Chapter 16
673 Words
“Need a ride?” James asked.
Conrad hesitated, unsure if he should accept. Before he could speak, James added, “Just get in. I’ll drop you off.”
Without arguing, Conrad slipped into the back passenger seat.
“So…” James began after a pause. “Since I’m dropping you off, I need a little request. Take it as payment for the lift.”
Conrad muttered under his breath, barely audible, “It’s not like I asked you…” Still, he didn’t like owing people favors. Louder, he asked quietly, “What’s the request?”
James handed him his phone. “Your number.”
Conrad blinked, surprised. “Why? What do you even need it for?” His tone wasn’t harsh—more cautious than anything. Conrad didn’t like giving his number to people he wasn’t close with.
“Just give it. It’s not a hard request.”
“…Fine.” Conrad took the phone, typed in his number, and handed it back. James immediately called it, and Conrad’s phone lit up.
“Save my number too,” James said.
Conrad glanced at it, then saved it without protest.
“I’ll send you a message later. Make sure you reply,” James added.
Conrad only gave a small nod.
The rest of the ride was quiet. Soon, the car pulled into the estate. The guard opened the gate after spotting Conrad inside. When the car stopped at the house, Conrad stepped out, pausing to say, “Thanks for the ride,” before heading inside.
James smiled faintly before his driver drove off.
Inside, Conrad handed his bag to a maid and went upstairs. In their shared room, he found Conner on his side, tense and brooding. Conrad walked over, voice calm but steady.
“Why did you leave me, Conner?”
Conner turned to him, eyes full of anger.
---
Conner’s POV:
Conner had gone back to the classroom, intending to catch whatever Jeremiah and Conrad had been talking about. But the sight that greeted him made his blood boil. From where he stood, it looked like they were kissing.
Rage surged through him, and his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. He wanted to storm in, to tear the scene apart, but instead he spun on his heel and left.
He got into the car, jaw tight, and snapped at the driver. “Drive.”
The man hesitated. “Sir, what about your brother? Aren’t we waiting—”
“Did my father pay you to interrogate me or to drive?” Conner cut him off sharply.
The driver flinched and quickly started the car.
Not long after, Conner’s phone began ringing. He didn’t need to check to know it was Conrad. He declined the call. It rang again. He declined once more. Finally, silence.
Then the driver’s phone started buzzing. The man glanced at the screen, intending to answer it.
“Don’t answer it,” Conner ordered coldly.
“But sir—”
“I said don’t.”
The driver obeyed.
The rest of the ride passed in tense silence. Conner stared out the window, replaying the scene in his mind again and again, each time feeling the heat of anger rise in his chest.
When they arrived, he stormed past the maid who tried to take his bag and went straight to their room.
An hour later, the door opened, and Conrad stepped in. The calm look on his twin’s face only made the anger inside him burn hotter.
Conrad walked over, his tone quiet but unwavering. “Why did you leave without me?”
Conner turned away, pretending not to hear. He clenched his fists harder, wishing he could wipe that calm expression off Conrad’s face.
Conrad lingered for a moment, then retreated to the bathroom. Later, he climbed onto his bed, opening his laptop as though nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Conner sat rigid, the memory of what he thought he saw between Conrad and Jeremiah gnawing at him like an open wound.
- Writer
