In Love With My Evil Stepbrother

Chapter 77: Who can it be? Mom is thrilled that I'ou finally back. Upon seeing me, she pulledinto her arms for a biy. huc and didn’t let po for one minute. She askeda lot of questions about my life in Miami and New York, and of course she didn’t miss out the chance to interrogateabout the reason | left Boston three years ago.

“I had always been thinking that after you graduate high school, you could continue studying here. There are lots of great college in Boston and you could pick the one you like...” I sigh, “Mom, I've told you before. | can’t afford a fancy elite college.” Seeing she opens her mouth in disapproval, | quickly add to that, “~ And don’t say that Mr. Ramirez is willing to help me! I'm not taking any more of his money.” She pouts.

“Fine...but | still don’t understand why you needed to leave in such a hurry! You didn’t even telland just got on a flight and left. Do you know what kind of damage it did to me? | kept thinking that | didn’t something wrong,” “Just let it go mom. It was three years ago. And | already said that I'm sorry.” “But wliy? At least you could givea reason? Is it onlyor are you really keeping a big secret that I'm not aware of?” She grabs my hands and looks atbeseechingly. This isn’t like when we were on the phone and | could simply make up an excuse and hung up. Now I'm literally trapped. Just then, Mr. Ramirez emerges from the kitchen with a cup of coffee in his hand. He makes his way to us and sits down beside mom, “What are we talking here?” 1 Mom complaints, “I was just asking Nat why she left without a goodbye three years ago. She wouldn't givea good reason.” Mr. Ramirez slightly raises his brows and | suddenly feel my stomach churn in nervousness.

He knows why | left. He even chaseddown to Miami personally and madepromise that | would put an end to everything betweenand Eason.

So is he mad now that I'm back into the picture? Is he going to tell my mom? | stare at him with a hint of pleading in my eyes. After a short eye contact with me, Mr. Ramirez turns to mom again and smiles, “Does she need a good reason to go back home? Because don’t forpet that Miami is also her home.” | quietly let out a breath that I've been holding and give him a grateful look. He winks atbriskly Mom didn’t notice the briel exchange between us and is still frowning perplexed, “Sure but | still don’t understand,” “OK enough of the interrogation and questioning. This is Christmas for god’s sake,” Mr. Ramirez gives a gentle pat on her shoulder and subtly changes the subject. “Ne you toll Natalia about the party yet?” Mom's face lights up at the mention of the party, which is probably her second favorite thing in the world, right behind slopping. “Shawn has a few business partners to entertain so we are throwing a party in a few days. But we don’t want to do it on Christmas because that day is for family only. So the party will be here on the day before Christmas Eve. You can invite all your friends over. How does that sound?” It's not a bad idea actually. Although | hate any occasion with a lot of people, | do iniss my friends.

“Sounds great. I'll make scalls today,” | say.

Mom claps in excitement, “Fantastic! Nat you don’t have anything else to do today, right? Can you givea hand with all the party stuffs?” 1 I nod when Mr. Ramirez rises from the sola and says, “Well, I'll leave you party experts to it. Letknow if you needagain.” He exits the living room. | stare at his back and quickly stands up as well, “Mom, I'll find you later...there’s something | need to do.” | catch Mr. Ramirez below the staircase before he goes upstairs.

“Hmm Mr. Ramirez!” | call on to him. “I-I just want to thank you for...for everything you've done. And | really appreciate that you letstay here for Christmas.” He smiles looking at me. “This is your home, Natalia. The past is in the past now. So you are welcomed here anytime.” | return a sheepish smile. He's always nice toand | wonder if I'll ever be able to repay the favor.

“Oh and there's something else you should know about the party,” he says slowly while carefully watching my face. “Eason’s fiancé is going to be there.” My heart skips a leap. Yet | manage to keep my face under control.

“That's nice. | heard that Eason is engaged now, and I'd love to meet my future sister-in law,” | say breezily “And you will be fine with that?” he asks.

| pull up the corner of my lip and try to smile as sincere as possible. “Of course. | can’t wait to congratulate them.” | don’t know if he trustsfully or not. But judging by the satisfied look on his face, at least he is not suspecting anything just yel.

“Glad to hear that,” he patsshoulder and goes up the staircase.

| sigh internally and return to the living room with a heavy lieart.

| guess I'll have to meet his fiancé sooner or later. Better get it over with, Mom spends the next few days decorating the townhouse and by the day before Christmas Eve the entire house has been successfully transformed.

