message came a few seconds later. She motioned me to reply to her.
• 'You can say that'
• ' I knew it! Those bitches in school think you wear knockoffs. Just because you are a scholarship student, they don't believe you can afford the bags and shoes you wear.'
• Layla typed furiously, her cute face morphing into an adorable frown as she typed.
• ' Don't bother about what they say'
• 'They are jealous of you. Don't worry, I will chew off anybody that insults you from now on. '
• ' Thank you, Ayla '
• "Ayla? You gave me a nickname too? I should have approached you earlier."
• ***
• We arrived at Layla's house. It was a cozy home. Just how I picture my dream home. Not big buildings with empty rooms.
• "Welcome to my humble abode" Layla cheered as we stepped on the porch. She retrieved the keys from underneath the third flower pot on the porch and unlocked the door.