Chapter 47

Amanda's Point of View

It's been three weeks since Ron started working at Max's company and became the CEO. It's also been three weeks since we last saw each other. When I was asleep, he would come home from work. I could always feel him kissing my shoulder and wishing me "good night," but I was always too tired to respond. And in the morning, when I woke up, he had long since left, and the only proof that he had been home were the notes he would leave on my coffee mug. I could have stopped by his office after my classes, but I had to catch up on the week of courses I missed when I was kidnapped, and then the exams began. I couldn't afford the luxury of visiting Ron.

Thank God I took my last exam today, and now I can go see him. I'm curious to see his office, but mostly, I want to see him because I miss him. We've never gone so long without seeing or talking to each other. But first, I need to talk to Josh. One of his teammates told me Josh wants to see me. That's why I'm heading to the rugby field now.

I have a feeling of déjà vu. I just hope it's not another one of his pranks. I don't have the time or the patience for his nonsense. All I want to do right now is get on the first bus and go to Ron. When I get to the rugby field, I head towards the group of athletes gathered in a circle, laughing. I know Josh is there. After all, he's the star of the university.

I clear my throat to get their attention, and they all turn towards me. I don't care about the others, just Josh, who has a nasty scratch on his knee.

Well, well... For the first time, I see him genuinely injured.

The others scatter, and it's just me and him left.

"Did you want to talk to me?" I quickly ask, not caring about his injury.

"Yeah... I wanted to apologize, personally, for everything," he says, avoiding eye contact with me.

Which part is he apologizing for? For being rude to me during our relationship, or because his father arranged for me to be kidnapped? Wait a minute... Does he even know what his father did?

"Okay... It's all in the past," I say, and then there's an awkward silence between us. "Well, if that's all... I need to go."

"Wait," he says just as I'm about to leave. "That guy over there—" he nods to his right, "—is he following me on Stallion's orders?"

I look in the direction he's pointing and see Ghost. I blink several times, then look again to make sure it's him.

Damn... He hasn't shown any sign of life for three weeks, and now I see him here. I try to hide my shock that Josh doesn't recognize his brother, and I pull a bandage out of my bag, handing it to him.

"Take care, Josh. You weren't a good boyfriend, but you're not a bad person."

After Josh takes the bandage from my hand, I walk in the direction where Ghost is. I have no idea what Denver did to Ghost or why Josh doesn't know he has a brother, but I feel sorry for him. I feel sorry for both of them.

I stop in front of Ghost, and he looks down at his boots.

"What are you doing? Are you following me now?" I ask bluntly, and he snorts in amusement.

"This time, little sister, I came to see my brother."

"He doesn't seem to know who you are," I say, incredulous.

"Russell made sure I'd remain a secret to everyone."

I understand what he's referring to. My mother didn't tell me I had a brother until she was forced to. Probably, if Ghost had grown up with me or Josh, he would have been a different person, not the one he is now.

Oh God... I feel like I'm going to regret this, but...

"Do you want to grab something to eat?"

Ghost looks up at me, a little surprised by my question, and I don't think he knows how to react.

"Sure," he says simply, and I give him half a smile as I follow him.

He stops by a black motorcycle and hands me the helmet he should be wearing.

Is it too late to change my mind?

"What is it?" he asks, frowning. "I knew it—you’re just like the others. You offered to have a meal together just so you could laugh at me, right?"

Jesus... Is that what he thinks of everyone? How many people have disappointed him to make him react so harshly?

"It's not about that. It's just... I've never been on a motorcycle before," I say, feeling myself blush with embarrassment.

Even though I don't know why I'm embarrassed. I'm not the first person who hasn't ridden a motorcycle before.

"Don't worry, little sister. You won't die," he says in a neutral tone, but I swear his mood has shifted.

He pushes the helmet onto my head, and I'm tempted to tell him to be gentler, but I bite my tongue. Who knows how he would react?! He takes my bag from me and places it in the small storage compartment in the back, then helps me get on the bike.

"There's a fast-food place..."

"One kilometer from here. I know. That's where I eat," he says, getting on the bike, and I grab onto him as soon as the motorcycle roars to life.

Maybe Ron will say I'm not thinking straight for willingly going with Ghost after everything he's done to me, but I can't shake the feeling that he's not a lost cause. I want to learn more about this man who is my brother. Maybe I'll discover that there's kindness inside him, and if not... So be it! I have nothing to lose. At least I'll know I did everything I could and tried my best to maintain a normal relationship with him.