Chapter 143
Kim
Brax’s hand was wrapped around Mara’s waist, and it was there for just a split second, but I could have sworn I saw it. I was shocked. It was shocking. What was even more shocking was the kiss on her lip, also short and I could be imagining things but I saw what I saw.
Not once did I ever think that there could be something going on between Mara and Brax. Why would Brax want to have anything to do with his brother’s soon-to-be wife? The mere thought of it was scary and hard to think about.
I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind racing with questions. I lost all sense of direction whatsoever. What was going on? Was I seeing things? I didn’t want to believe it, but the image was etched in my mind.
I tried to shake off the feeling, telling myself I must have misread it. But the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off. I didn’t know what to do or who to talk to.
I decided to keep it to myself for now, hoping that it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. But the image lingered in my mind, refusing to be ignored.
I felt bad for Aston, and that surprised me. I should be rejoicing that Mara was the wrong choice for him, but instead, I just felt bad. I had always thought that Mara was head over heels for Aston, and I never pictured her cheating, especially not with
Brax.
But Aston wasn’t even back from his trip yet, and I was already worried about what was going on. I tried to push the thoughts out of my mind, it was none of my business and they all deserved to suffer but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
I decided to do some digging, to see if I could find out what was really going on. I was desperate to immerse myself in something other than my miserable life and their miserable lives seemed like the perfect option.
I couldn’t find anything though and I felt like I was hitting a brick wall at every turn.
I decided to try a different approach. I started looking for clues, trying to see if I could find any evidence of what was going
on.
I snooped around Maya’s room, looking for anything that might give me a hint. But I didn’t find anything out of the ordinary.
I was starting to get frustrated. I knew something was going on, but I just couldn’t seem to figure out what it was. I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for her in her room.
I heard Mara’s voice in the hallway and my heart skipped a beat I knew I had to hide, and fast. I had no explanation for being in her room, and I knew she would waste no time killi me. I quickly scanned the room, looking for a place to hide. My eyes landed on the closet, and I knew it was my only option.
I tucked myself away in the closet, trying to catch my breath. I was squished between Mara’s clother and shoes, and I could feel my heart racing. I tried to calm myself down, but my heart was beating too fast. What was I doing? Why was I hiding in Mara’s closet?
Just as I was starting to relax. I heard the door slam shut. Mara groaned loudly, and I heard Brax’s voice trying to calm her
down
“Mara, calm down. What’s wrong?” Brax asked, his voice soothing.
“Nothing, just leave me alone,” Mara replied, her voice shaking.
1 held my breath, trying not to make a sound. I was both scared and excited at the same time. I was finally going to find out
G.
what was going on between these two.
“Come on, Mara. Talk to me.” Brax said, his voice gentle.
Mara sighed, and I could hear her pacing back and forth in the room. “I just can’t believe he’s doing this to me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper
“Who’s doing what?” Brax asked, his voice curious.
“Aston.” Mara replied, her voice filled with anger. “He’s just so clueless. He has no idea what’s going on.”
I felt a surge of excitement. What was going on? What did Aston not know?
“Mara, you need to calm down,” Brax said, his voice firm. “You’re going to get yourself worked up over nothing”
Mara laughed. “You have no idea what you’re talking aboul,” she said, her voice dripping with rage.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. What was going on between these two? And what did Aston have to do with it?
“Look, Mara, I don’t want to hear it,” Brax said, cutting her off. “I’m not interested in what you have to say about Aston.” My eyes widened in shock, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from cursing him out. How could he just dismiss her like that? How the f**k am I supposed to know now?
“Fine,” Mara said, her voice cold. But you’re going to regret this, Brax. You’re going to regret not listening to me.”
doubt it,” Brax replied, his voice smug. “I’ve heard enough of your drama for one day.”
I seethed with anger, my mind racing with thoughts of how I could get back at him. How could he be so heartless?
But then Brax said something that made my jaw drop.
“That baby could be mine,” he said, his voice casual and I almost fell out of the closet.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. What was he talking about? Mara’s baby? Aston’s baby? The one he beat me up for?
Mara’s voice changed from anger to shock. “What are you talking about, Brax?” she asked, her confidence faltering a little.
A
“I’m talking about the fact that we slept together,” Brax said, his voice matter-of-fact. “And I’m talking about the fact that you’re pregnant.”
They’d been sleeping together? And Mara was pregnant? I couldn’t believe it. This had to be some sort of prank. They probably knew I was here and are trying to mess with me.
“How dare you,” she whispered.
“I’m just stating the facts,” Brax said, his voice unrepentant.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Brax and Mara had been sleeping together? And now she was pregnant? It was too much to take in.
This is a nightmare,” Mara said, her voice barely above a whisper
“Maybe you should have thought of that before you slept with me,” Brax said, his voice nothing like I had ever heard before. He sounded so cruel. He never sounded so cruel.
“You’re going to pay for this, Brax,” she said, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re going to regret the day you ever crossed mr.
“I’m not going to regrer anything. Mara. That’s my child you’re carrying. You can’t just switch father’s because you want to
be a Luna”
Mara shook her head, trying to reason with Brax. “The baby is not yours, Brax. I’m telling you the truth. We may have slept together, but that was a mistake.”
But Brax didn’t seem to want to take that for an answer. “Don’t lie to me, Mara,” he said, his voice firm. “I know we slept together, and I know you’re pregnant. It’s not that hard to put two and two together. You’re not exactly known for your purity, Mara.”
Mara’s face flushed with anger. “How dare you,” she whispered.m telling you the truth. The baby is not yours.” I was so glad about the hole I drilled in Mara’s closet months ago to get back at her when she was trying to kill me with chores. I could see their faces now.
But Brax just smiled, a sly smile that made my skin crawl. “We’ll see about that,” he said. “If you’don’t tell Aston the truth, I will. And I’ll make sure he knows all about our little affair.””
Mara’s eyes
widened in fear. “You wouldn’t dare,” she whispered. “You wouldn’t do that to me
“Oh, I would,” Brax said, his voice dripping with malice. “And I will, unless you do what I say. Leave Aston and come with me. We’ll raise the baby together.”
Mara shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “I won’t leave Aston,” she said. “And I won’t go with you. You’re crazy if you think I would ever go back to you.”
Bray sneered at her. “You’re making a big mistake, Mara,” he said. “A big mistake. You’ll regret this.”
And then she dropped another bombshell. “Remember the last time we dated, Brax? Remember how that ended?”
I felt like I had been punched in the gut. They had dated before? And it had ended badly?
Brax nodded, no remorse on his face. “I remember,” he whispered.
“And that’s why I won’t go with you. That’s why I won’t leave Aston. You hurt me, Brax. You hurt me so badly.”
Brax’s face twisted in anger. “You’re just scared,” he spat. “You’re scared of what might happen if you leave Aston. But I’m telling you, Mara, I’m the only one who can protect you. I’m the only one who can keep you safe.”
I hadn’t seen Brax this way before, and it was shocking. He was always so calm and collected, but now he was furious. His eyes were blazing with anger, and his voice was low and menacing. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I watched him, unsure of what he was capable of
Mara seemed to be intimidated by him too. She took a step back, her eyes wide with fear. “Brax, please,” she whispered. “Don’t do this.”
But Brax just laughed. “You should have thought of that before you got pregnant,” he sneered. “You should have thought of that before you tried to pass off another man’s baby as mine.”
This man was a monster.