The front door and staircasc are framed with beautiful garlands and light strings, perfect for both daytand nighttdisplay. A giant swag is situated on the top of the mantel, and beside the mantel is a grouping of four poinsettias. The red flower really goes with the overall color palette.

And of course, the most eye-catching stull in the living room is the giant Christmas tree, with hundreds of golden and glittering ornaments hanging on it. There's a huge pile of beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree. Mon has decided to do a gift swap at the end of the party.

The party officially starts at 7. So guests start to arrive around 7:30. | stand by my mom's side giving polite smiles to strangers | don’t know, until | finally see sfamiliar faces. “Alex! Katherine!” | exclaim in delight and rusli forward to greet my friends, giving a big hug to each of them. Alex hasn't changed at all. And Katherine...well she looks fantastic She was already the center of attention back in high school and now she is even prettier.

“Oh my god! | miss you so much!! Eddie couldn’t cbut he sends his regards,” katherine hugsback and cheers excitedly. “T’ll forgive you for leaving us in such a rush only if you givefull details of your life since then!” | take them to the living room and offer them eggnogs. Then we start to talk Alex is studying at Cornel and is currently dating someone. I'm really glad that he has moved on from his little crush on me. And Katherine went to Harvard, sas Eason. I'm not surprised that both of them are in Ivy Leagues schools. With their GPAs and family backgrounds, they can easily get into any school they want.

“So you and Eason are in the sschool?” | ask Katherine.

“Yes. But in different departments. | rarely get to see him.” she quickly changes the subject,” Now enough about us. What about you?” | thien begin to tell them about my life, but | get distracted a lot and keep checking the front door. I'm waiting for Eason’s fiance to show up. Yet up till now, | see no sign of that mysterious guest. Alex finally notices my absent- mindedness, “Nat are you expecting someone?” “N-no. | was just looking for my mom. Umm do you guys need a refill? Before they say yes, | quickly take over their empty cups and go into the kitchen to calm myself down.

| peed to compose mysell. | can’t let anyone notice that something is wrong with me.

On the way back, | bunp into Eason, who is dressed in a neat suit and looks especially handstoday.

“Mary Christmas,” he smiles warmly at me, “Mary Christmas,” | reply dryly. After abriel pause, | can’t help but ask, “I heard that your fiancé is coming. When are you going to introduce her to us?” He shrugs nonchalantly. “No idea. | haven't mellier myself. Dad will introduccher before dinner, | suppose.” “As the future groom, aren’t you at least a little bit curious?” “Let’s just say that | fully trust my mom's taste in selecting a marriage partner.” He lets out a cold and sarcastic sneer and then walks away.

The next hour is like hell. | keep telling myself that | should take my mind off Eason’s fiancé. but | just can’t stop myself from searching for my target in the crowd. So far I've noticed two possible candidates: one is the daughter of Mr. Ramirez's business partner, the other comes with his family friend.

“Natalia are you OK?” Katherine whispers beside my ear while I'm secretly checking one of the girls. “You've been staring at that poor girl like a hawk. Is something wrong?” 1 panic and quickly make something up, “I was just looking at her diamond necklace. It's pretty.” Katherine doesn’t seem to suspect a thing and says, “Good eye. It's a sapphire high jewelry by Harry Winston.

That girl’s got money.” | take a sip from my eggnog and taste nothing but bitterness in my mouth.

“Yeah | bet she does...” | murmur dryly.

A little while later, Mr. Ramirez raises from his seat and clinks his glass. The crowd quiets down and looks over to him. “Family and friends, welcome.” He looks around the room smiling, “I'm very happy to have every one of you here on this happy occasion...” | spot Eason leaning against the piano drinking his wine. He seems bored.

“... Today, not only my son Eason and daughter Natalia are back home, but we are also about to welcone more person into our little family. | would like to take this opportunity to introduce her to everyone here.” This is it! | involuntarily straighten my back and hold my breath. Who can it be? Candidate number one with her sapphire necklace or candidate number two carrying the Hermes handbag? Mr. Ramirez makes a tic little pause before continuing. And then, surprisingly, he looks at my direction. My mouth parts slightly in shock. Why is he looking at me? And finally, he calls upon the nof Eason’s fiancé.

“Katherine.” Mr. Ramirez smiles pleasantly at our direction, “Are you willing to introduce yourself to everyone?” What?