CHAPTER 19
MIA
The moment I see Seth, my excitement doubles.
“Seth!”
I run up to him and hug him without thinking twice. He doesn’t hug me back right away, but he doesn’t push me away either.
Instead, he lets out a short sigh, like he’s just waiting for me to be done. The bastard isn’t going to hug me back in public.
“Did you miss me?” I ask, pulling away just enough to look at him.
He raises an eyebrow. “If I say no, will you stop being needy?”
“No.”
Seth rolls his eyes, but I catch a flicker of a smile before he looks away—straight at Zane.
His expression shifts instantly. The trace of humor vanishes, replaced by something much colder.
Zane, on the other hand, says nothing.
He doesn’t need to. The way he stands there, watchful, says it all. He doesn’t trust Seth. And honestly? He shouldn’t.
Seth has made it clear, more than once, that given the chance, he’d hurt Zane.
But he won’t . Because that would mean hurting me. And I know my brother wouldn’t hurt me.
Seth watches for a moment, his eyes assessing every reaction. Then, he smirks.
“What’s wrong? Not going to say anything?”
Zane remains silent.
Seth tilts his head, amused. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me.”
“Stop being a jerk. Not everyone likes confrontation,” I snap.
“She speaks for you now.”
"I do! And I beat people up for him too—so don't even think about touching him unless you wanna get your ass kicked!"
Zane sighs, dragging a hand through his dark hair, as if this whole thing is just disturbing his peace. Luckily, Seth doesn’t comment on the hair change. Not that he’d care about that detail.
“It’s okay, little angel. He won’t hurt you.”
“I never promised anything,” Seth mutters.
“I think I’ll get a drink,” Zane says finally, standing up.
“Great idea,” Seth says, still watching him. “Go for it.”
He doesn’t say it, but the message is clear: You know I could break you if I wanted to.
And Zane understands.
He gives me a quick glance, almost as if asking if I’ll really be okay with Seth. I smile.
“Do you think I would hurt Mia?” Seth growls.
“Yes.”
“It’s you I have a problem with.”
“And why would you have a problem with me?” Zane turns around, and I stare at him in complete shock.
I can feel the fear radiating off him, but his stance? Oh no, that tells a very different story. He’s doing a damn good job at masking it, standing there like some fearless warrior ready to throw hands.
For me.
Which is both incredibly sweet and mildly concerning.
It’s probably not the wisest choice to pick a fight with One.
But I can’t deny it—seeing Zane’s protective side gives me butterflies. Big, dramatic, over-the-top butterflies that practically throw a parade in my stomach.
It’s ridiculous, really.
Completely, hopelessly melting.
He stands there, meeting Seth’s gaze, while my brother looks at him like he’s deciding whether to murder him for existing or wait until he breathes in the wrong direction.
Ugh.
My heart does this stupid little flip. This is so bad.
Why is this attractive?
“Let me think,” Seth says dryly. “Maybe because you put my sister in a coma, and if that wasn’t bad enough, you married her—taking advantage of the fact that she was way out of your league.”
Zane doesn’t argue. He just looks down, almost as if he agrees with Seth about not being good enough for me.
I won’t let that happen.
“First of all, I was more sober than he was that day,” I say. “So, technically, I was the one in the wrong. And about the coma… I don’t remember much about that day, but I don’t think he did it on purpose.”
"Mia, you had no way of knowing how marriages actually work," Zane says, his voice quiet, almost thoughtful. "I’ve never felt anything like this before. It just… happened. And I don’t regret it. I never have."
I smile. “I don’t regret it either.”
“Asshole,” Seth mutters.
I turn to him. “Weren’t you the one who dated his sister?”
“Semantics.”
He says it irritably but doesn’t push.
“Look, I’m sorry you hate me because I put your sister in a coma and married her right after,” Zane says. And honestly? When he puts it like that, Seth’s resentment feels a little more justified. I hadn’t really thought about it much.
"And I’m not going to stand here and pretend I’m any different," Zane says, calm but firm. "Because, honestly, that’s not your business. My relationship with Mia is between us, and the only person who can keep me away from her is her—not you."
Sometimes I feel like not even me. I tried, and he’s still here. With me .
Seth doesn’t say a word, but I can practically see the violence simmering behind his eyes—like a storm just waiting for the first drop of rain to hit. I shoot him a pleading look, silently begging him not to react. He huffs, as if I’ve just ripped all the fun out of his day. How dare I?
Asshole.
Zane, ever the picture of calm, presses a soft kiss to my forehead, like he's reminding me that he’s got this, then steps back, giving me a little space.
It’s like he's handing me the mic so I can handle my brother—because, let's be real, if Seth goes full chaos mode, that’s my job to handle, not Zane’s.
Seth watches us, clearly annoyed that the moment’s not going according to his "let’s annoy Zane" plan. Meanwhile, I’m just here trying to survive the drama and manage both of them without causing an international incident.
Classic family dynamics.
Seth lets out a low chuckle. “He’s smarter than I thought.”
