42

EMILY'S POV.

I was horrified. Why would Sadie be in my bed? When had she arrived? For how long had she been laying there? Why was she in my room? Even though her family looked down on me because they felt I wasn't good enough for John, there was something called privacy, and I had the right to…

I stopped thinking. Why was her face bloated, and her eyes red? Had she been crying?

"You broke off the engagement with John? But my family thinks… oh no. Lady Genevieve is not going to be pleased with that. It would be huge news. Everyone would think there's a huge story behind it. They might assume John cheated, or he was maltreating you, or he used to hit you… it's going to be big news.

"The reporters will want to dig up dirt on us because they'll want to know why you broke off the engagement a few days before the wedding. Doesn't that sound weird to you? Also, they're going to be wondering if it had something to do with postponing the wedding, and keeping it secret. They will assume no wedding is taking place, and then they will start to dig, and dig, and dig…"

"Woah, woah, woah, hold up. I don't need to know all that. First thing is: Why were you in my room, and why were you crying?" I asked. "You look like you cried your eyes out for hours? Did something happen?"

"Don't ask about it. It's none of your business." She snapped, and threw the blankets off her. "Breaking off your engagement is preposterous. Did you sleep with Lucas before or after breaking it?" She asked, hotly.

"Okay, I think it's my turn to say it's none of your business, and why are you the one hearing all the things you shouldn't hear? Don't you think this is weird too?"

"I'm sorry you were so unobservant that you just walked right in, and took a shower without realizing there was someone in your bed." She countered, getting to her feet.

"Like that should be my fault. You can't just walk into someone else's room, and stay there without permission. You're just Eight, I'm way older than you. Show some respect for goodness' sake, Sadie. You can't just walk in here as you please."

"Oh no, I can. This is my grandfather, and Uncle's house. All the rooms are technically mine. Now, what you have to do is announce to the public that you and John are getting married immediately when he returns." She said, commandingly, as she made her way to me.

"And why should I do that?" I asked, with a scoff.

"Because I'm going to tell my parents what you did. If it was weeks ago, then you have been lying to everyone that you're still with John." She pointed out, coming to stand in front of me, with her arms folded.

"It was John's idea to keep lying!" I said, immediately.

She was sounding so much like a politician at such a young age. Why was it her job to care about what the masses thought about her family? Shouldn't cartoons and dolls be her priority?

"What really happened when you broke the sculpted Alpha? What really happened? Was that when you said it? Why? Did John make you do something that made you break it intentionally? Did he…"

"Okay, stop interrogating me! I have no answers. This is just… a huge misunderstanding. John and I broke off our engagement…"

"I'm so telling everyone." She said, walking past me, but I grabbed her arm, and took a deep breath.

I could still remember Lady Genevieve's threat from the welcome party for Lucas.

"Okay, wait. Please don't tell them. I'll… I'll make a bargain with you. If you want more YouTube videos, or… or for Instagram, I… I will do it." I said, hating myself for the words tumbling out of my mouth.

"How about you simply do whatever I want?"

"Uh… till when?"

"Till I don't know. Till you have something on me and can break yourself free." She said, and I was reminded again of just how cruel she was.

I hesitated, and she jerked her arm out of my hands.

"If you don't want it, forget it."

"I will do it! Whatever you say. You're the boss. Okay? Now, is… is it our secret?" I asked, and she took a deep breath.

"I guess." She replied, and walked out. I bit my lip, and closed my eyes tight. She was a frustrating, disrespectful, conniving, crazy, sneaky…

She made me boil!

Why was she always the one to overhear everything bad? I couldn't imagine what would happen if she said I slept with Lucas, and broke off my engagement with John.

That would be a big problem for me. I looked at the doll I had wanted to give her, and kicked it. I didn't think she cared about dolls.

No, she cared about living people she could frustrate, and humiliate. She was just a little devil in every way.

Why did she have to be so mean? I couldn't imagine all the things she'd make me do.

For some unknown reason, we had dinner with all the kids, out on the large, extravagant balcony overlooking the pool, and Sadie kept on looking at it.

