Love and Hate Turn to Ashes
Chapter 1
I messed around with my best friend’s
brother, Ethan. Then he refused to date me.
“I’m more into the thrill of a secret affair than
a public romance.”
“But don’t worry, when the time is right, I’ll
give you a title.”
I believed him, lost in the joy of being with the
man I loved.
Not long after, I overheard his conversation
with his friend.
“Just my sister’s friend, a little something to
practice on when I’m bored.”
“Olivia’s my dream girl. I can’t just touch her,
she’s too precious!”
Olivia was my half–sister.
My mom died because of her and her mom.
We were sworn enemies.
く
He knew that. Yet he still enjoyed stomping
me into the dirt.
Heartbroken, I called my grandpa.
“Grandpa, you don’t need to cancel that
arranged marriage Mom set up for me. I’ll go
through with it.”
The play ended. As soon as I got off stage,
Ethan pinned me against the dressing room
wall.
His heat scorched my breath, his eyes soft
and tender. “Babe, every time I see you in
your stage costume, I just want to hold you
tight.”
I blushed, shyly pushing him away, but he just
held me tighter.
I stopped his wandering hands, whispering, “I
can’t get this costume dirty, I have to return
it.”
“We’ll go home. Then you can do whatever
you want.”
<
Ethan still hadn’t stopped. He nipped at my
neck and pulled me against him.
We waited until everyone had left the theater
before he let me change.
I buried my head in his chest, my voice
muffled. “We’ve been together for so long, we
should tell Ashley.”
“Otherwise, she’ll keep trying to set me up on
dates.”
I wanted to go public for other reasons, too.
But I couldn’t talk about them now.
Ethan twirled my hair around his finger and
brought it to his nose, openly teasing me.
“I’m more into the thrill of a secret affair than
a public romance.”
“But don’t worry, when the time is right, I’ll
give you a title.”
“You’re my dear sister’s best friend, after all.”
I lowered my head, unable to look at him.
He had a meeting that afternoon, but knowing
I had plans with Ashley that night, he brought
me to his private lounge.
He told me to make myself at home.
His closeness felt sweeter than it did bitter.
I picked up his tablet to play a game.
A notification popped up. I didn’t mean to
snoop, but I saw my name.
[Jason: Dude, heard your sister’s friend is a
dancer. Dancers have great bodies, right?]
[Ethan: Amazing. Why else would I be
sleeping with her?]
[Ethan: You wouldn’t believe it, she cries like
a kitten. Makes me want to push her even
harder.]
[Ethan: The inexperience is a plus. I get to
practice on her, so I won’t be clumsy with
Olivia. Plus, it’s a good way to humiliate her.]
I could picture him typing those words.
Ethan, casually typing, a sneer in his eyes.
As if I were just a little toy he picked up when
L
he was amused.
Something he could discard when he was
bored, leaving me hanging.
[Ethan: Once Olivia and I are together, she’ll
realize she was the other woman all along.
She’ll finally understand how Olivia felt.]
[Ethan: It’s her fault for not letting Olivia and
her mom in, making Olivia suffer. I’m just
teaching her a lesson.]
Teaching her a lesson?
Olivia Payne was my half–sister.
To marry into the Payne family, Olivia’s
mother brought her to our house, driving my
mom to depression and ultimately, her death.
I wanted to kill them both.
But in Ethan’s eyes, I was the villain who
broke up their happy family?
I just didn’t let them take what belonged to
my mom.
I couldn’t read anymore. I took screenshots of
<
the messages.
Then I marked the chat as unread.
I grabbed my bag and hurried out.
Every step felt like walking on shards of
glass.
It was funny. Ashley had warned me about her
brother.
He seemed gentle and polite, but he was cold
inside.
“He only cares about his family and the
people he deems worthy.”
“Everyone else is just a stranger to him. Don’t
be fooled by his looks, you’re too naive.”
I nodded, determined to keep my distance
from him.
But then he added me on social media.
He kept asking me out.
I refused, made excuses, but he always found
a way.
“I bought two movie tickets, Ashley’s with her
<
boyfriend, can you go with me?”
“I heard this restaurant is really good, come
try it with me, it’s awkward to go alone…”
“Well…”