I cross my arms. “You bully people for free, you know that?”
He shrugs. “I just exist.”
“You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re a magnet for idiots.”
I smile. “He’s not an idiot. Can’t you just accept that I want to be with him? That even though you now know how it started, it doesn’t change the fact that I chose this?”
Seth stares at me for a moment, and then, just like that, he looks away, like my words barely touched him. He’s already running through some mental checklist, probably trying to decide what’s for dinner or which new gadget he wants to buy next. And there it is—the glint in his eyes that says, "This isn't my problem anymore."
It hits me in that moment. This... this is the new Seth. The guy who shrugs things off and keeps moving, without even bothering to let anything sink in. No lingering on the past, no looking back to the boy I used to know—the one who’d have my back no matter what. It’s like he’s built a wall, one that’s taller and stronger than anything I can climb over.
A bitter laugh escapes me. This new Seth, the one who’s so damn good at pretending nothing matters. And that stings in a way I didn’t expect.
"Stop giving me those puppy-dog eyes, Mia," Seth says, his voice gruff but softer than I expect. It’s like he’s trying to hide something, but it slips out in the way his eyes flicker with something—something I can’t quite place.
"It’s just... I miss my brother sometimes. The sweet one." I feel a lump form in my throat, but I don't show it.
"Can you learn to accept this new version of me?" he shoots back, his voice sharp, but there’s a weariness beneath it.
I cross my arms, biting back a laugh that might just come out as a sob if I’m not careful. “Can you learn how to not be an asshole all the time?” I fire back, my tone half-joking, half-frustrated.
Seth takes a deep breath, eyes narrowing in frustration. "This is clearly not what I had in mind when I found you, okay? I don’t want to fight with you... it’s just—" He trails off, his hands flexing at his sides like he’s trying to hold something back. Something that’s been waiting to burst free.
I take a step closer, watching him carefully.
And then it hits me—he’s trying. Not in the way I wish he would, but in the way he knows how. He’s struggling, just like me.
We both have our own demons, and maybe I can’t expect him to be this perfect brother in the way I want him to be.
"You’re trying, aren’t you?" I ask, my voice softer now. I’m not even sure where the words come from. I just know they’re true. "You’re trying to make things okay between us, even if it’s... not how we both thought it would be."
He freezes. The usual snarky look falls away for a split second, and in that second, I see it: the boy who was never supposed to lose me. The boy who thought I was dead. The boy who’s been carrying that weight with him all this time.
"Yeah..." he mutters, his voice barely above a whisper. "It’s just harder for me. You don’t... get how hard it is to comprehend feelings, Mia. I don’t process them the way you do. Half the time, I don’t even know what I’m supposed to feel, or if I’m feeling anything at all."
He lets out a quiet breath, eyes distant.
"I don’t know how to be a brother. I don’t know how to be normal."
His words hit me in a way that leaves me speechless for a moment.
I reach out, just a little, resting a hand on his arm, careful not to push too hard. "You don’t have to be normal, Seth. I’m not asking for that."
He looks down at my hand, and for the first time, I see his expression crack, just a little. He’s not looking at me like the world’s biggest inconvenience. He’s looking at me like... maybe there’s something worth saving here.
"Well, you don’t make it easy," he mutters, the corner of his mouth twitching into a small, almost pained smile. "But I guess... maybe we can figure it out."
I grin, a little bit of relief flooding through me. "Maybe we don’t have to figure it all out today. But we can start by not fighting every time we talk."
Seth exhales a laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, I can try that. For you."
“Perfect.”
“Your boyfriend called me for a reason.”
“Husband,” I correct automatically.
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”
We are back to normal days, I guess.
Before I can retort, Seth simply turns and walks over to his bike. I watch, curious, as he returns holding a… box?
A box that moves .
My eyes widen. “Did you bring a gremlin?”
Seth doesn’t respond. Instead, he just lifts the lid, and from inside, a pair of glowing green eyes stare at me with pure feline judgment.
“FIGARO!”
The tuxedo cat lets out an irritated meow and jumps out of the box, landing gracefully on Seth’s shoulder, where he snuggles up like a chaos pirate .
I reach out excitedly. “Come to mommy, baby!”
Figaro growls.
I freeze. “What?”
Seth smirks. “He hates you.”
I place a hand on my chest, offended. “That’s not true! He’s just…” I pause, watching as Figaro nuzzles into my brother’s neck with pure affection and devotion. “…cheating on me?”
Seth nods. “He stayed with me after Charlie had to take care of some business. You really should take your cat with you when you travel, sis. He’s gotten used to me being around. And you?” He levels me with a glare. “You’re just the one who abandoned him.”
“I didn’t abandon him!” I protest.
Figaro growls again.
“That’s a lie, baby! I love you!”
Seth crosses his arms, clearly enjoying this. “It must be sad to be rejected by your own cat.”
I narrow my eyes. “He just needs to remember that he loves me, okay?”
Figaro yawns and burrows deeper into Seth’s shoulder, as if to say, Don’t count on it.
