Craving my sister’s fiancé

Chapter 24

Stefan’s POV

“They look so good together!” Bella’s voice surged with a high-pitched energy that made my skin crawl. I forced my lips into a smile, though it felt brittle and stopped well short of my eyes.

Across the way, Daphne and Adrian were locked in a kiss. The sight was a physical blow; my stomach churned, and my fingers curled into a tight, white-knuckled fist at my side.

“I should take a quick picture,” Bella chirped. The shutter clicked, and as if on cue, they broke apart. Thank God. Bella turned to me, her smile faltering as she caught the raw bitterness I hadn't managed to mask in time. She didn't comment on it, instead heading toward the couple. I followed a few paces behind, my feet feeling like lead.

“Daphne! What are you doing, kissing this old man right where everyone can see?” Bella teased, her tone thick with amusement.

Adrian gave a low, rumbling laugh. “I told you my disguise was perfect.”

“How did you know I was going to be here?” Daphne asked. Her eyes flickered toward me for a fraction of a second before darting away, pointedly refusing to meet my gaze again.

“Of course we didn’t know! It’s not like we’re stalking you,” Bella said, waving a hand dismissively. “We just came to have some fun. Though, I’m a little surprised to see you here, because—”

“She’s afraid of heights,” I cut in. The words felt sharp in my throat.

“Exactly!” Bella nodded. “So, I’m shocked.”

“Daphne isn’t scared of heights,” Adrian countered, a smugness settling into his posture. “We just rode the Ferris wheel.”

My eyes widened. My heart hammered against my ribs—Daphne wouldn't even stand near a balcony, let alone a moving wheel. “That’s a lie. Daphne would never ride that.” I stepped forward, the protective instinct surfacing before I could check it.

“I’m not a child anymore, Stefan.” Daphne finally spoke, but she addressed the air over my shoulder rather than my face. “Adrian is right. I’m not scared anymore.”

“My sister is all grown up!” Bella beamed, oblivious to the ice in the air. “Since we’re all here, let’s just hang out together.”

Daphne flinched almost imperceptibly. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Don’t be silly, Daph. The more the merrier,” Adrian said. I caught the sharp glare Daphne shot him—a silent plea he was choosing to ignore. She didn't want to be near me. The realization stung worse than the heights ever could.

“Let’s go! My treat on the ice cream,” Bella said, grabbing Daphne’s hand and pulling her into the crowd.

I stayed rooted to the spot, watching them disappear before turning on Adrian. My jaw was so tight it ached. “What are you doing, man?”

“What do you mean?” He gave me a slow, deliberate wink that set my blood on fire. “I’m having fun.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” I spat, stepping into his space. “When are you going to stop this pretense with her?”

“Why are you even asking, Stefan? I mean, I’m not complaining,” Adrian said, his voice dripping with easy confidence. “You wanted her out of the picture, right? So aren't you supposed to be happy about this, or…”

“There isn’t any ‘or.’ Of course I’m happy,” I snapped, cutting him off before he could finish that thought. I pivoted and stormed toward the girls, his low, mocking chuckle trailing after me like a taunt. My pulse hammered in my knuckles as I balled my hands into fists.

“What flavor do you want, Daphne?” Bella asked, tapping her finger against the menu.

“Strawberry,” Adrian chimed in smoothly. “That’s her favorite.”

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. The guy was performing, and Bella was buying every second of it.

“Oh wow, you know her favorite already!” Bella squealed, her cheeks flushing. The waiter appeared, pen poised over his pad. “Two strawberries for the ladies,” she directed, “and two pineapples for the men.”

“No pineapple, Bella. Adrian is allergic,” Daphne said softly.

The words felt like a physical burn behind my eyes. I stared at her, my chest tightening. She knew his allergies. She was tracking his needs. I hated the way the air felt in my lungs—thick and bitter.

“Oh wow, you two are the cutest,” Bella gushed. “Three strawberries, then. Pineapple is Stefan’s favorite.”

