WRAPPED IN SIN: UNDER THE MISTLETOE WITH MY STEPBROTHER

Arlyn

“Argh!” I hissed as the wind kept blowing strands of my hair into my face.

I should have put it up in a ponytail.

I should have done a lot of things differently.

Like not trusting a man like Liam.

But here I was on December 15th, heartbroken, dragging my luggage through the airport, trying not to think about walking in on him with another woman—not just any woman, my academic rival.

My chest tightened again at the thought. And to think I planned on introducing him to my mother this Christmas.

How could he do that? How could the man who claimed I was his soulmate claw out my heart like I meant nothing.

I trusted him. I loved him. He was the only man that made my heart beat. Now, he was the only man that shattered my heart.

I bumped into a hard body on my way to drop my luggage at the luggage terminal. When I looked up, a tall man was walking away with long, fast strides without a single word of remorse.

“Why not try watching where you're going, asshole!”

I yelled, almost stumbling against my box.

He was either ignoring me or didn't hear me. Either way, I wished he would fall or something.

I let out a sigh. This whole break up was making me erratic. I had to get a fucking grip!

As soon as I was done checking my bag out in the baggage section.

I made my way to the plane.

As I entered the plane, my phone chimed indicating a text.

Thinking it was my mom, asking for the millionth time if I was on the plane yet, I opened it to find that it was Liam…agai

Please talk to me, Arl. I'm begging. I read

Just as I finished reading, another text came in.

She didn't mean anything. It was a mistake. Where are you?!

I scoffed. Now, he cared to know where I was.

I turned off my phone, found my seat on the plane, put on my headset, and stayed that way for the two hours flight, ignoring the pain in my chest and the tears that tried to claw out of my eyes.

As soon as the plane landed, my heart broke all over again when I saw couples all around me, holding hands wearing matching winter jackets, giggling, kissing and enjoying the Christmas cheer while I was alone and with a scar in my chest.

I sighed, then saw my reflection in a glass pane.

I sucked in a breath at how I looked.

I looked plain. Same brown hair, brown eyes since kindergarten.

Depression clawed at my chest, and it wasn't just because Liam had destroyed my trust in men.

A beautiful blonde girl walked past me, confident, and head held up high like she was the queen of her own universe.

I followed her with my eyes.

Maybe what I needed was a change. If I looked like that, no