Stepbrother Bad Boy's Baby Boxed Set(48)

"Because working in this house and for your father is better than an extra fifty percent to my paycheck," Yuki replied. "Don't think I haven't gotten offers. But some things Julian, some things are more important than money. Now get out of here and find Krystal before Gina gets here. She's supposed to arrive before lunch."

I started, shocked. "Wait, before lunch? Krystal said after lunch."

Yuki shook her head. "Before. She's flying in from Detroit, remember? And last time she flew charter instead of renting a car. She could have already landed."

"Shit. Yuki, do me a favor. If Gina shows up, try to delay her from finding Krystal. At least until I tell her the truth."

"Go on. I'll do what I can."

I ran out of Yuki's office, looking desperately for Krystal. The one disadvantage of having a manor is that everything is so damn BIG. Eight bedrooms, three wings, three dining rooms, acres of land, and the list goes on and on. Hell, someone could disappear if they wanted and never leave the main manor building.

I ran as hard as I could through the house, calling Krystal's name, but nobody answered. Desperate, I looked out the back windows of the main dining room, and saw Krystal sitting under a tree in the manicured portion of the garden, reading a book from the library. I tore through the hallways for the door to the outside, sprinting out and calling her name. "Krystal!"

"Julian?" she said, looking up and putting her finger in the book, closing it. "What's wrong?"

I was panting, I had been sprinting and running through the manor for so long, and I had to put my hands on my knees. The green grass swam in my vision while I gulped the cool late summer air, and I could feel Krystal's hand on my shoulder. "Krystal, I made a huge mistake," I said, but before I could continue, a voice I'd dreaded hearing interrupted me.

"I'll say you did," Gina said from behind me. I spun on my heel, nearly falling on my ass. "You didn't call me at all in Detroit, Julian. Now, is that any way to treat the future mother of your child?"





Chapter 21





Krystal





When I was in sixth grade, I'd gotten into a fight with a boy in class soon after the 9/11 attacks. With me being half-Turkish, the sentiment against almost anyone of Middle Eastern descent at that time was suspicious, but this boy was worse than most. I forget what the exact trigger for the fight was, but we ended up in a full on brawl, I was so pissed off about something he had said or done. I'd like to say I kicked his ass, but this was before I started jiu-jitsu, and he hit me in the side of the head with our math textbook. The shot had left me stunned, the entire left side of my face in a numb fire, the whole world seemingly muffled and half heard.

That was what it felt like watching Gina walk across the back lawn of the manor. Part of me saw Yuki come running out of the back of the manor, stopping short and her hand coming up to cover her mouth when she saw that Gina was already talking. Meanwhile, Julian stood there looking like how I felt, like the whole world had just detonated and we were flying through space, waiting for the end to consume us.

"Oh, you didn't know?" Gina said, looking just at Julian. "Well, I guess you should have been a bit more careful before dumping that huge load inside me at the wedding reception. I found out about a month ago, and I'm due right in the middle of January or so."

"Julian?" I asked, looking at him. "Is Gina.... what is she saying?"

One look in his eyes and I knew. I didn't need an answer. She was telling the truth, at least in terms of them having sex at the wedding reception. The world grew blurry, and I felt my heart break into a thousand pieces. "Julian.... how could you?"

"Krystal, I'm sorry. I was coming to tell you but....." he said, but his response was cut short by my slap across his face. Gina watched this in total silence, realization dawning on her face, followed by an almost wicked smile as I turned to go inside the manor. I had to get the f*ck out of there.

"Well, it looks like the princess has finally had to live in the same world as the rest of us," Gina said to my back as I stormed away. Julian stood there on the lawn, his cheek starting to turn red as I went up the stairs, not even going into his room but instead into what had been mine, flinging myself on the bed and screaming my tears until I couldn't make a sound any longer.

I don't know how long I stayed that way, but the next thing I heard was a knock at the door. "Julian, I swear to f*cking Christ if that is you I am going to kill you!" I hoarsely screamed. "Get the f*ck out you f*cking bastard!"

"It's not Julian," Yuki said quietly, opening the door. "He left Krystal."

"Good. Fucking bastard! What the f*ck?!?! First my aunt, now me? Is he trying to f*ck my entire family?"

"That was his original plan, yes," Yuki said, sitting down on the chair next to my bed. She spent the next ten minutes telling me about the conversation she had with Julian in her office, including his original plan to have sex with as many women in my family as possible just to get at his father. "But he abandoned his plan."

"What? He seems to have moved on with it quite well, I'd say. Or did you miss the part where it's become common knowledge that he's f*cked me three ways from Sunday?" I said, fresh tears streaming down my face. My sobs intensified, and I heard Yuki get up to pat my back. Another presence was in the room, and I turned my head to see Mom standing there. "Oh Mama...."