Tasting

393–She Took Pictures Of My Painting.

Nora:

“Let me go,” I glared at him as he dragged me toward the mansion. I was shocked at how stern and strong he was. I had gotten used to tossing people around whenever I attacked, so being manhandled like that was a surprise.

He effortlessly carried me inside the mansion while his brothers followed for a while, realizing soon enough that Cain was serious about his decision. Even I stopped resisting, acknowledging that the only way to get him off my back was to answer his questions like I had with the others.

Soon, he had taken me inside his studio, and the memories flooded back so hard I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath to clear my head. It amazed me how quickly I could push those memories aside. Cain locked the door behind us and stared at me for some time before walking closer. When he noticed I wasn’t backing down, disappointment flickered across his face.

“Say what you have to say and do it quickly,” I snapped, a frown on my forehead, eyes narrowed at him,

seeing him in his studio

Cuen t

took me back to our first meeting.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. My body shuddered slightly at his apology.

“Really? For what, though? I don’t think you did anything wrong,” I gave him a smile–broken, but still there–just to show him there was so much he needed to apologize for, and I still wouldn’t forgive him.

“Stop it. Don’t act like you weren’t hurt, like you’re happy now. I know

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393–She Took Pictures Of My Painting.

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the truth. You’re not happy there, and I’m sure by now you’ve realized Brody isn’t as nice as you thought,” he snapped, his irritation catching me off guard. His calm demeanor was cracking now that I was staying composed.

“Then why did you tell me to go with him?” I tilted my head, giving him a quizzical look.

“Because you were safer there, Nora. At least for a few months-” he started to ramble again, but I shook my head to silence him. I was tired of the secrecy. They always hid behind ‘we’ll explain later‘ when it was obvious they wanted me gone. They were so cold to me back then.

“The few months, blah, blah, blah. You thought I spray–painted your car, didn’t you?” The minute I reminded him of that incident, I saw him look away and scratch the back of his neck. At that moment, I felt like I’d opened another can of worms.

knew

He freaking I was innocent. Back when it happened, I thought the evidence was so compelling that he had no choice but to believe it. But his silence now

3 STOOK me.

“You knew the truth?” I hissed, my fists clenching. Funny how these brothers always managed to make me lose my mind again.

My calm facade crumbled with the weight of what I was hearing.

“Wow! I don’t think there’s anything left to talk about,” I stomped my foot and stormed past him -or so I thought. He grabbed my hand and yanked me back, making me stumble into something.

Before I could straighten myself or ask why he was suddenly hovering over me, he pulled a white sheet off a canvas, revealing a painting.

Not just any painting.

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393–She Took Pictures Of My Painting.

My painting.

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The one he claimed he had burned. I stood there, stunned, noticing there were more paintings hidden behind the clothes.

“I didn’t burn it,” he whispered. “I would never.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I took a deep breath and shrugged.

“You should burn it. It’s going to ruin my relationship with Brody-” The moment I mentioned Brody’s name, he threw his fist in the air, nearly making me jump.

“STOP SAYING HIS NAME! OR ELSE, I WILL RUIN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM,” he yelled. I took a deep breath, lowered my head, and when I looked back up, I was ready to challenge him.

“What are you going to do? Sleep with me and dump me the next day?” I scoffed, smirking as his expression softened.

“At least I’d never lie to you just to sleep with you and steal your first time.” His words sounded so strange.

“Huh?” I stared at him, confused by his accusation, feeling like he was mocking me.

“Anyway, I never burned it. I

lied because your psycho of a friend had taken a picture of this painting back when you convinced me to paint her. She was going to release it and your reputation. As for me, no one would’ve cared because I’m a damn alpha king,” he finished, leaving me in shock with the piece of information I never expected to hear.

ruin

“I did whatever I could to save your reputation,” he almost whispered that part, shocking me even more.

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