Chapter 34 FINAL DECLARATION
RACHEL
I didn’t want it to end. In my head, the world had stopped so I could keep kissing Thane. Adrenaline rushed hot and electric through my veins. His hands felt so real against my skin, warm and sure, pulling me closer, sending shivers down every inch it touched. It felt so good.
My eyes squeezed shut as I held onto that feeling—
“Rachel!” Thane’s sharp voice yanked me back to reality.
“Hm?” I murmured, still half-lost in the haze.
I blinked hard, still disoriented. Slowly, reality crashed in. I was still standing right outside my bedroom door, clutching the hem of my dress lightly. Thane stood a few steps away, watching me with a confused frown, like he could see every dangerous thought spinning in my head.
You were saying?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual.
Heat instantly flooded my face. Realizing I actually had nothing to say. All I’d wanted in that daydream was for him to feel it, the regret, the jealousy, the stupid pull I couldn’t shake. I just wanted him to somehow understand everything I was trying to say without words.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Never mind.”
“Alright.”
He turned and headed for the stairs. But right before he reached them, he glanced back at me. That look lingered a second too long. It felt heavy, like we were saying a thousand things neither of us would admit out loud.
Or maybe I was imagining it again. I bit my lip and watched until he disappeared downstairs. Only then did I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
After a deep inhale and then exhaling, I headed down to the living room, still trying to shake off the fantasy.
The second I reached there, my eyes landed on the person sitting in the armchair, my chest twisted so hard, it almost hurt.
Raymond?
A wave of anger surged through me instantly. What the hell was he doing here?
I walked toward him slowly, each step heavier. When I stopped in front of him, he lifted his head.
“Rach,” he said softly.
I almost slapped him on sight. “What the hell are you doing here, Ray?”
He stood up carefully, as if he was trying to buy time for himself. When he met my eyes again, his lips parted like he wanted to say something, but the words didn’t come.
“Answer me,” I snapped. “Before I actually do something you won’t like.”
He exhaled sharply. “I wanted to see you. And you weren’t answering my messages, so… I came over.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” I folded my arms tight across my chest. “The question is why?”
He took a step around the couch, moving closer toward me.
“Stay right there,” I ordered.
He froze after a step.
“You can talk from there. Answer the damn question.”
“Fine.” He nodded, dragging a hand through his hair. “I thought if I showed up, we could actually talk. What was I supposed to do when you ghosted me?”
“Wait!” I shouted, my voice rising with the anger boiling inside me. “If I wasn’t replying, it means I didn’t want to talk. The only sensible thing you could’ve done was wait.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “But waiting isn’t really your thing, is it?”
He dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. Seriously? If frustration could be measured, mine would be a thousand times heavier than his.
“You have every right to be angry, Rach,” he said, sounding remorseful. “It was my fault. I get it. But don’t you think you’re taking this a little too far?”
My jaw tightened.
“I mean… I only cheated once,” he continued. “That was my first time.”
“Wow.” A sharp, incredulous laugh escaped me. “Your first? Like I’m supposed to be grateful it wasn’t more?”
I shook my head, disbelief mixing with fresh anger. “Are you even hearing yourself right now?”
I closed my eyes for a second, trying to steady my breathing. When I opened them, I looked him dead in the eye. “I told you I forgave you, Ray. But that doesn’t mean I want you back.”
“Is this really about me?” he cut in suddenly, his tone shifting.
“What?” I stared at him.
“I’m not trying to excuse what I did,” he said quickly. “But we both know this isn’t just about me cheating.”
My stomach twisted.
“You’re doing this because of him.” The words landed like a heavy slap.
“Him?” I pretended I didn't know where he was heading. “What are you talking about?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Come on, Rachel. Don’t pretend. You know exactly who I mean.”
My heart dropped when he said his name. “Thane. Your stepbrother.”
The name hung heavy in the air, heavy and dangerous.
“I know you two fcked that night,” he continued, his voice hardening. “Do you even understand what that means? You’re throwing away everything we had for some delusional fantasy with your own stepbrother.”
My blood ran cold. I wanted to defend myself, but the accusation hit too close. I knew I wasn't going to be able to hide it if I said anything. So, I tried to keep it together until I had steadied myself.
“We both fcked up, alright? But you need to fcking wake up, Rach!”
That totally hit deeper, so raw, it made something inside me snap.
Before I could think, I stormed forward and slapped him hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed through the living room. His head jerked to the side.
“Get the fck out.” My voice stayed calm, but it carried a deadly edge. I pointed straight at the door. “Now.”
Ray stared at me, the red mark from my slap already blooming across his cheek. For a long second he said nothing. Then he exhaled slowly and met my eyes again.
“He let me in,” he said quietly.
My throat went dry.
“Thane apologized for what he did that day,” he continued. “Doesn’t that tell you something?”
Wait. Thane… apologized? I blinked, my chest already racing.
What exactly had he apologized for? Ray clearly thought it was about him. But deep down, I knew better. It wasn't.
Thane hadn’t just apologized to Ray. He’d just drawn a line. A quiet, brutal one. Letting Ray walk into this house was his way of stepping back, of pushing me toward someone “safer.” Of telling me without words that whatever almost happened between us was done and there wasn't a chance of it happening again.
‘Cause why else would he leave like that? Why else would he let Ray in without a fight?
My fingers trembled as I wiped my face and took a step back.
My chest tightened again. “I don’t care what that means,” I said stiffly. “Just get out.”
This time, he closed the distance between us instead. “Push me away all you want, Rach. But whatever you think is going to happen between you and Thane? It’s impossible. You’re only going to hurt yourself if you keep chasing that.”
I stepped back immediately. “That’s none of your business.”
“Yes, it is,” he shot back, his voice rising. “If I already know about it, how many other people do you think are talking? Do you really believe his dad is just going to sit back and…”
“Shut up, Ray!”
My hands flew to my hips as I started pacing, anger and panic twisting together. The worst part was… some of what he said rang true. And that truth only made me angrier.
Before he could say another word, I grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the door with all the strength I had.
“Hey—Rach, stop—listen—”
I pulled harder, ignoring his protests.
“Please, just stop doing this.”
I wasn’t listening anymore. I yanked the door open and shoved him outside with full force.
“Don’t fcking come here again.”
“Rachel, please…”
I slammed the door in his face, the sound echoing through the house like a final declaration.