In Love With My Evil Stepbrother

Chapter 68: Meeting Again Even Eason being here would be less of a surprise for me. Mr. Ramirez needs to talk to me? But about what? What could possibly bring him from the east coast to the west? I swallow hard and step aside, whispering under my breath,“ Please come in.”

Mr. Ramirez makes his way through the door and then nods at Liam, who still seems very confused at the moment.

“Umm Nat? Who is this again? Liam asks me with a frown.

Right at this moment, dad and Hallie follow us out of the dining room. Dad freezes the moment he lays eyes on Mr. Ramirez-of course he recognizes his ex-wife’s current husband.

“Sorry for intruding,” Mr. Ramirez says calmly, his eyes glancing around the room. “I just need a moment with Natalia.”

“What? Why?” Dad takes an instinctive step forward and snaps. “Did-did something happen to Alicia?”

“Oh no, it’s nothing like that. Nothing urgent. I really just need 5 minutes alone with Natalia,” Mr. Ramirez says.

I’m slightly relieved hearing that mom is ok, but it makes me even more curious about what he is going to say to me.

Eventually Hallie breaks the silence, “Nat dear, maybe you can use the laundry room? It’s just around the corner… Liam do you mind—”

WW

“Yeah sure. Follow me please,” Liam immediately nods.

He leads us to the small laundry room down the hall and opens the door for us. Before I follow Mr. Ramirez inside, he stops, me grabbing my arm and quickly whispers to my ear, “I’m

right outside, OK?”

I know he is worried, which is really sweet. So I smile at him gratefully and close the door behind me.

Then we are finally alone, in this dark little room with a musty smell hanging in the air. I’m still weighing my words, but Mr. Ramirez simply goes straight to the point:

“You and Eason were together.”

And just like that, like a huge iron hammer smashing right into my face, my entire world crumbles down at once. A thousand emotions surge through me, and the most obvious one is guilt.

This is the man who protected me, fed and sheltered me, brought me into his family and treated me like his daughter. I still remembered that he drove me to school himself on the first day of school, just to make sure that I wasn’t overwhelmed by anxiety.

LI

But how did I repay him? I slept with his son.

“Is it true?” 

I hear him asking me again.

There’s a lump in my throat, making it impossible for me to say a full word. So I can only choke and nod, my eyes filled with tears of shame.

I don’t know how he found out about this…but the least I can do now is stay honest and own up to my own fault.

ILIST

the dark

1 TV

into

head to toe. “I let you down and I-I don’t know what I was thinking…I’m so ashamed of myself…” He takes a quick step forward and gently pats my shoulder, like what he did on the first day of my school to cheer me up. I hear his deep and soft voice in the dark saying, “Don’t feel bad about yourself. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s Eason’s, not yours. You

1

LI

Eason confessed everything to me. He was still trying

that’s why I haven’t heard from Eason at all, no phone call, no messages. I was slightly shocked by his unusual calmness, but

wiping the corner of my eyes with his handkerchief. “And that’s working, right? As long as we are kept apart like this, he will forget about

11

LLLL

while trying to ignore the obvious pain

my surprise, Mr. Ramirez shakes his head heavily, “It works fine at first. But Eason kept trying to escape and got into a few fights with the bodyguard. A week ago,

shut to stop

worst,” Mr. Ramirez adds. “He refused to work with the doctor not let anyone treat his injuries, unless I agree to

I understand why Mr. Ramirez came this far

through my gritted teeth.”

“…I’m afraid so. Yes.”

me. I’m not ready to face him. I worked really hard to

“Natalia! Are you OK?”

I drop to the ground. I cling to

this is

with a low voice. “Maybe we

He will be here in

ready. My men will stay close nearby. If he overreacts, they will take him away by force.” I nod stiffly. My mind remains a blank. “Let’s go

LLI

LL

and lets me go out first. Liam is right outside, leaning against the wall and waiting for

asks with a frown, shooting a glare

“Mr. Ramirez is leaving. Oh,

to return the handkerchief to him but it is covered with stains right now. So my hand hangs

keep it,” Mr. Ramirez gives me a faint smile. “Don’t miss your mom. She will be fine.

LLLLL

not

“Thank you,” I murmur.

turns around to me and says, “Natalia, always remember what’s right and what’s wrong. Don’t let

to go through that painful heartbreak

***

left, my family immediately gathers around. I can tell they are worried. “What does he want?” dad growls. “Dragged you into the little room and

so exhausted right now. Letting out a huge sigh, I wave dismissively at my dad, “Don’t

crying for?!” I ignore dad and turn to Liam, “Does our date still count?” It takes him a second to realize what

but Hallie stops him, “GO

back to the dining room, giving us an opening