The forbidden Love between us

Chapter 20

Keira POV

I knew the second we pulled into the driveway.

Mom was waiting by the front door, arms crossed, face white.

Dad stood behind her, jaw clenched like he was holding back a punch.

I wanted to stay in the car.

Hide in the backseat and pretend none of this was real.

Kaden opened his door.

I followed.

Because running never worked.

“Car. Now,” Mom said.

Her voice wasn’t angry.

It was worse.

It was hurt.

We went inside.

The house was too quiet.

Like it knew what was coming.

The door shut behind us and Mom turned on us.

“Are you insane?”

Kaden opened his mouth, but I cut him off.

“I’ll explain,” I said.

I had to.

This was my fault too.

I kissed him in the courtyard.

I said it first.

Mom’s eyes snapped to me.

“Explain what, Keira?

That you’re dating your stepbrother?

That you let him kiss you in front of the entire school?”

“It’s not like that,” I said.

My voice shook.

“I didn’t plan this.

I didn’t want it to happen.”

“Then why did you let it?” Dad asked.

Because when he said mate in the library, something in me broke.

Because when he held me last night, I felt safe for the first time since we moved here.

Because I’m tired of pretending I don’t want him.

I didn’t say any of that.

I couldn’t.

Not with Mom looking at me like I’d betrayed her.

Kaden stepped forward and took my hand.

“Keira and I are together,” he said.

Mom made a sound like she’d been hit.

“Don’t say it like that.

She’s your sister.”

“She’s not,” Kaden said.

“Not by blood.

Not by anything that matters.”

“That doesn’t matter to people,” Dad said.

“It doesn’t matter to the school, to the district, to anyone who saw that video.

Do you know what you’ve done?”

I did.

I’d ruined everything.

Mom’s marriage.

Dad’s reputation.

My chance at a normal senior year.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“I’m so sorry, Mom.”

Mom’s face crumpled for half a second, then she straightened it out again.

“You’re sorry?

Keira, you kissed him in the courtyard.

You posted it for everyone to see.”

“I didn’t post it,” I said.

“Rory did.

We deleted it.

We got the files.”

“Rory Finch,” Dad said.

“He’s in custody.

He’s saying someone paid him to leak it.”

My stomach dropped.

Someone else.

It wasn’t over.

Mom looked between us, eyes wet.

“How long?” she asked.

“How long has this been going on?”

“Since the library,” I admitted.

“When he called me mate.

I should’ve walked away.

I didn’t.”

Mom sat down on the stairs like her legs couldn’t hold her anymore.

Dad went to her, but she shook him off.

“You’re 17,” she said to me.

“You’re my daughter.

And you’re with him?”

I nodded.

I couldn’t lie to her.

Not about this.

“I’m sorry it hurts you,” I said.

“But I’m not sorry for him.”

Kaden’s hand tightened around mine.

Mom closed her eyes.

“God help me.”

She stood up.

Walked to me.

Put her hands on my shoulders.

“If he hurts you,” she said, looking past me at Kaden,

“I will end him.”

“I know,” Kaden said.

“Fair.”

Mom turned back to me.

“I don’t understand this.

I don’t approve of it.

But you’re my daughter.

And I’m not losing you over this.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Mom—”

“Don’t,” she said.

“Don’t make me say it again.

But if the school tries to expel you, I’m pulling you out.

We’ll homeschool.

We’ll move.

Whatever it takes.”

Dad exhaled.

“Same here,” he said.

“To both of you.”

I looked at him, shocked.

“You’re not kicking us out?”

“I’m furious,” Dad said.

“At Rory.

At myself.

At the mess this is.

But I’m not kicking my son and my stepdaughter out because they fell for each other.”

Kaden looked at him like he’d never seen him before.

“Even though it’s illegal?”

“It’s not illegal,” Dad said.

“It’s immoral to half the town.

It’s against school policy.

But it’s not a crime.

And I’d rather deal with the town than lose you two.”

Mom pulled me into a hug.

I broke right there.

All the fear, all the guilt, all the weeks of pretending I was fine came out in one shaky sob.

“I’m scared,” I whispered into her shoulder.

“What if everyone hates me?”

“Let them,” Mom said.

“I don’t care what they think.

I care about you.”

She pulled back and wiped my face.

“Two weeks suspension.

No contact at school.

No public displays.

And if I hear about another video, I’m locking your phones.”

“Deal,” I said immediately.

Mom looked at Kaden.

“And you.

If you hurt her, I don’t care if you’re 18 or 30.

I’ll handle it myself.”

Kaden nodded.

“I know.”

Dad cleared his throat.

“Rory’s lawyer is pushing for a deal.

He’ll testify against whoever paid him if we drop charges.”

“Who paid him?” Kaden asked.

“We don’t know yet,” Dad said.

“But we will.”

So the real threat was still out there.

Someone wanted us broken.

Someone with money and access.

But for tonight, I wasn’t alone in it.

Mom let me go and stepped back.

“Go upstairs,” she said.

“Both of you.

Sleep.

We’ll deal with the rest tomorrow.”

Kaden and I went upstairs together.

Not holding hands.

Not yet.

Mom was watching.

At the top of the stairs, Kaden stopped me.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“No,” I said.

“But I will be.”

He nodded.

Then he did something reckless.

He brushed his thumb over my knuckles.

Once.

Quick enough that Mom wouldn’t see from downstairs.

“Get some sleep, Keira,” he said.

“Tomorrow we figure out who paid Rory.”

I went to my room.

But I didn’t close the door all the way.

A few minutes later, Kaden knocked once and came in.

He didn’t say anything.

He just sat on the edge of my bed and took my hand.

Mom said no contact at school.

She didn’t say anything about home.

“Think they’ll change their minds in the morning?” I asked.

“Maybe,” Kaden said.

“But it doesn’t matter.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re mine,” he said.

“And I’m not letting go.”

I squeezed his hand.

“Mate.”

“Mate,” he said back.

For the first time since the video leaked, I felt like I could breathe.