Before I can recover from this feline betrayal, my phone vibrates. I glance at the screen and see a message from Zane.
Zane: If you need me, I’m here. I’ll let you spend some quality time.
Mia: You’re scared of him, aren’t you?
Zane: Obviously.
I laugh and quickly type back.
Mia: That was a good speech.
Zane: I didn’t lie. Your brother may be scary, but that doesn’t change the fact that you and I are who we are, and no one gets in the way of that.
Mia: Cute… but he wouldn’t really kill you.
…
I hesitate.
Mia: I think.
Seth watches my reaction and raises an eyebrow. “What is it?”
I put my phone away and smile. “Nothing. Now give me my cat.”
“He doesn’t want to go.”
“ Give me my cat, Seth. ”
Figaro meows, snuggles closer, and closes his eyes, making his choice clear.
I put my hands on my hips and glare at my brother, who just shrugs with that smug smile of someone loving every second of this.
I lost my cat to a sociopath.
Perfect.
“How are you?” I ask.
“I’m fine. Let’s not talk about this.”
“Why? Does it make you sentimental?”
“You’re the sentimental one,” he shoots back.
“You were the one who ran out of the cabin like a little bitch.”
“Language, sis. I miss you the most when you’re excited to see me.”
“That lasted five minutes,” I scoff, sticking my tongue out at him—but we both know it’s a lie.
The truth is, I didn’t want to meet with Seth because I was afraid he’d figure out something was wrong. I hate lying to my brother. He came so close that day at the lake, and I’ve been avoiding him ever since.
Not that things are any better now. I’m up to my neck in shit, but Seth looks happy.
Even though he doesn’t say much about why he’s happy, I can tell.
And that makes me happy.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him that way.
If he knew the kind of mess I’m in right now…
He’d be furious.
And worse, Zane is caught up in it too.
Seth would probably kill him on the spot.
Figaro, still perched on Seth’s shoulder, seems to assess the situation with a suspicious gaze before slowly moving, wrapping his tail around Seth’s arm.
I reach out to pet him, testing my luck. Figaro stares at me like he’s evaluating whether I deserve his attention.
Then, with a dramatic sigh—the kind only an offended cat can make—he allows my fingers to graze his head.
My heart tightens. He’s starting to forgive me.
“How’s your relationship?” I ask, shifting the subject.
Seth gives me a sideways glance. The last time I tried this, he got annoyed and walked away. Maybe this time, I’ll get the same reaction.
“I know what you’re doing,” he says with a lazy smile, leaning against his bike. “It’s not going to work. I’m not leaving.”
“Shit.”
Figaro shifts again, sliding into Seth’s arm, but this time, his attention is on me. He hasn’t climbed into my lap yet, but it’s progress.
Then Seth surprises me.
“Audrey likes you.”
I blink. I’m not sure what surprises me more—the fact that he mentioned Audrey or the way his voice softens when he says her name.
I smile, vaguely remembering Audrey bringing that up before.
“She doesn’t know I’m your sister, does she?”
Seth shakes his head. “I asked them not to tell her. Not that they know everything since you kept the fact that you’re Laura’s sister a secret too.” His tone is matter-of-fact, cold, but something lingers beneath it. “I don’t want her involved in this. She’s been through enough. She needs to stay out of it.”
Figaro licks his paw, then reaches out lazily, tapping my hand.
My smile grows.
“I like who you are when it comes to her,” I say, looking at Seth. “You seem almost… human.”
“It’s weird for me too.” He shrugs.
"But you know she's gonna scrape your face off the pavement when she finds out the truth."
And then Seth smiles—like he’s been expecting it. Like that’s the fun part for him.
Weird.
“I know.”
Figaro, apparently satisfied with my presence, finally jumps into my lap. My heart warms as he curls up, his tail wrapping around my leg.
I start petting him non-stop.
“Thank you,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Seth frowns. “For what?”
“For showing me this side of you.”
A silence falls between us.
“Promise me you’ll keep Audrey out of this.”
For the first time, I see something in my brother he probably never meant to show.
Fear.
He’s afraid of losing her.
And my heart aches because I don’t deserve his trust.
“I promise, of course.” I smirk. “I’ll leave you to deal with the beating she’ll probably give you when she finds out the truth.”
I would never hurt Audrey. But Seth and I are on opposite sides.
He’s free.
I’m just another one of Nico’s puppets.
Seth must notice something in my expression because he pokes my forehead. “Stop being so sentimental. This is weird.”
“Stop being so weird . Be more sentimental.” I grin, grabbing Figaro and burying my face in his fur.
He grumbles, but his purring gives him away.
Seth watches me with that look—like he doesn’t quite believe I’m real. Like he wants to be sure but doesn’t know how .
Then, without thinking, I throw myself at him and hug him again.
“Did I ever tell you I missed you?”
He sighs dramatically. “Only a million times.”
“I missed you.”
This time, he doesn’t answer.
But he hugs me back.
And I know.
He missed me too.