The waiter vanished. I stood there like a ghost at the table while Adrian and Daphne locked eyes. The silence between them felt deliberate, a private wall built to shut me out. It was working; I was vibrating with a restless, ugly energy. Why am I even pissed? I cursed silently, the frustration boiling over. I shouldn't care. I don’t care. f**k, I hate this.

Daphne’s phone buzzed on the table, breaking the spell.

“Excuse me, I have to take this,” she murmured. She stood and wove through the crowd, heading for a quiet pocket away from the carnival noise.

This was it. My heart lurched. I needed a second alone with her.

“I’ll be back. Restroom,” I muttered. Bella gave a distracted nod, and I took off.

I trailed her through the throngs of people, my eyes locked on the back of her head. She had walked further than I expected, tucked away in a shadowed corner of the park. As I got closer, I saw her shoulders tense; she was in the middle of a heated argument, her voice low and sharp.

I stopped, my boots dragging in the dirt. What the hell am I doing? What was I even going to say? Why are you ignoring me? Why are you playing house with that guy? Or was I going to crawl back and tell her she misunderstood—that nothing happened between Bella and me?

My mind was a wreck. It shouldn't be her concern. You’re going crazy, Stefan.

Suddenly, she spun around. Her gaze collided with mine, and for a heartbeat, the world went dead quiet. Then, her expression turned to stone. She shifted her weight to push past me, but my body moved before my brain could protest.

I reached out and caught her wrist. Her skin felt electric against mine.

“Why did you block my number?” The words cracked as they left my throat, sounding far more desperate than I intended.

Daphne didn't pull away, but her eyes were ice. “I shouldn’t have had your number in the first place,” she said, her voice dropping to a jagged, cold edge.

“Why are you doing this to me, Daphne? Aren't we supposed to be family?” The word family felt like a lie the moment it left my tongue.

Daphne let out a sharp, jagged scoff. She finally looked at me, and the sheer weight of the sadness in her eyes made me flinch.

“Yes, Stefan. We are family.” Something in my chest fractured at her words; hearing her agree was somehow worse than a rejection. “We don’t need to talk all the time. We have no business with each other anymore.” Her voice was a wall of ice, thick and unyielding.

“What did I do to you?” I demanded, the confusion and guilt swirling into a messy knot.

“Oh my God, Stefan, please stop this!” she cried out, her composure finally cracking. “You said you wanted me away from you, and I did exactly that! I have a boyfriend now—someone I love so much.”

She was lying. I could see it in the way her voice climbed a fraction too high. She didn't love Adrian. I wanted to scream it—to tell her Adrian was playing a game, that he was just using her to get to me—but the words died in my throat. I felt pathetic, a man drowning and grasping at straws.

“You don’t like me anymore.” It wasn't even a question. It slipped out, raw and bleeding, sounding more desperate than I had ever allowed myself to be.

Daphne’s eyes flickered, a momentary lapse in her armor. “We should go. They’re waiting for us,” she whispered, trying to brush past me.

I stepped into her path, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Daphne. You don’t like me anymore?”

“Yes! I don’t like you anymore, Stefan!” she snapped, but she directed the words at the dirt at our feet, unable to hold my gaze.

“That’s a lie.” I moved into her space, closing the gap until the heat between us was suffocating. “I know when you’re lying, Daph. You’re doing it right now. You still care.”

We were inches apart. I could see the pulse jumping in her neck. “Look at me and tell me you don't like me,” I challenged, my voice dropping to a low growl.

She resisted, her jaw set tight, until I reached out and caught her chin. I forced her head up, making her eyes meet mine. There it was—that spark, that undeniable light she couldn't hide.

“You like me,” I breathed, the desperation finally winning.

I leaned in and crashed my lips against hers. For a split second, she froze, and then she broke. She kissed me back with a ferocity that matched my own. It was a desperate, needy battle; our tongues collided as I hooked my arm around her waist, crushing her body against mine to close every remaining inch of space.

When I finally pulled back, we were both gasping for air, our breaths mingling in the cool night. A small, triumphant smile tugged at my lips. She was still mine.

“Wow. Isn’t this another plot twist?”

The voice sliced through the air like a blade. My eyes snapped wide, and the blood in my veins turned to ice.