August Flynn.

"Miss Flynn, you have been bailed; please do well to change into more suitable clothes, and we will be escorting you back home." The police officer said calmly; the tone sounded respectful, while it made me raise an eyebrow in confusion.

I ignored it and nodded my head, and then I did as he had instructed. I was offered a new set of clothes and taken to a room where I could change. When I was done, I was accompanied by one of the cops to a car, where I slid in and was driven home.

I am now standing in front of the house, my heart racing, thoughts lingering as I take a step forward. I raised my hand and knocked, my fingers trembling. Seconds turned to a minute; no one responded. I knocked again, then the door slid open. My mouth hung open, and my hand lowered as Jordan stood, shirtless; he was wearing shorts, and his hair was slightly messy. His presence made me forget that he had abandoned me to my fate at the station, and I found myself ogling his exceptional physique.

"You're back..." He sounded nonchalant until Avery arrived behind him; a towel was wrapped around her waist, and she hugged him from behind and sucked his earlobe right in front of me. I sucked in a breath, trying not to act pathetic in front of him.

So I ignored them and walked past him, heading to my room, which was upstairs. Every step felt heavier as I heard their laughter, giggles, and muffled kisses. I was now standing in front of the door, and, with trembling hands, I twisted the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge. I tried once again; it was the same thing.

"Jordan, why the hell is my door locked?"

"I don't know, but I believe Dad would be in the best position to explain it better." I shook my head, taking a breath, trying not to let my emotions cloud my reasoning. I walked back to the sitting room and sat on the couch, waiting for my father. I saw the way Jordan would frequently steal glances at me while holding Avery, only for me to hear her whisper something I didn't expect: "I'm sorry, Jordan, but I'll be traveling to California in a day, and I will spend a month there." The news shouldn’t have pleased me—but it did, so I brought out my phone and pretended to check something so I could hear the full information.

"But Avery, we would be getting married soon, and I have my life here; I can't leave you here so we can eventually get married in California."

"You know my career lies in California, and I have to leave to be able to achieve my goal."

Silence followed, while I hoped that he'd say no so I could spend time with him and make him realize that he had been chasing the wrong person.

"Okay, I'll think about it."

"What! What about the team? Are you just going to abandon it?" I snapped unapologetically.

"August, please, not now. I know you have always cared like a little sister, but this is a relationship matter, and I'd appreciate it if you..."

"Oh, that's it, a sister...I get it now," I interrupted him mid-sentence, my voice cracking, wondering why it hurts.

"Or don't tell me you have always seen Jordan more than a brother, August..." She paused, let out a subtle laugh, and added, "I have always known, but I didn't believe it because you guys are siblings."

"Step siblings," I corrected her instinctively.

Jordan, who once didn't show any sign of emotion, suddenly turned to me. I couldn't properly read his expression, but I knew something was lingering in his mind. "August...so is it true?"

"True? About what?"

"Don't play dumb with me. Have you always seen me as more than a brother? Have you imagined yourself being intimate with me?"

That question hit harder than it should have. I swallowed hard, my breath hitching, wanting to scream a loud yes, but knowing Jordan is getting married soon and nothing would ever come out of it, so I just shook my head without saying a word.

"Are you sure?" He asked again, his voice deeper this time.

"What difference does it make? You are getting married anyway," I let out before storming out of the room, finding myself outside the building. I refuse to let those burning tears slip again; I can't continue hoping for the impossible. I know Jordan doesn't love me as much as I do. Every day I see him, I find myself craving his touch, holding his hand, and kissing his lips, but I know it's just a fantasy, and I believe it'll always be that way.

"August, what are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be in jail?" The voice of my father thundered. I lifted my gaze and immediately dried my tears as I straightened up to look at him.

"I...I was bailed out?"

"By who? Don't tell me, you committed another theft to get yourself out?"

"Dad, are you sure I'm really your daughter?" I asked, slowly, my voice trembling.

"I have been asking myself the same question; that's why I wanted to carry out a paternity test, to be certain that you are my daughter."

I nodded my head, tears sliding. "And what if I am?"

"Then you will get the opportunity to continue living in my house, but before then, I want you to leave this place." That explained why my door was locked—my father was throwing me out. I wish my mom were here; things wouldn't have ended up this way.

"Dad, I'm your only child; Jordan isn't even your blood." My voice cracked, hoping he would listen.

He scoffs and turns away, only to come back with my bags, urging me to leave. I stood there frozen, my feet unmoving, facing reality—it was no longer a nightmare I could wake from.

I was outside the building, my body shivering, my heart racing, and my stomach grumbling in hunger. I closed my eyes, wondering what I had ever done wrong, only for the rain to start pouring on my bare skin, making things worse.

"Please get in, little rabbit." A deep voice said as a car door was opened for me to slide in. Without thinking twice, I entered the car, trying to get some warmth. His voice reverberated again, which made me realize I might have just found myself in an inevitable situation. "I had to do what I did because you need to understand that your family doesn't value your presence enough to keep you there, but I do."

August Flynn.

My body shivered; I could feel the cold penetrating my nerves. I didn't think too much about what he said; my heart raced, and my body trembled as he let out those words. I lifted my gaze, trying to determine whether I had misunderstood his words.