"I had like a zero on the test. I mean, I turned in a blank sheet, but when it came back to me, it was full of answers, and I had gotten a perfect score. I think Miss Prentiss is into me." Derel said, while taking off a piece of grilled salmon off its skewer with his teeth.

His mouth danced around the hot salmon, and he tried to continue talking.

"How about Jude says something?" Lucas asked, and everyone looked at Jude who was chewing on salmon slowly.

"My day was fun." She said, although her voice didn't sound anything like she had a fun day.

"What did you do?" Lucas asked.

"Math class, P. E, English, History…" She started to list out.

"I mean, Anything fun. Like meeting friends."

"I met a new friend… Janae. She really seems to like me though." She said, still in that low tone, as the maids dropped more freshly grilled skewers on the table. They were so yummy. I concentrated on eating them while listening to Lucas talk to the kids like they were best friends. In mere minutes, he had managed to make gloomy Jude laugh.

The grilled salmon was freaking delicious. Who knew it could taste as good as that? I kept on munching, and munching even though my stomach felt full.

We had paired it up with sweet apple cider, while the kids had plain apple juice.

"You know, Lucas. That letter was fake." Sadie said, slowly.

"What?" Lucas asked, in shock.

What letter? I asked myself, hoping it didn't have anything to do with me.

"Yeah. It was a dare. A boy was dared to write it to me." She said, like it wasn't a big deal. "I got a little teased about it. The other kids said I would never get a boyfriend because all the boys in the world are scared of me." She continued.

"They're missing out big time, Sadie. Being with you is a blast." Derella said, placing an arm over Sadie's shoulders.

"We all know you have bad tastes in friends, Derella. Maybe you think I could be your friend, but I can't because I'm better than the friends you settle for." Sadie said, and Lucas laughed, while Derella pushed her away, slightly.

"I'm not your boyfriend, but I love being with you. Your arrogant words have become endearing." Lucas said.

"You liked being bossed around, Lucas. I don't see any reason why you wouldn't like me." She retorted, and I almost snorted.

"Oh please, don't chase them away. They're trying to comfort you." Derel said.

"Why should they try to comfort me when I already cried buckets? Where were they then?" She asked.

"You're just telling us now." Jude pointed out, and Sadie looked hot.

"Why didn't you notice!? Stupid Emily saw me in her room, and didn't ask." She bellowed.

"I asked!" I said, defending myself, and tried to stop the apple cider from getting to my head.

"Oh yeah, you did. You should have asked some more." She snapped.

"Do you want me to see that boy?" Lucas asked, and Sadie blushed.

"Why would you do that? He'll think you're in love with me." She said, with a pout, and everyone laughed at how delusional she was being.

I smiled. Sadie was quite cute. Take away the annoying, and crazy behavior, and she was totally a cutie.

When all the kids went to bed, Lucas and I stayed up some more, drinking apple cider, and eating salmon until we were totally filled with no space left for more. I was completely drunk, and I knew it.

I should have gone to sleep, but I wanted to stay some more. Actually, I felt like talking to Lucas. After the events of the day, he suddenly seemed less shitty than the rest of the proud Granger family.

I turned to him, with eyes that could barely keep themselves open, and he turned to me.

"What?" He asked, and I wanted to tell him he was super handsome, but I said something else instead.

"Why did you sleep with a total stranger?" I asked, and he looked a little taken aback.

"Why would you ask that?"

"I mean, everyone says you're this uptight person that hates women, and doesn't even spare them a look. Like…" My words were slurring, and I probably looked like a complete fool, but I continued, "You're so… unaffected by women, and hate them, so… why would you of all people sleep with a woman you don't know? You could have gotten mad, and pushed me away because that's what you do to women who force themselves on you as I'm told, so… Why? It's just weird…" I said, and stopped.

It suddenly occurred to me that I wanted to kiss him again. I wanted to feel his lips on mine.

That night, his lips had been so soft, and he kissed me like he wanted to find out all about me through that one kiss. His kiss had brought up emotions I never had before.

Was it just that night, or would the same thing happen if I trie d it again?

Thinking of that in my drunken state, I leaned in towards him, wanting to feel his lips on mine.

Crazy, right. Yeah, I know.