Chapter 10
723words
But when did things change?
Probably in high school when Sansa Woods bought me that novel subscription.
The "bad boy falls for innocent girl" trope was everywhere, and it made me sick to my stomach.
What kind of Stockholm syndrome nonsense was this—victims falling for their tormentors!
Back then, Danny Lawrence—a year younger but already in high school—was cooking in our kitchen.
He'd rolled up the sleeves of his black sweater, kneading dough with strong hands, veins prominent against taut forearms.
I stared, practically drooling.
Danny Lawrence caught me staring and smirked. "That hungry, huh?"
His sharp features looked devastatingly handsome, and I blushed from neck to ears.
You monster! He's your brother!
Even if he's not blood-related? Still not okay!
I retreated to my room and slapped my cheeks, desperate to regain composure.
What would work?
【Danny Lawrence is a school bully】【I hate school bullies】【I hate Danny Lawrence】
Childish? Yes. Effective? Absolutely. For a girl experiencing first love, it kept me from melting every time I saw Danny Lawrence.
I could act normal around Danny Lawrence again, as long as I convinced myself I hated him.
Since then, I've felt incredibly lonely, unable to share my true feelings with the person who used to be my closest confidant.
I called Sansa Woods.
"Kara, what the hell? I've already taken my pants off!"
Sure enough, I heard rustling on the other end.
I bit my lip and made a tough call. "Presidential suite for a week."
Sansa's tone flipped completely. "My lady, please come over. Your humble servant awaits."
A man's soft laughter filtered through the phone.
I returned to the bar where Sansa Woods had a booth waiting.
"Look, your brother's still here drinking with his friends. Trying to impress Cersei Wright."
I shifted uncomfortably. "Should I go over?"
Sansa Woods studied me. "Kara, what exactly are you planning?"
I wasn't sure. "Maybe smooth things over between us."
"Kara, we're adults now. No need for this hesitant bullshit. Is 'smoothing things over' really all you want?"
Her question stumped me.
"If you go over there now, you're basically declaring war on Cersei Wright—announcing you're trying to steal Danny Lawrence."
"What? Why would Danny Lawrence deserve that?"
Two women fighting over him?
"Let me put it another way," Sansa Woods said. "If you go over there, you're giving Danny Lawrence the power to choose. Be prepared to be rejected."
My brain couldn't process all this. All I could see was Danny Lawrence shielding Cersei Wright from spilled drinks.
"Hmm."
With that halfhearted response, I walked over, missing Sansa Woods shaking her head behind me.
The lively table fell dead silent when I arrived.
Danny Lawrence wouldn't look at me.
His friends practically leaped away, creating a huge gap between Danny Lawrence and Cersei Wright.
"Sister, you... you should sit down."
"I reserved this booth," Danny Lawrence said coldly. "No one decides who sits here but me."
The message was clear—he didn't want me there.
After an awkward silence, another friend tried to ease the tension.
"Sister, did you... bring something for Brother Wang?"
Danny Lawrence noticed the bag in my hand and eyed it with disdain.
I was trapped in an impossible situation. I knew Danny Lawrence would be cold, but I hadn't expected this level of humiliation.
I nodded awkwardly. "Well, little bro... brother."
"I'm not your brother!" Danny Lawrence snarled.
I choked on my words.
"Danny Lawrence, this is for you."
I held out the bag with the suit. Danny Lawrence, clearly annoyed by my persistence, suddenly stood and turned to Cersei Wright.
"Want to see what it is?"
Cersei Wright took her cue. "No, no, that's private..."
"Fine." Danny Lawrence snatched the bag from my hand, pushed through the crowd, and headed for the trash can.
A drunk man was vomiting into it, but Danny Lawrence tossed the bag in without hesitation.
He returned, arms crossed. "Kara, I will not reconcile with you. Stop deluding yourself."
Rage exploded through me. I reached for a wine bottle to crack over his head, but his quick-thinking friend had already cleared all bottles from the table.
Even Cersei Wright was clutching two glasses.
Sansa Woods dragged me away as I pointed at Danny Lawrence, cursing nonstop until she shoved me into the car.
