My Ruthless Stepbrother (Completed)

CHAPTER 17

SEVENTEEN: "Sexier." ✍️

"What now, my young lady? Would you also scold me for not treating your playtoy so rightfully?"

I shook my head softly at Zack. "No. Please blame me. In conclusion, I should have informed Durand that you are the manager here. He shouldn't have come here in the first place. This is entirely my fault."

He merely widened his grin. "Yet here you are, playing the damsel in distress once more. I'm extremely amazed. It's no surprise that everyone you meet falls victim to your charm."

Those words cut like a knife. "Zack!"

"Leave now, Irryn. I don't want to see you here anymore. I don't want you flirting with the clients or the coaches here. It's f*cking disgusting. It's awful to watch you entice those men with your innocent alluring beauty."

I walked out of the gym.

As a result of what he said to me, my heart is breaking all over again. Wow, so this is how he sees me, down and out. What, I look like a flirt to him? I want to break down and cry because I am so upset and frustrated. He definitely knows how to break me simply by lashing me off with his remarks!

Days passed and classes started opening...

"Sister, let's go."

"Yes, coming."

Rhian quickly brought me to the dining area where mom and uncle Alanson were eating breakfast.

"How's your sleep, our princesses?"

"Super okay, dad!" Rhian answered in a jolly usual way.

"Excited for the first day of your class?"

"Yes!"

Yes, you did hear that correctly. Today is the first day of the new academic year. Rhian is in seventh grade and I am in twelfth.

"You both look so gorgeous with your uniforms!" uncle Alanson commented and turned to me. "How about you, hija? Do you like your uniform?"

Feeling shy, I nodded.

My new uniform is designed for a private school, so I'm not quite at ease wearing it. Elegant and high-priced, it seems. It's a light brown with a collar and goes well with black shoes. It's a conservative and decidedly Catholic take on the standard school uniform. Aside from the fact that Rhian's uniform has short sleeves and mine has long, the two uniforms are fairly similar. Probably because I'm a senior in high school and she's a freshman in middle school.

My previous experience with school attire consisted of a maroon skirt and blouse or shirt with a white collar and buttons, so this is my first time wearing a uniform like this.

"Like Rhian, you looked so suitable in your uniform."

I nodded, smiled, and bowed my head. "Thank you, uncle."

"Well, I hope you'll enjoy the first day of class and not just the first day but also the rest of the whole school year."

"I second the motion, kids," mom added.

"We will, and that's for sure!" Rhian said.

I smiled and supported my sister.

Well, I just really hope that my journey in my new school will be good for me.

"Zack!"

The man heading down the stairs caught Rhian and my attention because he appeared to be fiddling with the buttons on his school uniform.

My heart is racing since this is the first time I've seen him wearing a school uniform. White-buttoned short-sleeve top with a pocket, and on the layer of that pocket, there was a printed acronym of the university, the same as the acronym of the school that Rhian and I were going to attend. So, it looks like Rhian and I will both be in the high school department, while Zack will be in the college department of the same Catholic school.

Black slacks and black shoes make up his lower attire. His school outfit complements him perfectly. I'm willing to bet that every single girl who passes him in the corridor will look his way. And he is that good-looking. The fact that he appears to have just rolled out of bed and his hair is a tangled mess adds to his attractiveness. He's ruggedly gorgeous.

"Good morning, son," mom greeted him dearly.

He smiled genuinely to her and nodded. "Morning."

"You take your breakfast first, son before you go to school."

He shook his head. "Thanks but no thanks, auntie. I'll eat breakfast later at school. Bye."

He kissed mom's cheek before going out of the house.

Therefore, he is honoring his promise to treat my mother with respect and to treat her with decency. He treats me poorly and is disrespectful to no one else but me. I've never understood why he doesn't treat me with the same consideration he does for my mom.

I heard uncle Alanson sigh.

Rhian shrugged her shoulders off . "Well, what's new? The usual Zack Lamont."

She sat on the table and I quietly sat beside her.

After finishing breakfast, my mother and Uncle Alanson walked Rhian and me to the gate, where our family driver was waiting to take us to school.

Zack seemed quite engrossed in his phone conversation, but I couldn't help but steal a glance at him nevertheless.

"You take care, and you enjoy school, okay? Right after school in the afternoon, the driver will fetch you there again," uncle Alanson instructed us.

Rhian nodded. "I know, right, dad."

I obeyed with a nod, too. "Yes, uncle."

"You go now before you're going to be late. It's the first day of school, so you both can't be late," mom said happily as if she was the one feeling excited for us.

We kissed the cheeks of both of our parents.

Rhian and I were about to get inside the car but I remembered my stepbrother again.

"What is it, sis Irryn? Is there anything else?" Rhian asked when subconsciously I held her wrist.

As I did so, I glanced over at Zack, who was obviously still engaged in conversation with the caller on his phone.

"Is Zack not coming along with us?"

Rhian just shrugged her shoulders off. "I really thought it was something necessary. No, sis. He can take care of himself, and that's for sure."

Rhian hopped in already but I remained outside, still looking at my stepbrother.

How will he be going to school if he will not ride with us?

"Sis Irryn, let's go now before we're going to be late!" Rhian's voice had already become irritated.

"Coming. Pardon me."

I hopped in the car, too. Minutes later, we've already got out of the gate and are about to be out of Jawara Subdivision.

Along the way, I noticed from the rearview mirror the blue sports car that was following us.

When the tinted window dropped, I saw that Zack was inside, and my heart felt a little flutter. He didn't even bother to glance at us, instead staring intently down the road. While driving, he was focused entirely on the road in front of him.

And as he increased his speed with that sleepy tilt of the head, like he was trying to outrun his own vehicle and our service car, he looked even sexier.

"See? I told you he could take care of himself." Rhian mumbled using the tone of her accented English.