My step brothers Obsession

Chapter 4; The blackmail

ELENA

My hands were shaking as I crept down the main staircase, the grandfather clock in the foyer reading 1:47 AM. Every instinct screamed that this was a trap, but what choice did I have? If someone told Richard about tonight, about the kiss, about me sneaking into Kelvin's suite...Mom's happy face flashed through my mind. Her laughter at dinner. The color in her cheeks that hadn't been there in months.I couldn't be the reason she lost this. Lost him.The French doors leading to the garden were unlocked. I slipped outside, the cool night air raising goosebumps on my bare arms. The gardens were elaborate—hedge mazes, fountains, marble statues that looked ghostly in the moonlight."Hello?" I whispered, feeling ridiculous. "I'm here.""Of course you are."I spun around.A woman emerged from behind a rose trellis. She was stunning—late twenties, with platinum blonde hair styled in perfect waves, wearing designer clothes that probably cost more than my semester's tuition. Everything about her screamed old money and privilege."Who are you?""Victoria Ashford." She said it like I should know the name. When I didn't react, her perfectly painted lips curved into a cold smile. "Kelvin didn't mention me? How typical. Then again, he's been rather... distracted lately."My stomach dropped. "You and Kelvin—""Are engaged. Or were, until your mother sank her claws into Richard." Victoria circled me slowly, like a predator assessing prey. "The Ashford and Hartwell families have had an understanding for years. Kelvin and I were to marry, merge our companies, create an empire. Then Richard goes and falls for some dying gold digger and brings her trashy daughter into our world."Anger flared hot in my chest. "Don't talk about my mother…""Or what? You'll slap me too?" Victoria laughed. "I saw that, by the way. The whole dinner party incident. Very dramatic. Very... lower class.""What do you want?""I want you gone. You and your mother, out of this house, out of Richard's life, and far away from Kelvin." She pulled out her phone, swiping through photos. "But since I can't simply make you disappear, I'll settle for insurance."She turned the screen toward me.My blood turned to ice.The photos were grainy, clearly taken from a distance, but unmistakable. Me and Kelvin in the hallway, his hands on my face and our lips locked together. Another of me entering his suite. The timestamp read 11:59 PM."How did you—""I have friends on staff. People loyal to the real family, not Richard's midlife crisis." Victoria tucked her phone away. "Here's how this works. You're going to be a good little stepsister. Smile at family dinners. Keep your distance from Kelvin and most importantly, you're going to convince your mother that this wedding needs to be postponed. Indefinitely.""Why would I do that?""Because if you don't, these photos go to Richard. Along with a detailed account of how you seduced his son within forty-eight hours of moving in. How you're using your dying mother to get close to the Hartwell fortune. How you're exactly the kind of opportunistic little…""Stop." My voice cracked. "Just stop."Victoria's smile was triumphant. "Do we have an understanding?"I wanted to tell her to go to hell. I wanted to march upstairs and wake Richard and show him what a manipulative snake she was.But I looked at those photos again. The evidence was damning. Kelvin and I had been in his suite for over an hour. What kind of "talk" lasted that long in a bedroom at midnight?Richard would believe the worst. He would call off the wedding. Mom would lose access to his medical resources, to the treatments that were actually working.She might die.And it would be my fault."Fine," I whispered. "I'll... I'll figure something out.""You have one week. Kelvin leaves for Singapore tomorrow, which gives you time to work on your mother. Make her see reason. Tell her Richard's moving too fast, that she needs to slow down, focus on her health. I don't care how you do it, just get it done."Victoria started to walk away, then paused. "Oh, and Elena? Stay away from Kelvin. He's mine. He's always been mine. This little infatuation you two have? It's temporary. You're a novelty and I'm his future."She disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone in the garden with my racing thoughts and breaking heart.I made it back to my suite somehow, though I didn't remember the walk. I sat on the edge of my massive bed in my massive room in this massive house where I didn't belong, and tried to think.Postpone the wedding. That's all Victoria wanted. Buy herself time to... what? Win Kelvin back? Break up Richard and Mom some other way?My phone buzzed.Kelvin: “You left your sweatshirt. Want me to bring it to you?