He didn't utter another word as he started the engine and drove to his house. It was still raining heavily outside, his masculine physique still in the car, unmoving, and not his eyes staring into the distance.

"We can't go outside like this, because you will get drenched."

"But..."

"We are already here?" He cuts in. I nodded gently, feeling scared of his intimidating demeanour for the first time since I had ever known him.

"I don't have an umbrella in the car."

"I can feel my bones begging for heat," I protested, my lips pressing tightly.

His lips turned into a sinister smile; he leaned closer and said, "That's why you have my body for warmth." I don't know when I subconsciously pushed him against the car door, finding him more like a jerk.

"You pervert."

He shrugged and leaned against the seat, the sinister smile still on his face like he was enjoying every bit of it.

"I'm sick and tired of your little dirty tricks, and you need to understand that I never agreed to come with you in the first place, and if you won't provide the umbrella so we can get in, then I might as well go back to where I came from."

"Okay." He muttered nonchalantly; it crushed something in me, and my heart raced. I don't know why his unperturbed behaviour made me feel so much rage.

"Okay? Is that all you are going to say?"

"If you want to leave, who am I to stop you?"

My fists clamped tightly. I didn't know when I got out of the car and started walking through the rain, each droplet landing on my skin. I closed my eyes, my heart beating, and wondered if I was making the wrong decision. Every step felt heavy, every inch was regretful while wondering why I had left the car in the first place. When I was far ahead, I wanted to go back so badly because I knew I didn't have anywhere to go or anyone to run to. Then a car stood beside me; I refused to look back because I knew it was Caspian.

The car kept following, but I didn't bother turning back. Then I heard a familiar and soothing voice: "August, it's raining; please get in." I turned, my feet remaining frozen in the same place. I could feel a tingling sensation in my tummy as I stared at those familiar blue eyes. "Jordan, w... what are you doing here?" "I asked," my lips trembled.

"Don't ask questions, just get into the car."

"I... thought... that..."

"You thought nothing; just get into the goddamn car." There was something about his voice that I couldn't seem to smother, like it had a magnetic pull that always told me what to do without knowing how to control the feeling. I found myself moving towards the car, my hand reaching for the doorknob, when a hand grabbed my wrist in time. I turned and saw Caspian beside me, his hand resting against my wrist. His face was wet and drenched. His abs are revealed on his white linen shirt.

"Don't tell me that you are about to enter his car after what he did to you?"

Looking at him and recalling what he did, I immediately pulled away my hand, my fist tightening. "You know what, Caspian? I have had enough of your bullshit, because I'm not finding this shit funny anymore."

"No, I'm being realistic. This is the moron who treated you like trash, and you are going with him?"

"Hey, dude, what's the big deal? Do you know my sis..." The words of Jordan were caught in his throat as he leaned closer to the window to take a better look. "Holy shit, Caspian!"

Then I saw Caspian immediately raise up his hands in surrender, nod his head, and turn away. "You know what? You can go with the loser since that is what you want." With that, he turned and left. The rain kept pouring, which made my tears mix with the droplets.

I immediately entered the car, and I realised it was the car that my father had bought for himself. When I was inside, I gritted my teeth due to the cold. I slowly averted my gaze to look at Jordan. I noticed the smile that he once had on his face had faded away.

"W... what is it? You seem upset."

"Yes, because why would you enter my car with your drenched body in my car?"

My eyes widened, my brows slightly furrowed, wondering if it was Jordan who had lovingly called out my name moments ago.

"But you told me to," I muttered gently when I managed to find my voice.

"Yes, I told you, I brought some clothes so you can change before entering and not get in like that..." He said those words while making an expression of disgust.

"Yeah...you are right," I managed to say after moments of silence.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly showing confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you are right for treating me the way you have always treated me, because I gave you the liberty to always treat me like that."

"Oh, come on, it is not like that."

"You don't need to say anything else, Jordan; I now understand better. Please enjoy your stay in your brand-new car."

With that, I slide out of the car without a second thought. I felt another wave of cold hit my skin, my ears felt a weird pain, and my feet were unmoving. I started walking away; a side of me wanted to look back and see if Jordan would run after me and beg me, but to my utter bewilderment, he ignited the engine and sped off.

I shook my head as another set of tears mixed with the rain down my cheeks; my lips made an ugly shape as I cried in the rain without holding back, wondering why it hurt badly.

"I know Jordan would always be the jerk that he has always been, and that's the reason why I had to wait for you." The voice of Caspian muttered beside me. I noticed the smile he had on his face; it made my heart skip a bit.

"What the fuck are you..."

"Shh... just go with the flow." Before I could protest, he went ahead to carry me in a bridal style. I instinctively wrapped my hand around his neck, holding him as if my life depended on it, because I didn't want to fall for any reason. The smile on his face made him look even more gorgeous. I tried to avoid looking at his mesmerising eyes, but it was like they were calling out to me softly.

In a few minutes, we were in his house, and he took a few steps to his room; he slowly placed me on the bed as he muttered softly in my ear, "I know you are cold, and I believe my body would be the best warmth your body would ever need."