After Dating My Biker Stepbrother, I Dumped Him

Chapter 3

I stared at the photo for a long time before finally pulling myself together and leaving the restaurant.

Near the exit, I overheard Nolan's team members chatting.

"Do you think Ms. Lane and Nolan could ever be a thing? She's stunning, and her motorcycle reporting is easily among the best out there."

"I once saw a blurry candid photo of a girl on Nolan's nightstand. Her eyes and brows looked a lot like Ms. Lane's."

"Don't get carried away. Nolan's already with Ms. Reed."

An old ache stirred in my chest.

I got into my car and drove home.

Once I got back, I pulled out an old phone from my nightstand.

When I left the country years ago, I changed my number, got a new phone, and left most of my old life behind.

But I could never bring myself to throw away the phone that held every conversation Nolan and I had ever shared.

I took a breath and opened our chat history.

The final message read:

Nolan: Lena, if you keep ignoring me, I'm going to assume you're breaking up with me.

There were several more messages before that.

Nolan: You haven't answered in days. What happened?

Nolan: Whatever you're dealing with, tell me. We'll figure it out together.

My eyes suddenly burned.

Nolan claimed it had all been a game, but if that was true, he had played his part so convincingly that I had only fallen deeper and deeper.

My phone buzzed, pulling me back to the present.

The moment I answered, my mom's sharp, demanding voice came over the line.

"Your brother is bringing his fiancée over for lunch tomorrow. Your father asked me to have you come over so everyone can finally meet."

"My dad is dead. I'm his only child. I don't have a brother."

My mom gritted her teeth. "Audrey Lane, do you think you could have gone abroad without the Mercer family? Do you really want me dead?"

Once again, she was threatening suicide to force my hand.

I closed my eyes. "Fine. I'll be there."

The next afternoon, I arrived at the Mercer residence just as Nolan pulled up with the woman from his Status.

Surprise flashed across his face. "Ms. Lane?"

Before I could answer, my mom rushed out.

"Nolan, welcome home."

Then she turned to me.

"Audrey, say hi to your brother."

Of course I knew who he was.

If I hadn't learned that the man I loved was about to become my stepbrother, I never would have agreed to leave the country.

Before either of us could respond, Thomas Mercer called from inside, "Why is everyone standing outside? Come in."

Not long afterward, lunch was served.

Thomas spoke first, "Well, now you two have finally met as brother and sister..."

Before he could finish, Nolan cut him off,

"I'm the only child."

The table fell into an awkward silence until Vanessa Reed broke it.

"Ms. Lane, you're gorgeous. Mind if I ask—do you have a boyfriend?"

I was about to answer when my mom jumped in.

"She did date someone online when she was in school. Unfortunately, she weighed 220 pounds back then and was so self-conscious that she didn't even dare meet him in person..."

My stomach dropped. "Mom!"

But Nolan was already looking at me.

"You dated someone online too, Ms. Lane?"

I forced a smile. "I was young and foolish."

Nolan let out a mocking laugh. "No wonder you were so interested in my online relationship."

Perhaps my mom realized she had embarrassed me, so she hurried to add, "She may have dated someone online, but she never let her grades slip. She even had a full scholarship at Aldermere University."

Nolan's smile thinned. "Aldermere? I didn't realize we were alumni."

His probing gaze made me uneasy, but thankfully, he didn't pursue the subject.

After lunch, my mom helped Thomas upstairs to rest.

Nolan walked Vanessa to her car, and I left as well.

While I waited for the cab, I heard familiar footsteps behind me.

I turned and found Nolan standing there.

"Did you use the interview as an excuse to get close to me because you're trying to help your mom secure her place in the Mercer family?"

"I didn't."

"You'd better not."

Then we headed off in opposite directions.

To keep him from misunderstanding my intentions again, I decided to stop visiting the Mercer residence.

Even when I was assigned another interview with him, I asked a colleague to handle it.

Nolan's expression turned icy when he saw me again.

"My colleague will interview you today," I said.

His gaze swept over me. "Great."

Everyone exchanged baffled looks, clearly wondering what had happened between the two of us.

Fortunately, the interview went smoothly, and the group went out to dinner afterward.

For some reason, Nolan drank far more than usual.

One of his teammates pulled out a hangover remedy. "Nolan, here."

I spoke before I could stop myself, "He can't take that. He's allergic to it."

Nolan turned toward me, his eyes narrowing sharply.

Panic shot through me, and I rushed to explain,

"Nolan's profile says he has a kudzu allergy, and that hangover remedy contains kudzu."

The teammate holding the hangover remedy whistled. "Ms. Lane, you really did your homework."

Every nerve in my body was taut. I didn't dare say another word.

After dinner, one look at Nolan's unfocused gaze told me how drunk he was, and I still couldn't bring myself to walk away.

"Do you want me to call a driver for you?"

He didn't even look up. "Please."

We went down to the parking garage together.

I opened the passenger door and froze.

A pair of matching silver figurines sat on the center console.

They were the birthday gift I had scrimped and saved to buy for Nolan 3 years ago.

Longing and bitterness swept over me at once.

Then Nolan's low voice came from behind me.

"Look familiar, Audrey Lane? Or should I call you... Lena?"