Falling for a Lie: My Stepbrother's Hidden Revenge

Chapter 4

Mom and Mr. Lancelot knew Jocelyn was coming to dinner. They’d been cooking up a storm since noon.

When Lorian arrived with Jocelyn, my parents handed her a card containing a ridiculous ten million dollars–just a casual “welcome to the family” gift.

I pretended to be sick so I could just chill in my room.

But Lorian came up anyway, carrying a gift box wrapped in silver paper.

As he slipped a bracelet onto my wrist, he pulled out a blue rose–still warm from being tucked against his body.

He dropped to one knee, his eyes full of what I used to mistake for love.

“I know, being with me but can’t show up like a proper couple isn’t easy. But after the wedding, I’m still your brother. And I’ll be living with you, just like before–I’ll always be here for you.”

“Sylvia, don’t be mad at me, okay? Please?”

I looked down at the Hermès logo on the bracelet. It was literally the free gift that came with Jocelyn’s handbag.

“Whatever. I’m not mad.”

“Let’s go eat. They’ve been cooking all day for this.”

Congratulatory voices floated up from downstairs. Mom stood awkwardly by the table, treated more like hired help than family.

Lorian casually ordered her around–serve this, ladle that soup.

The rage building in my chest finally exploded.

gift he’d given me over six

over, Jocelyn appeared in my

on the floor, she smiled like

Can’t handle

you’re even more pathetic than

15:26

for a Lie:

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Chapter 4

your own mom run around like a damn maid, not even able to sit at the table–must suck, huh?”

ice in my veins. “What exactly are

into

her chat history with Lorian in my

you know? Your precious Lorian sends me videos of your little bedroom sessions every night.”

videos somehow found their way to mommy dearest? Would she have a

meltdown?”

precious

“HOW DARE YOU!”

I slapped her so

crack echoed through the room like a gunshot.

stumbled backward, crashing into a glass picture frame. Blood immediately began seeping from her palm.

The look he gave me

what the actual hell? Have you completely lost it?”

just came to invite you down for

darkened

tried to calm things down. “Sylvia didn’t mean it. There must be some misunderstanding.”