Page 187 of When We Ignite

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

ASH

We scrambled to clean ourselves up and get dressed, but considering the mess we were in, it wasn’t an easy feat. A third knock sounded through the door, sharp and insistent.

“Give me a fuckingminute,” I snapped, my voice rougher than I intended.

Ethan looked panicked, his eyes darting to mine. There was no excuse, no way to spin this into something innocent. I met his gaze one last time before reaching for the door. Ethan exhaled, shoulders squaring. He was right—there was no point in pretending. Might as well come clean.

The irony was not lost on me.

I pulled the door open, and there stood Oliver, inside the kitchen, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Except I knew.Knewthat look—steely, controlled, brimming with silent fury. Not once in my life, not through all the fights we’d had lately, had I seen that expression directedat me.

Panic coiled in my chest.

Ethan stepped out beside me, standing his ground.

Oliver’s jaw clenched, his gaze flicking between us before his face darkened completely. “The fuck is this?”

I swallowed and forced myself to stay calm. “Let’s get out of the house,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.

Oliver exhaled harshly, rolled his eyes, and turned on his heel, heading straight for the doors. Ethan and I followed, our footsteps eerily loud in the thick, suffocating silence. He didn’t stop until we were outside, walking further still until we reached the beach, where the only sound was the waves crashing against the shore.

The temperature had dropped, but I barely felt it, cold sweat clinging to the back of my neck.

We stood there, the three of us, locked in an unbearable silence. But this wasn’t an easy quiet—it was the calm before the fucking storm.

Ethan looked pale but resolute, stubborn as ever. Poor guy was having the worst fucking day of his life, and it was all my fault.

Oliver shook his head slowly, the tension in his shoulders taut enough to snap. “I fuckingknewit.”

“I know you don’t approve—” I began.

Oliver’s fury exploded before I could finish. “I don’tapprove? You’ve been lying this whole time. Youpromisedme you weren’t going to do this, and my fucking wedding is tomorrow! You’re such a selfish asshole, Sebastian. Why the fuck couldn’t you do this one thing for me?”

His anger was like nothing I had ever seen before—unfiltered, and completely deserved.

“He’s not—” Ethan started to interject, but I held up a hand to stop him. He gave me an exasperated look, but I shook my head. I knew my brother. He needed to let it out before I could say anything.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I said simply. “I lied, and I did what you asked me not to.”

Oliver stared at me, his fury unwavering. “I don’t get what the hell has gotten into you lately. I feel like I don’t evenknowyou anymore. You’re never here. And when you are, you’re either pissed off or so closed off you only grunt at me. You don’t give a shit about anyone but yourself—your ego, and whatever your fucking dick wants. Why couldn’t you justnotdo this for once? Do you have any idea what’s going to happen when Dad finds out? When my in-laws find out? I’m going to have todefendyou to them while you ruin my fucking family before I’ve even said my vows!”

I stood there, taking it, letting every word cut through me. He wasn’t wrong. I had never felt guilt this sharp before. Ethan had been right too. I’d been lashing out for so long I didn’t even realize I was doing it anymore. I was turning into my father without even knowing it. And now, here I was, finally pushing Oliver to his breaking point—the most patient man I knew.

“You couldn’t even let me have this weekend?” Oliver spat, his voice breaking with emotion. “Doeseverythinghave to be about you, Sebastian? I’m getting married, and you fuck one of the groomsmen. I work for the family, and it’s all about your position in the company and your betrayal.”

I snuck a glance at Ethan. He was pale, looking like the sand could give out beneath him at any moment.

“No one is going to find out,” I said quietly.

Oliver laughed bitterly. “Of course they’re going to find out, Ash. I caught youfucking in the kitchenwith absolutely no regard for who might hear. Judging by the racket, I’m surprised the whole house isn’t already awake. It’s only a matter of time.”

“I’m sorry about that. About all of it. We’ll be more careful,” I said quickly, trying to ease the tension.

Oliver froze mid-breath, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “What?”

“We’ll be more careful,” I repeated. “I know this was stupid, especially with everyone in the house?—”