Page 33 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
“Have you had sex… with my brother?” My tone came out darker than intended but I couldn’t help it. It took all my willpower to say these words out loud, every fiber in me tensing.
“Shane,” she whispered, slowly pulling away as if creating a safe distance. She took a deep breath, her face instantly paling. “No, I’ve never slept with Anders.”
A sense of relief washed over me as the heavy weight on my chest was lifted.
“But—” But?
My heart raced in my chest. What could be worse than the woman of my heart fucking my brother? Fuck. Please don’t tell me she fell in love with him. That. That would be worse.
“We kissed.” Her brows furrowed.
“I know you did. He kissed you in front of me,” I stated, afraid to hear more.
“It wasn’t that kind of a kiss… we…” She paused, nervously biting her lip. “It was more like a makeout, and I was naked.”
“Fuck,” I hissed, my fist clenched in an instant. I stood from the table, looking through the window, trying to compose my rugged breath.
Melanie approached me, and though I didn’t turn, I could feel her presence a step behind me. “Why does it matter? You had half of New York pass through your bed.”
I knew it wasn’t an accusation.
After a heavy exhale, I turned to meet her remorseful gaze. “It’s not about any other man, Melanie.” My tone was cold, and she flinched. “It’s about my brother. The man I’ll have to look in the eyes every time we meet for the rest of my life. And each time I do, I will see you in the reflection of his gaze, with him.”
FOURTEEN
Melanie
Iclosed my eyes as regret washed over me. Shane was right. He had every reason to feel hurt and betrayed. Getting involved with his brother was a mistake, and deep down, I knew it would inflict the most pain on Shane. Before I learned the truth, that was my aim. To hurt him in the worst way possible.
“Do you remember that night three years ago?” My voice cracked.
Shane’s gaze intensified, nodding slowly. “The night everything changed.”
I cast my mind back, immersing myself in the vivid recollection. “After I left your apartment, I was lost and scared. I didn’t know who I could trust anymore. I thought I could trust Callan, considering he was your friend and…”
Shane’s features tightened.
“I reached out to him. He assured me of his loyalty to you. He claimed to care for both of us equally, treating you like a brother,” I explained, fighting through the regret that clung to every sentence. “I confessed to him that I was pregnant. He was taken aback but he offered his congratulations. He insisted that you would be the happiest man alive, that your love for me ran deep.”
Shane’s eyes bored into mine. “But?”
I exhaled heavily. “I couldn’t shake off the doubts, the fear. I told Callan what happened, about your hidden motives, your mother’s overdose, and your desire for revenge against my family,” I confessed. “Callan still claimed you loved me, Shane. It made me even more convinced he was on your side, loyal to you. I suspected it was just a façade. And so… I asked Callan to meet you and tell you about the pregnancy, see your reaction.”
“What?” Shane’s fists clenched. “He never… that fucking son of a bitch. He planned everything. He came to me and told me you overdosed on sleeping pills.”
My eyes shut, and a single tear dripped down my cheek. “And he came to me, claiming you laughed in his face saying that you’ve never been more satisfied, that you called your father to tell him you’ve accomplished your task and that I’m in danger because it was just a matter of time until you’d find out the truth that he lied to you so I had to run away as soon as possible.”
“Fuck!” Shane’s fist collided with the wall. “Why did you believe him, Melanie?”
“Shane…” I whispered. “Put yourself in my position. Imagine what I went through. I waited for Callan to return, and every passing minute felt like an eternity. I questioned every touch, every glance, every kiss, every word you ever said to me. I clung to the hope that Callan would bring back news that you had abandoned thoughts of revenge, that you were over the moon about our baby. But when Callan came back… telling me all this… I was terrified, Shane. I knew you were capable of anything. It felt like my world shattered, and my heart fractured into a million pieces.”
Shane closed the distance between us, his hands tenderly cupping my tear-stained cheeks. “It’s okay. I understand.”
My voice trembled as I said, “I’m so sorry, Shane. I let him deceive me.”
Reality hit with the force of a wrecking ball. Once again, I had placed my trust in the wrong person. Once again, I had let myself be manipulated. I had always believed in Callan’s sincerity, never suspecting him of such heartlessness and twisted motives. He had been Shane’s most trusted man, a seemingly devoted friend, even a brother.
How many times do people think they know someone and believe they can trust that particular person? While in fact, that person hides their true self behind a mask. A mask they wear every day, pretending to be someone they’re not.