“I stared at the message, tears blurring the screen.Twenty minutes ago, he had been looking at me like I was something precious. Like I mattered. Like maybe, despite everything, we could figure this out.Now I had photos proving we were exactly the scandal everyone would assume. And a week to sabotage my mother's happiness to protect it.Me: “Keep it. I won't be coming back.“The three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.Kelvin: “What happened?”Kelvin: “Elena, answer me.”Kelvin: “I'm coming to your room.“Me: “Don't. Please. I just need space. You were right, this was a mistake.“The dots stopped.No response.I waited, phone clutched in my hand, for a knock that never came.Maybe he agreed. Maybe I had made it easy for him.Maybe that made it hurt worse.****I didn't sleep. By six AM, I had made a decision.I found Mom in the breakfast room, already dressed and glowing. Richard was reading the financial section, his hand covering hers on the table.They looked happy. Perfect. Right."Elena!" Mom's smile faded when she saw my face. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"I had rehearsed this. Planned exactly what to say."I think you should postpone the wedding."The newspaper crinkled as Richard lowered it. "Excuse me?""Not cancel," I said quickly, the lies tasting like ash. "Just... slow down. Mom, you're still in treatment. Planning a wedding is stressful. Maybe wait until you're stronger? Until we've all had more time to adjust?"Mom's expression crumpled. "This is about Kelvin, isn't it? About last night's argument at dinner?""No, I just…""He's leaving for a week. You won't even see him. Please, Elena, don't let one bad interaction ruin this for me."Richard stood, moving around the table to take my hands. "Elena, I understand this is overwhelming. New house, new family, Kelvin's... hostility. But your mother and I love each other. We don't want to waste time, not when it's precious."The kindness in his eyes made me want to weep."I know, I just..""Is there something else?" Richard's gaze sharpened. "Something you're not telling us?"Yes. Your son kissed me. I kissed him back. Someone photographed it. I'm being blackmailed. Your fiancée's daughter is destroying everything before it even begins."No," I whispered. "Nothing else."Mom stood, crossing to wrap me in a hug. "I know change is scary, baby. But this is good change. The best change. Trust me?"I held her tight, breathing in her familiar lavender scent, and felt something inside me harden.No. I wouldn't postpone the wedding. I wouldn't give Victoria what she wanted.But I would protect Mom. Whatever it took.Even if it meant breaking my own heart."I trust you," I said.Martin appeared in the doorway. "Mr. Richard, the car is ready for Mr. Kelvin. He's requested to say goodbye before leaving for the airport."My heart stopped."Wonderful!" Richard beamed. "Elena, would you mind? I need to take this conference call, and I know Kelvin would appreciate…""I'll go," I interrupted.Kelvin was in the foyer, suit immaculate, with his briefcase in hand. He looked like he hadn't slept either, dark circles under those devastating eyes.His gaze locked on mine, and the air between us crackled."Have a safe flight," I said formally, aware of Martin hovering nearby."We need to talk. About your message last night..""There's nothing to talk about. You were right. It was a mistake."Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "Elena.""Have you spoken to Victoria recently?" The question came out sharper than intended.Kelvin's expression shuttered. "What does Victoria have to do with anything?""Just answer the question.""She called yesterday. She said she heard about the engagement, wanted to congratulate my father." His jaw clenched. "Why?"Because she's blackmailing me. Because she has photos. Because she thinks you're hers."No reason. Just curious."Kelvin moved closer, lowering his voice. "You're lying. What happened between midnight and now? What changed?"Everything. "I realized you were right. This, us.. it's too complicated. Too risky. Your father and my mother deserve better.""So that's it? One night and you're done?""There's nothing to be done with, Kelvin. It was just a kiss. Two kisses. It doesn't mean."He kissed me.Right there in the foyer with Martin pretending not to watch. Hard and possessive and desperate.When he pulled back, his eyes were blazing. "Still doesn't mean anything?"I couldn't breathe or think."Mr. Kelvin," the driver called from the door. "We need to leave or you'll miss your flight."Kelvin held my gaze for another heartbeat. "One week. When I get back, you're telling me the truth. All of it."Then he was gone.I stood in the empty foyer, touching my lips, when my phone buzzed.Unknown number: “Strike one. Next time, there won't be a warning. - V“Attached was a photo.From thirty seconds ago.Kelvin kissing me in the foyer.Perfect angle. Perfect clarity. Perfect evidence.Victoria wasn't just watching.She was everywhere.And I was running out of moves.