Angela's POV

Saturday came like a bad dream I couldn’t wake up from.

The house buzzed with people, decorations, makeup artists, and dresses. I didn’t want to wear the dress, but my mom begged me to.

“You don’t have to be happy for me,” she said. “Just be there.”

I felt those words. It's clear that she doesn't need any of my opinion in this, she just wants me to comply, that's all.

It's like she's saying, ‘if I'm not cool with it, then I should go to hell.’

Of course, I wore the dress, bitter and broken. My mother is marrying the man I once had an affair with and probably the man I might still be wanting.

I prepared for the wedding and of course, I attended.

The wedding was perfect—for everyone else. For me, it felt fake. Forced. Rushed. Something doesn't seem right, it was as if Mom didn't want this, or perhaps, she has an ulterior motive.

After the ceremony, and the pastor had finally pronounced them husband and wife, I tried to sneak away, but I bumped into someone near the hallway.

Him again.

Caleb, my class president and also the nerd that kissed me yesterday just to make his ex jealous.

“You again?” I snapped angrily.

“Unfortunately.” He hissed and angrily started to dust away invisible dirt from his collar as if I was some trash that he bumped into.

My mouth dropped open. “What are you doing here?!”

He looked me dead in the eye. “I could ask you the same thing.”

I noticed something about him, he was wearing a well tailored suit and he was looking overly too polished for just a guest. I've no idea what he was doing here, but I just hope not to meet him anymore, I already have enough going on in my head right now.

“Fuck off.” I sneered and walked away from him, angrily slamming my shoulder hard against him as I left.

I could still feel his eyes on me as I walked away, but it didn't last long because I soon descended to the basement of the event floor. I wanted to be alone for a while until Mom and Rookie were ready to leave.

After about an hour, Mom called me on the phone asking me where I was. I cleaned my tears and hurried out of the basement and we all went home together.

Mom wouldn't stop kissing Rookie in the car, fuck, I hate it, they keep acting like teenagers in love.

Later that night, our families gathered for a post-wedding dinner.

Mom sat beside her new husband, and I sat across from Rookie, like strangers tangled in a web of cold indifference.

We couldn't start eating yet because Rookie pleaded with us to wait for his son, he promised he'll be here soon.

I started to operate my phone while the three of us waited for the hell of a son to arrive.

The table was full—except for one chair, my stepbrother's.

“He’ll be here soon,” my new stepfather said. “Maybe running late.” He added softly as he kept glancing at his wristwatch.

Mom slowly shifted closer to him and carefully scooped his hand into her hands, “It's okay…. he'll come, don't worry.” She assured him with a smile then she squeezed his hand softly.

Rookie nodded softly, and I noticed the uneasiness in his eyes. He was worried that his stubborn son won't show up again just like the other time.

I couldn't help but imagine how stubborn that crazy son of his must be, to keep an entire family waiting like this. I bet I'll have to discipline the little troublemaker once we finally meet.

I couldn't lift my head up, I didn't want to lock eyes with my stepfather.

Few moments later, the door suddenly flung open like we'd been expecting.

I looked up.

Caleb walked in casually, hands in his pockets, like it was just another evening.

“There he is!” My stepfather beamed. “That’s my son.”

I froze for a minute. What the hell is happening to me?

Why him?

I felt my heart dropped to my stomach and I could hardly breathe.

Caleb… was my new stepbrother.

The same boy who caught me cheating in school during the entrance exam.

The same boy who kissed me just to bypass his ex.

And worse…

The same boy whose father I once had a one-night stand with, and also the doctor who helped me with my abortion when I got pregnant for my scumbag ex-boyfriend, Henry.

I looked down quickly, pretending to be using my fork. I could feel Caleb's eyes on me.

I didn't know what to do, if I should run away

or just pray I slump down and die for good.

I can't believe this is happening to me right now.

The boy who kissed me in school and claimed I wasn't worth his time is now standing at our dining table and just like that…we're step-siblings?

As much as I tried to hide the signs of familiarity, I couldn't help but tremble.

Dr. Rookie, noticed, I don't know how, but I saw it in his eyes, he's noticing my every move and he doesn't seem to enjoy how scared I suddenly became.

“Good evening, everyone.” Caleb greeted us all around the table and without saying any other he slipped into the chair next to me.

At this point, I couldn't even use my lungs, they became less functional.

I swallowed hard as my fingers trembled slightly around the fork I was holding.

Now I have two big secrets hanging heavily over my stepfather and stepbrother. But the one I’m most scared of is my stepfather’s. I can’t even imagine what would happen if my mom ever found out about the abortion… or the one-night stand I had with her husband. Still, the secret with my stepbrother scares me too.

My mom has always believed I’m a smart girl, always top of the class back in my old school. She has no idea I’ve been cheating my way through all along. And now, my step brother knows. Not just about the cheating, he kissed me. I mean, seriously? What kind of siblings kiss? Oh God, I’m doomed.

Most importantly, I'm scared that there might still be a pang of undeniable tension that I might still be harboring towards my stepfather—how worse could things get?

And at that moment, one question rang in my head.

How the hell am I going to survive this?