Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Bingo, Shane thought coldly as the billionaire flushed under his tan at her words.
“It will not happen again.” The billionaire breathed hard. “I will be very much grateful if you could cooperate with me on this, and you will be rewarded amply for your help.”
She lowered her gaze so the billionaire wouldn’t see her eyes glittering at his mention of a reward. Even so, she pretended to refuse, saying in a trembling voice, “I don’t need any reward to do what you want. You betrayed me – you and Serenity betrayed me.” She allowed a little of her bitterness to creep in, knowing it would make her words believable. “Keeping her away from you would be my pleasure.”
The billionaire sucked his breath in audibly. “I am sorry for this, Shane. Just know I am completely to blame for this. And please allow me to atone for my mistake in a way that would be of significant help to you.”
Even with her head bowed, she saw the billionaire’s fists clench, and she held her breath, knowing that whatever Willem had to say next, it would be very important and possibly determine her next move.
“I just have one request.”
Shane whispered, “What is it?”
“Do not be cruel to Serenity. Say only what you need, but do not be cruel about it. She will already be hurt when I leave. I do not want her to suffer even more.”
Shane’s blood went cold.
Fool, she thought, and this time her bitterness knew no bounds. The billionaire was a fool. He could have had Shane as a bride, and yet he had gone on to fall for her little sister.
Her eyes sparkling with fake tears, she choked out to Willem, “Of course.” But in her heart, she was vowing to do the opposite.
The memories aroused all of Shane’s bitterness and pain, causing Serenity to shrink in her seat when their eyes met again.
“You will stay here,” Shane hissed, “and that’s final.”
Serenity shook her head even though the hatred blazing from her half-sister’s eyes made her quake in her seat. “I’m s-sorry, but I’ve made up my mind.”
Shane half rose from her seat, and before anyone could guess what was happening, Shane’s hand had connected with Serenity’s cheek in a resounding slap.
“Shane,” Melanie gasped in shock, completely taken aback by the animosity on her daughter’s face.
Serenity’s eyes were wide with shock, one hand coming up to touch her stinging cheek.
“How dare you be ungrateful when my mother and I were selfless and kind enough to take you in even when you were just my father’s bastard?” Pushing her chair back, Shane stalked around the table and grabbed a fistful of Serenity’s hair.
“Oh my God, Shane!” Melanie jumped to her feet, aghast at the display of violence but helpless against it. She didn’t know Shane this way and was terrified by it. What was happening?
Serenity started struggling the moment Shane dragged her off her chair, but the woman seemed to possess incredible strength, and she couldn’t pull away from Shane.
“We should have just had locked you up,” Shane shouted at her face while her fingers tightened its grip, causing Serenity’s eyes to sting. “At least you wouldn’t have caused us any trouble, and you wouldn’t have been able to flirt with Willem—-”
Serenity whitened.
Melanie stilled.
Shane started to laugh. “Did you think I didn’t know?” In the back of her mind, she could hear the billionaire’s voice, warning her against saying anything remotely cruel to her half-sister, but she ignored this.
She shoved Serenity away from her and was satisfied to see Serenity lose her balance, her back hitting the wall with a loud thud before crumpling to the floor.
“Willem came to my room right after he took your virginity,” she sneered. “He told me that you had made him believe you would be practical, but one look at your face after sex made him realize you were going to be clingy and pathetic. So he told me to do what I can and keep you away.”
Serenity felt faint as she listened to Shane speak, and when her sister was finished, she whispered, “You’re lying.”
Shane’s eyes glittered. “Am I?” she taunted. “If I’m lying, then tell me, how do I know that Willem likes to call you his engel?”
Serenity’s heart slowly stopped beating.
“Yes,” Shane jeered. “He told me that. Do you want me to tell you the other things he told me? Like how many times he had fucked you?” It was a bluff, but because she knew of the billionaire’s sexual stamina firsthand, she was certain he would have made her half-sister come more than once. And when Serenity whitened even more at her words, Shane knew she had guessed right.
“You probably thought you’d be special, just because you were a virgin when you came to his bed. But you’re not. You never were.” Bending down, Shane tried to pat Serenity’s head, as if comforting a pet, and only laughed when Serenity slapped her hand away.