Page 54 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3

My chest heaved as I turned‚ unable to stop myself.I looked back through the window‚ and the sight almost destroyed me.Ryan was standing there‚ his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as he dragged a hand through his hair in frustration.Sophie spun on him‚ shouting angrily‚ her face red‚ her body trembling with rage.His jaw was tight‚ his hands moving as he snapped back at her‚ and even though I couldn't hear them‚ I could feel the fight from here.My heart was beating so hard I could barely breathe.

"Unbelievable‚" Sasha muttered beside me‚ her voice like acid."Un-freaking-believable."

But I couldn't tear my eyes away.I was glued to the glass‚ my breath shallow‚ my hands trembling in my lap.And then it got worse.Sophie's face crumpled as tears spilled down her cheeks.She covered her face for a second before clutching Ryan's arm‚ her voice desperate‚ begging.Ryan looked furious‚ frustrated‚ dragging his hand through his hair again like he was losing his patience.

And then she hugged him.She threw her arms around him‚ clinging tightly.

And he… he didn't push her away.

The sight shattered me.My chest broke apart‚ the pieces scattering like glass‚ and the tears just came‚ hot and unstoppable.I pressed my hand over my mouth as a broken‚ ugly sound escaped me.

"Anna."Sasha's voice softened immediately.She grabbed my shoulders‚ her eyes wide as she saw me breaking down."Stop looking‚ please.Stop looking at them."

But I couldn't.My eyes blurred‚ my face wet‚ and still I stared‚ watching until my heart physically ached.

"Anna‚ listen to me‚" Sasha's voice cracked as she pulled me closer‚ shaking me slightly."He doesn't deserve your tears!He doesn't deserve the way you're breaking right now.Forget him.Forget everything about him.Do you hear me?!"

"I can't…" I whispered brokenly‚ my lips trembling‚ the sobs tearing out of my throat no matter how hard I tried to hold them in.

"Yes‚ you can!"Sasha snapped‚ her hand squeezing mine tightly."If it's the tattoo you're worried about‚ we can fix it.It's not even that big‚ Anna.A huge butterfly can cover it up‚ easily.You don't have to live with that reminder forever.Don't let that mark make you feel trapped.You're not trapped.You're free to walk away from him."

Her voice cracked‚ her anger mixing with the desperation she felt for me.She hated seeing me like this.I could hear it‚ I could feel it.She wanted to shake me‚ to pull me back to reality."Stop being rash because of love‚ Anna.Stop breaking yourself for someone who doesn't even have the decency to explain himself to you.Please… just stop."

I pressed my face into my hands and sobbed‚ my body trembling as Sasha pulled me into her arms.My tears soaked her shoulder as I cried and cried‚ wishing I could erase it all‚ wishing I could go back to before any of this started.

But I couldn't.I was already too deep.And it hurt so damn much.

CHAPTER 152

Anna's POV

"The guys are waiting for us outside already."Sasha's voice broke through as she stood behind me‚ fixing the last bit of her lipstick while I stared at myself in the mirror.

My sapphire gown clung to me in all the right places‚ the slit running high up my thigh making me look far bolder than I actually felt.My makeup was perfectly done‚ my hair pinned in a way that framed my face‚ and yet‚ no matter how good I looked‚ the mark on my neck stood out like a glowing red flag.I swallowed hard‚ telling myself it didn't matter‚ but deep down it did.It mattered more than anything.

"I'm ready.Let's go‚" I muttered finally‚ straightening up.

Sasha gave me a quick glance in the mirror.She looked stunning in her red gown‚ same cut as mine but a different shade‚ her slit flashing as she moved.We both looked sexy‚ hot‚ like girls who were supposed to be confident tonight.I wasn't‚ but at least I looked the part.

When we stepped outside‚ the sleek car already waiting by the dorm caught my attention.The doors opened‚ and two guys stepped out‚ both in black suits that hugged their broad frames perfectly.They looked like they belonged on the cover of some fashion magazine.I instantly recognized one of them.Liam.The same Liam who had been trying to talk to me for weeks‚ the same one who always found excuses to linger around me.The other guy was Caleb.

"Damn‚" Liam whistled as his eyes swept down my body like I was nothing but a prize he'd won."You look beautiful."

I forced a smile‚ even though every muscle in my body screamed as if how uncomfortable I was with the way he was staring.His hand moved like he was about to hold me‚ maybe guide me to the car‚ but before he even touched me‚ a voice so deep and familiar and commanding rang out.

"Don't you fucking dare touch her!"

I froze and turned‚ and there he was.Ryan.Coming out of his own car like a storm.My breath caught because I hadn't even noticed when he arrived‚ but now he was here‚ standing there in a darker shade of blue that matched my gown so perfectly it looked like it had been planned.

He walked straight to me and before I could even react‚ he grabbed me to himself.His grip was firm‚ strong‚ possessive‚ and the moment I tried to push him off‚ he only held me tighter.His eyes burned into Liam‚ his whole body practically daring him to try again.

Liam stiffened‚ then dipped his head with the kind of respect that felt almost automatic."Prince Ryan."His tone was filled with recognition‚ like he knew exactly who Ryan was‚ and what he was capable of.

Ryan didn't answer him.He just stood there‚ holding me like I was his and his alone‚ his jaw tight.The aura rolling off him made Sasha visibly shrink back.I saw the way she frowned at him‚ ready to speak‚ but whatever she wanted to say died on her tongue the second she felt that raw power he carried.She couldn't get a word out.None of us could.

"She's with me‚" Ryan finally said‚ his voice low but commanding."I'm Anna's date tonight."

I jerked back against his grip‚ glaring at him."The hell you are‚" I snapped."You ignored me for three whole days‚ Ryan.Three days!and then what?You suddenly decide you're my date?After going out with another woman?After—" I cut myself off‚ anger boiling so hot I could barely form words."How dare you show up now and try to act like everything's okay?"