Chapter 49
FORTY-NINE
“Stop staring,” Kenzo says with a snort. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Sophia’s across the library with the girls, studying intently for the last couple of exams we have coming up. In two months, we’ll graduate from the Academy, and we’ll have to actually become full-fledged adults and do all the adult things.
“I’m not staring. I’m observing her.”
He rolls his eyes. “Right, like a fucking creep.”
“Don’t pretend you’re any better,” I glance at him. “You’ve been staring at Grace since she got here.”
“I have to keep my future wife on a leash,” he drawls out, taking his glasses off to wipe the lenses.
“Right,” I chuckle. “The wedding. It’s this summer, right?”
“Unfortunately. Marrying her is one thing, but staying married to that witch? I’ll die by the time I’m thirty.”
“Oh, please, and give her the satisfaction of staying a widow with all your assets and money? I doubt it.”
“I never said I’d die by natural causes,” he deadpans. “If she doesn’t kill me, I’ll know miracles do happen.”
“So, there’s really no way for you to get out of it?”
Kenzo shakes his head. “Well, there’s a way, but it’ll cost me everything. And I happen to like my everything. So, I’m taking the lesser of two evils.”
“Don’t say it twice, she’ll take it as a challenge.”
“You’re my best man, by the way. Aiden and Elias will be the groomsmen, and my brother, too.”
I quirk a brow. “Are you asking me to be your best man or commanding me?”
“I don’t care, either way, you’re doing it.”
“Commanding me it is,” I roll my eyes. “Why not pick your brother, though?”
“Sister-in-law’s due date is around the wedding, so he can’t exactly participate. So, I’m stuck with you.”
“I’m honored,” sarcasm rolls off my tongue. “Did you already get everything set up for the wedding?”
“I didn’t have to. Our mothers have it all handled, from the venue, menu, and guests, to the place where we’re going to live after.”
“Let me guess, a massive manor somewhere in the suburbs?”
“Unfortunately,” he sighs, rubbing his eyes before putting his glasses back on. “I’d prefer a penthouse somewhere in the city, but knowing Grace, she’ll want to stay in the house to get away from the crowd.”
“For someone who claims to loathe the girl, you sure know a lot about her.”
“Oh, you have no right to say anything,” Kenzo drawls out, giving me a pointed look.
“Fine, fine.”
“Shouldn’t you be studying for the exams, too?” Kenzo asks, and I shrug.
“I’ll do just fine.”
“What about the little bet between Sophia and you?”
“How the hell do you know about that?”
“Grace,” he says, and it’s all the explanation I need.
“I figured,” I sigh. “I’m letting her win.”
“Of course, you are. Why, though?”
“I love seeing her all combative and competitive. It’s making her happy to try and beat me again, so why not?”
“You’ve turned into a sap. I barely recognize you.”
“Shut up, soon-to-be-married man.”
“Given the direction you and Sophia are going, you’ll join us soon.”
“As soon as I get the green light from her father.”
Kenzo raises a brow. “Pardon?”
“Sophia’s traditional like that,” I groan. “She’ll want me to ask her father for her hand in marriage.”
“Then, I’m assuming, the marriage is happening only in your dreams? The man hates you.”
“He’ll warm up to me,” I grin. “He’ll have no choice but to.”
“I’m going to laugh so hard when he beats the shit out of you.”
“If it means saying yes to the marriage, I’ll let him.”
Kenzo isn’t wrong, though. I’ve been thinking of marrying Sophia from the moment we slept together for the first time in the woods back at the camp. I took measurements of her finger while she was sleeping a couple of weeks ago, and the ring is currently being made for her.
Sophia’s always been a gold kind of girl, so the band itself is gold.
She doesn’t like overly big, tacky stones, so I opted for a sapphire.
She doesn’t like them round or anything heart-shaped, so I kept it simple.
The band of the ring has my name engraved, and I’ll get her a matching wedding ring, too.
That way, the two rings will complement each other, and she won’t have to take off the engagement ring.
My eyes flick back to her.
Her hair is shining under the sunlight, and there’s genuine happiness on her face while she’s talking to her friends. She’s the most eye-catching, gorgeous woman I have ever laid my eyes on, and there’s nothing that will ever take her away from me.
A tap on my shoulder breaks me out of the trance, and I lift an annoyed brow when I see my sister standing there. Astrid’s fidgeting with her fingers, looking between Kenzo and me. He takes the hint and takes off, taking a seat a few tables away, giving us some privacy.
“What do you want, Astrid?”
“Can we talk, please?”
“Sit,” I motion with my head, and she immediately sits across from me. Sophia catches this, looking at me with a frown. I shrug in response, unsure what Astrid wants from me, either. “What do you want?”
“I’m sorry, Soren,” she says, looking directly into my eyes. “I’m really sorry for what I did. I know it was fucked up on so many levels, and my desire to hurt Sophia overpowered my love for you, and I’m so sorry for that.”
“And?” I blink. “Does that make the situation any better, Astrid? You did something terrible, something so fucking sinister that I do have to applaud you, you know. I never thought my sister could be such a bitch.”
She flinches as if I’d physically slapped her. “I am sorry. Please, I’ll do anything… just… please. Can things go back to the way they used to be?”
“No, Astrid. There’s no way things will ever be okay between us ever again. If you ever find yourself in any sort of trouble, I’ll always help you. But that’s just because of familial obligations rather than genuine love. You betrayed me in a way I’d never even think of betraying you.”
Her eyes swell with tears. “Please, Soren.”
“Your begging doesn’t change a damn thing, Astrid. You fucked up, and these are simply the consequences of your actions.”
“What if I apologized to Sophia?”
I suppress a laugh. “She’ll likely spit in your face.
But by chance she doesn’t, why do you think that, after months of your little stunt, you even deserve anyone’s forgiveness?
I understand you finally found some semblance of guilt and regret, but it’s too late.
Sophia holds a grudge for life, and if she hasn’t forgiven her own brother, what makes you think she’ll forgive you?
Besides, I highly doubt your apology will be sincere. ”
Astrid trembles a little, tears running down her cheeks.
My heart clenches at the sight, because I do know my sister.
She’s truly remorseful, but she needs to be taught a lesson.
I forgave her a long time ago, but telling her that is something I’m still not ready to do.
She needs to understand that what she did was despicable, and even Sophia, who’s one of the bitchiest people I know, would never do something like that… again.
I choose to believe that Sophia leaking my sex tape was a one-time offense, especially because she did everything in her power to blur Ellie, and cut her out of the video. I’m in the main frame, anyway.
“Soren…” Astrid says, her voice soft, and I sigh.
“How about this? If Sophia forgives you, so will I.”
She blinks, taken aback. “What?”
“You hurt her more than you hurt me,” I shrug. “If you can get Sophia to forgive you, I’ll forgive you, too. If she doesn’t, never speak to me again.”