The Incest

Chapter Ten

Xavier’s POV

The smell of coffee dragged me out of bed. For a second, I thought it was just the staff doing their usual rounds, but then I heard actual laughter drifting up from downstairs. Not the polite kind. The loud, chaotic kind.

The parents were back.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and shoved on a T-shirt, half-expecting silence like the last few days. Instead, when I walked into the dining room, there she was—Cora—sitting at the table with her mom beside her, both of them grinning at some dumb story her stepdad was telling.

Her mom looked fresh off the flight, already fussing with Cora’s hair like she hadn’t seen her in years instead of a week. Her stepdad scrolled through his phone between bites of toast, muttering about emails and stock prices like he hadn’t missed a beat.

And me? I slid into my usual chair across from Cora, trying not to look like my chest was tightening just from being in the same room as her.

“Morning, Xavier,” her mom said brightly, pouring me coffee before I could even reach for the pot. She was always like that—treating me like her own, even when she didn’t have to. “You’ve gotten thinner! You kids really didn’t eat properly while we were gone, did you?”

“We ate,” I muttered, sipping the coffee. My eyes flicked to Cora without meaning to. She didn’t look at me. Not once. Just stabbed her pancakes like they’d ruined her life.

Her mom didn’t notice the tension. She was too busy talking. “You know, I was thinking on the flight back—Cora, Xavier, you two never really get out together. Always cooped up in this big house. It’s not healthy.”

Cora’s fork paused mid-stab. I froze.

Here it comes.

“Which is why,” her mom continued, smiling way too wide, “I think you should take a little vacation together.”

The air died in my lungs.

Cora actually choked on her juice. “What?”

Her stepdad finally looked up from his phone, raising a brow. “That’s… not a terrible idea.”

“Not a terrible—are you insane?” Cora shot back, slamming her glass down. “Me. And him. Together. On vacation?”

Her mom smoothed a hand over her shoulder. “Exactly. Bonding time. You’ve both been under the same roof for months and still act like strangers. A week away might do you good.”

Cora’s face went red. “Or it might kill me.”

I almost laughed, but stopped myself. Her mom wasn’t kidding. She leaned forward, eyes sparkling like she’d solved world peace.

“There’s the villa by the coast. It’s quiet, private, perfect for two young people to just… breathe. No staff, no pressure, no excuses.”

Her stepdad hummed in agreement, already scrolling for something on his phone. “Driver can drop them off. We’ll cover everything. Consider it done.”

Cora gawked at them like they’d both lost their minds. “You can’t be serious. I’m not going anywhere with him.”

Finally, I spoke up. My voice came out smoother than I felt. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Her glare could’ve sliced me in half. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

Her mom cut in before we could kill each other at the breakfast table. “Enough. You’re both going, and that’s final. You’ll thank me when you come back best friends.”

Best friends.

I hid a smirk behind my coffee. If only she knew.

---

The second her mom made it official, Cora nearly flipped the table.

But me? I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my mouth. A whole week. Just us. Away from this house, away from their watchful eyes, away from the polite staff who disappeared at sunset.

Finally.

Cora stormed upstairs first, muttering a string of curses under her breath. I followed at my own pace, coffee in hand, pretending I wasn’t enjoying the hell out of this.

By the time I reached her room, her voice was already echoing through the hall.

“Mom! This is ridiculous! He’s not even fun to be around!”

I leaned against the doorway, smirking. “Careful, princess, you’ll hurt my feelings.”

Her head whipped around. “Get out.”

“I’m not in,” I pointed out, tapping the doorframe. “Technically, this is neutral ground.”

She threw a shirt at me. Missed. “You’re impossible.”

“Good thing you’ll be stuck with me for seven days straight, then,” I said, stepping inside just to spite her.

She groaned, dragging her suitcase out from under the bed with more force than necessary. Clothes piled out like she’d grabbed whatever she could just to prove she wasn’t putting effort into this.

“Don’t you dare enjoy this,” she snapped, shoving another handful of clothes inside.

“Oh, I plan to enjoy every second,” I admitted. “Sun, sea, no parents. Sounds perfect.”

She froze, glaring at me like I’d confessed a crime. “You actually want this?”

I shrugged, folding my arms. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because it’s me.” Her voice cracked like she hated even saying it out loud.

“That’s the best part,” I shot back.

Her jaw dropped, words failing her for once. I almost laughed at how fast her brain scrambled, but before she could explode, her mom’s voice carried up the stairs.

“Cora! Xavier! Luggage in the car in ten!”

Cora groaned like the world was ending. I just grinned, grabbing her suitcase before she could argue.

“Hey!” she protested, chasing after me down the hall.

“You pack like a toddler,” I called over my shoulder. “I’m doing you a favor.”

Her footsteps thundered behind me, her voice echoing. “I swear, Xavier, if you—”

But I was already out the front door, loading both our bags into the car.

The staff smiled politely, pretending they didn’t notice Cora stomping down the steps like she was walking to her execution.

“Stop looking so happy,” she hissed as we slid into the backseat.

I leaned back, stretching my legs out until they brushed against hers. “Can’t help it. Vacation with you? Feels like winning the lottery.”

Her mom poked her head out the door, beaming like this was the best day of her life. “You two take care of each other, okay? No fighting, no sulking. Just… have fun.”

Cora forced the fakest smile I’d ever seen. “Sure, Mom.”

The driver started the engine. The mansion shrank behind us.

And as the car rolled out onto the open road, I caught Cora staring out the window, arms crossed tight, lips pressed into a thin line.

She hated every second of this.

I loved it