When A Bully Falls In Love by Valerie Sax (good books to read for women TXT) 📖

Chapter 20: Announcement

~Xander~

There was peace in my heart after going through an emotional upheaval between Aoife and me. Her words echoed in my ears again and again. And there was nothing I could think of to fix the situation. Why did I behave like a selfish brat?

What was happening to me? I didn’t have a clue.

It could be the first time I was getting constant rejection from a single girl who kept me around her finger, and I was not too fond of the thought of her ignorance affecting me so intensely. Maybe I was not ready to accept the change her presence made in me.

I didn’t want to accept that I was falling for her. Is this even true because I am not a man that falls in love?

A bully who never falls in love,

Love binds freedom, and I am a free spirit.

Shut it down... I screamed at myself and punched the picture.

After the influence of sedatives came down, I woke up.

Raph was sitting next to my bed, working on his laptop.

“Hey,” I said in a whimpered voice.

“This time, you broke the guy’s nose?” He didn’t look at me.

“Hmm,” I replied.

“And you want to fix it now?” He raised his eyes from the laptop’s screen towards me.

“Yes,” I said in a flat voice.

“I was with Zoey when Matt called me.” He ruffed.

“Who’s Zoey? Oh! I remember one of your..., Ex,” Ignoring the facts. I never care about his affairs.

He snarled at me, “I am not like you, brother.”

“I don’t play with emotions like every woman you find around you. Zoey is the girl I love. She is not my Ex. And soon, we are going to get engaged.”

Do I care about it? No, not at all.

“Cool, congratulations. Wishing you a happy married life.”

“Why are you updating me with all this?” I looked down at the bandages on my hands with a don’t care attitude.

He glared at me.

“I am updating you because you are my brother. I was with her choosing our engagement ring, but I had to rush here because my brother wanted me to fix his mess.”

That reminds me, I asked Matt to call him for Caleb’s rehab.

“Did you fix it? Did you give all the information about rehab?”

“Yes, I did. Do you even care for your family?”

I rolled my eyes, not ready to take another lecture on family business and bonding.

“I saw the same girl that came to meet you in the club. Is she the one whose brother’s nose....”

“I didn’t break his nose intentionally. I was just trying to protect Aoife.” I stated the facts, which made him grin at me.

“You? Trying to protect a girl, well, this is new.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my jacket from the chair. Raph stuffed his stuff in the bag but didn’t keep his mouth closed.

“Is something going on between you two?” He inquired, and that flooded all the thoughts back into my mind. The more I tried to ignore it. The more people reminded me of those thoughts.

“Let’s go out,” I said.

“Xander, I asked you something. I will not come to save your ass if you don’t tell me what is going on in your life. Is that girl involved in this matter?” He kept asking a lot of questions behind my back.

I saw Aoife following the rehab staff to the parking lot.

I followed her and Matt. She passed her goodbyes to her lovely brother.

“Nothing is going on between Aoife and me. She is just a first-year student.” I snapped at Raph, who was constantly bugging me.

“Oh! It means another victim.” I bit my tongue.

“No,” he averted his gaze and walked to the parking lot.

My eyes followed Aoife and Matt. She might think I was a clingy guy who always wanted to follow her, but I am not.

I didn’t want to give any wrong hint to her. I am not a boyfriend material who wants to roam behind like a cute puppy.

I have my self-respect, and it’s time to show it.

I left her with Matt and walked toward my angry brother.

First Aoife and Matt and now my brother. Why does everyone have an anger problem?

“What? Where is your car?” He was surprised I came back to him.

“I am coming with you,” I replied.

“Where you want me to drop you? Your apartment or Matt’s dorm?” He snorted.

“Our home and I am sorry for behaving like a dick,” I replied.

How difficult to say sorry to the people you care about,

Raph smiled,

“It’s ok. I hope one day you will understand.”

“On that note, you know mom is there, right?”

It’s been a few months since I have been home. My home is where my mom and brother used to live. My elder brother Raph used to handle my tantrums, but my mother is a strict lady. She wants me to be like her elder son, a responsible, well-mannered, respectful man. But I am the opposite of what she expects from me.

Today, I wanted to meet her. I don’t know why I agreed, but every man, challenging or not, needs a mother in his life.

After listening to Aoife’s story, I want to meet my mother. I am lucky to have her in my life, but if I confess these things to her, she will not believe me.

“Yes, take me home. I want to know more about your EX, Zoey,” I teased Raph.

My brother is my protector. He is a man with lots of patience.

A mature and well-mannered man, handling Baston’s family name,

After my father’s death, he took all the responsibility and became the man of the house. My mother wanted the same for me, but I love my freedom.

“Did I know Zoey?” I said while he was busy driving.

“Yes, you met her at our new year party.” He replied.

“That party, which I left in 10 minutes,” I smirked.

“Yes,” He replied.

“Tell me about your girl?” He turned the table.

I raised a brow at him.

“Which girl?”

“The girl whose brother’s nose you broke up. She came to the club and screamed at you in front of everyone.”

“Did you do something with her in the room?” His wiggled brows reminded me of our little adventure. Which I regret.

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