Chapter 2: You Can Have Better

Claire's POV

The next few days, I'm living here like some kind of temporary guest. Julian comes home every night for dinner. I keep my head down, cutting into my steak while his eyes land on me every so often. Like he's studying something.

"Mommy, I made a drawing." Mia holds up the paper. Three stick figures scribbled across it.

"That's great, sweetie." I take it from her.

She points at the tallest one. "That's the uncle."

Julian sets down his fork and looks at her.

"His eyes are so cool," Mia says, tilting her head. "Just like mine."

My hand jerks. Water nearly spills everywhere.

Julian stares at Mia for a long moment before speaking. "You think so?"

Mia nods hard. "My teacher says it's genes."

I stand up too fast. "Mia, bedtime."

"But I'm not done eating."

"Finish tomorrow." I practically drag her upstairs. Behind me, I hear the scrape of a chair. I don't look back.

The next afternoon, the lawyer calls.

"Ms. Hartley, there's something regarding your mother's estate that needs your attention."

"What is it?"

"Mr. Langford's engagement is next week. According to the family trust, you'll need to be there to sign some documents as a beneficiary."

I freeze. Engagement?

"Who's he marrying?"

"Serena Hayes."

The phone almost slips out of my hand. Serena. My high school classmate.

That night, I can't sleep. All I see are scenes from high school playing in my head. Back then, I had this anonymous account where I'd write things I couldn't tell anyone. About my stepbrother. About thoughts I wasn't supposed to have. Senior year, Serena found it somehow. She even took screenshots.

"Keep your mouth shut about me and your stepbrother," she'd said. "Or I'm showing him everything."

I'd been terrified. I agreed to whatever she wanted. Five years later, she actually pulled it off.

The next morning, I go to the yoga studio my mom used to visit. Trying to clear my head. The second I walk into the lobby, Serena's standing at the front desk. She turns around and smiles.

"Claire. Heard you were back."

I ignore her and head for the exit.

"With a kid too," she says, following me. "Divorced, right?"

I stop walking.

"What a shame," Serena says sweetly. "You know he's marrying me, right?"

I turn and stare at her.

"All those things you wrote on that account," she leans in closer, voice dropping, "I'm living that life now."

My hands ball into fists.

"Just a reminder," Serena takes a step back, "to get real. He thinks of you as his sister. If you're still fantasizing about him like you did back then..." She pauses. "Pretty sad."

That night, I pull out my phone and search for Serena's social media. I scroll down for a while until I find a post from three years ago.

"Some secrets only I know."

The photo attached is of my mom's garden. I stare at it, unease creeping through me. Does she know something? Is she planning to use those screenshots? Looks like I really did miss too much these past five years.

I call my best friend.

"Wait, so you're saying you slept with Julian that night?!" Her voice nearly blasts through the phone.

"Keep it down." I glance at the door.

"Holy shit," she makes a noise, "you know he looked everywhere trying to figure out who it was, right? There's no way he'd think it was you."

My heart races. "What happened after?"

"He just stopped looking one day. Then Serena came out of nowhere saying it was her. Julian didn't deny it. Just went with it."

The more I hear, the worse I feel. Regret floods through me. If I'd known he'd be okay with it, I should've said something back then. But if I come forward now, won't I look ridiculous? What if he gets so pissed he ruins my life?

"Claire? You still there?"

"Yeah." I take a deep breath. "Don't tell anyone."

"I won't."

I hang up and collapse onto the bed. Sleep is impossible now.

The next day, I go to the hotel where the engagement's being held. Julian's in the lobby talking to an event planner. I stand there for a while, hesitating, before walking over.

"Can we talk?"

Julian glances at me and waves the planner away. He leads me to a lounge. The second the door closes, nerves hit me hard. This is the first time in five years we've been alone in an enclosed space.

"What is it?" he says, sitting down on the sofa.

I stay standing, fingers twisting around my bag strap.

"I don't think you should marry Serena."

Julian looks up at me. "Why's that?"

"She's not a good person." I bite my lip. "She used to go through my stuff in high school."

"What stuff?"

I freeze. Can't exactly tell him about the anonymous account.

Julian watches me for a moment, then stands. He walks toward me. Every step makes my pulse race faster.

"Or maybe," he stops right in front of me, "you just don't want me getting married."

I take a step back. My shoulders hit the wall. Cold surface pressing against me, Julian's shadow falling over everything.

"Give me a reason," he says quietly, looking down at me. "Why don't you want me getting married?"

He's so close. Close enough that I can smell the faint cologne on his suit. Close enough to see that dark look in his eyes.

"Because..." I take a shaky breath. "Because you deserve better."

"Like who?"

His hand comes up against the wall beside me, almost trapping me there. I can hear my heartbeat pounding so loud I swear he can hear it too.

"Like me."

The words are out before I can stop them. I'm stunned at myself. Julian's eyes darken. The air goes deathly quiet. I can feel his warm breath against my forehead, just like that night five years ago.

"A stepbrother marrying his stepsister," he says with a light laugh. Cold. "You know what that would do to this family?"

I open my eyes and meet his unreadable gaze. My face is burning.

"Go home," Julian steps back. "Forget you said that."

He turns and walks out. I stand there, humiliation and frustration washing over me. My legs feel too weak to hold me up.

The next few days, Julian doesn't show up at all. The more I think about it, the more I realize staying here isn't going to work. If Serena moves in one day, knowing her, she'll make life hell for me and Mia. I open my closet and start packing. The housekeeper knocks and comes in.

"Ms. Hartley, Mr. Langford's taking Mia to the beach house."

I blink. "When?"

"Now. The car's downstairs."

I walk to the window. Julian's car is parked out front. He rolls down the window and looks up at me. I step back quickly.

"I haven't packed anything yet."

"He said you don't need to. Everything's at the beach house. Just bring Mia down."

Before I can argue, Mia's already running downstairs, excited. I have no choice but to follow. Julian's leaning against the car, watching me.

"Get in."

"I can't just drop everything."

Julian's eyes sweep over me. "You can. Get in."