Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Brant 

I walked away, leaving Sable standing by the lake, taking in every damn word I’d said. Yeah—that’s what she should do. Because I fucking meant it. I’m so damn tired of waiting, of dragging this out, of moving slowly. This slow torture is eating me alive. 

This slow burn is nothing but torture.

I wanted her. I wanted her so fucking badly. I wanted her in my bed. I wanted her as my woman. And I’ll show every asshole on this planet who doubts it that Sable is mine. All of her. Every fucking piece of her belongs to me. There’s no doubt. No going around it.

And at the moment? I didn’t give a fuck that she’s my brother’s. Because I’d be doing him a big fucking favor. I knew damn well I’m the one she really loves.

But first, I had something else to take care of.

I knew exactly where to find him.

I went back to the cabin, straight out to the backyard. He was there, sitting on the lounge sofa with one leg crossed over the other, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, an iPad in hand.

He thought he had it hard? Well, now he was about to fucking have it hard with me. He was about to learn what hard really was.

I walked right up to him, water still dripping off me, soaked trousers clinging to my legs, shirtless, my chest and hair wet from the lake.

“I want Melissa out of this cabin. Now.”

Rhett looked up slowly, staring at me. “Then talk to her. Why come to me?”

“Because you fucking brought her here. I don’t care what game you’re playing, but Melissa leaves tomorrow—no, fuck that—she leaves right now.”

He gave a low laugh, lips curling into a smirk. “Why are you throwing her out after spending the whole night using her? Don’t crave her taste anymore? Hm? Yeah, little brother… talk to me.”

His smirk only grew as his gaze shifted behind me, and then I felt it—the shift in the air.

I turned—and there she was. Sable.

I clenched my jaw and walked away. If Rhett wasn’t going to do a damn thing, then I’d deal with Melissa myself.



Sable

I walked over to Rhett and sat beside him, my trousers still soaked, the damp clinging uncomfortably to my skin. My chest tightened as I hesitated, unsure how to ask him the question tied to the decision I had already made.

“Sir… how long do you need me?” I asked softly.

He looked at me, confused, his brows drawing together. “What are you talking about, Sable?”

Rhett was the one who had brought me into this house. Well, we were in the cabin now, but he had been the one to take me into the mansion. And with the way things were spiraling between me and Brant, I couldn’t keep doing this anymore.

“How long do you want me here? You’re… you’re totally fine now, aren’t you?”

He chuckled, and I found myself laughing a little with him, because he was always fine.

“Sable,” he said, his tone firm but gentle, “to me, you’re part of this family. You have every right to be here, just as much as the rest of us.”

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest. Did he know? Could he see the truth in me? For a moment, I swore the blood drained from my body at his words.

“You’re Joss’s girlfriend, and he loves you. So you’re part of this family. And…” he paused, chuckling softly, “you remind me of someone.”

“Who?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Bella. Isabella Paxton,” he said.

I froze. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me, stealing my breath and locking me in place. My hands trembled as I fought to keep still, to keep the mask on.

“My stepsister,” Rhett continued. “Just like you, she was quiet, reserved. Never wanted to be seen, only clinging to her mother or Dani like some little kitten. My brothers didn’t know her. They didn’t pay her much attention. They only cared about themselves back then.” He sighed, his gaze distant. “Though you know, Sable—Bella had a sister too. Jessica. And she was much closer to Brant. Those two were always together. There was no separating them.”

Inside, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly, though on the outside I forced a smile. The way he remembered me, even without realizing I was sitting right in front of him. Ever since I’d returned, no one had spoken of me—not truly. Not Brant. Not Joss.

The only name on their lips was always Jessica. It was always Jessica. Always her.

“You must have been the one closest to Bella then?” I asked. Because he was. Rhett had always noticed me, especially when he found me snuggling into corners, sad and withdrawn. He was the one who sometimes asked what I wanted, the one who cared about me back then.

“Kind of,” he said with a small shrug. “We talked sometimes. But she loved being alone in her bedroom. Only Dani would go and read her stories, or could ever pull her out for a little while.” He paused, his eyes softening. “You know what, Sable?”

“What?” I asked quietly.

“One day, I’ll bring Bella home. I’ll find her, wherever she is, and bring her back.” He glanced at me, his voice firm as he added, “…with Jessica.”

I gave him a small smile, though inside it felt like Bella had died long ago. Isabella Paxton would never return. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes at his words, and I blinked them away quickly.

“Now, why don’t you go change,” he said gently.

I stood abruptly, glancing down at my soaked denim and brushing at the fabric. “I’m sorry—I totally forgot.”

“It’s okay,” he replied.

I walked away and entered the house, heading toward the stairs. That’s when Melissa appeared, coming down as I was about to go up, with a bright expression.

“Hey, Sable…” she said with an easy smile.

“Hi,” I answered, trying to keep my voice even.

“Why don’t you go get ready and come downstairs? We’re going to have a lot of fun. I already talked to Joss and Brant, and they’re joining us. I can’t find Kit, though.” She flashed me a grin and swept down the last few steps, leaving me standing there.