47


    After leaving the library, I made my way to the cafeteria in order to meet up with my friends.


    While heading there, I saw boys ncing at me. I tried my best to avoid their gazes. Why did they not just focus on their own business?


    I entered the cafe and noticed my friends sitting at a table. I smiled at them while striding toward them.


    "Hey!"


    "Ava, where were you?" Luke asked while sipping on his coffee.


    I sat down on a chair next to Abigail. She moved a cup of coffee toward me,


    indicating that it was for me.


    "I was in the library," I replied to Luke.


    "How is everything going at home?" Abigail asked me.


    "Very good. Mom bought a wedding dress for herst night.


    "Wow! Show us the picture of the wedding dress," Debra said with excitement in her voice.


    I unlocked my phone and showed them the picture of my mother''s bridal gown. They said it was a really beautiful dress.


    "Will we not get the invitation?" Luke asked as he rested his chin on his palm.


    "Of course we will. I can''t wait to see Aunt in that dress," Debra said.


    "Let her think about it first," Abigail said to them.


    It would be a private wedding. But my friends were my close people. I would love to invite them.


    In fact, I had talked to my mother about them, and she agreed to call them at the wedding.


    "You are all invited," I told them with a warm smile.


    "Yes! Now all I have to do is go shopping!" Debra let out a sigh while thinking


    about where to go to buy the perfect dress for her.


    Luke and Abigailughed when they saw Debra''s reaction.


    "Have you thought about where you are going to stay? With them or-"


    I interrupted Luke and responded, "In the dorm."


    "Why?" Abigail asked with a surprised look.


    “I think I should not intervene in their privacy," I replied.


    "Does your mom know about it?"


    “No. I will tell her after the wedding.” I exined and lowered my head. All of my friends became silent.


    "Don''t you think that was the reason why your mom hid everything from you?" I heard a voice from behind.


    I turned my head and saw Stephen standing behind me.


    I realized he had overheard my conversation.


    47


    I averted my gaze from him. He nced at my friends and asked,


    "Can I sit with you all?"


    Luke did not answer. Debra smiled at him while Abigail nced at me to know my


    answer.


    "Sure," Debra replied to him.


    Stephen sat on a chair on my left side, which was empty. He turned his head to me and asked,


    "You haven''t answered me, Ava. Don''t you think that is why she did not want you to know the truth?"


    I looked at him and saw a disappointed expression on his face. He did not expect that I would say that.


    I felt bad about hurting him in some way. He was so nice to me from the beginning.


    "Stephen, I was just..."


    "No, Ava. Listen to me. Your mom loves you a lot. After the wedding, she will be with both my family and you. If I can ept her as my mother, then why can''t you ept my father?" He said in a lower tone.


    "No, it''s not like that. I have epted him. But I think I should not go and stay in someone else''s home. It will be awkward for you too."


    He held my hand and tried to exin his thoughts to me.


    "Lil sis, stop overthinking. I will never feel difort around you. Because of you, my dad created a small library at my home. How could you think that we would feel ufortable with you living there?"


    I was stunned to hear that Uncle Harper had established that library for me. When


    he talked about the library in the pack house, I thought he was fond of books. But was it actually because of me?


    "Are you going to upset us and hurt your mom even more? She will only regret marrying my dad if you do this."


    I sighed and ced my hand on his. "I will join you all in living together. Don''t say anything to Mom, okay?"


    He gave me a broad smile and nodded at me. As if his work was done, he got to his feet. He exchanged a nce with Luke before leaving the table.


    I returned my attention to my friends, who were in awe. Luke remained calm, but Abigail and Debra looked impressed by how Stephen came and persuaded me to stay with them.


    After talking with each other for some time, we all decided to head to our sses. While passing through the hallway, I noticed Stephen talking with his friends. He noticed me and waved his hand at me to go there.


    I told my friends that they could go ahead. Then I walked up to Stephen. When I


    got closer to him, I sawn leaning against a wall, talking to others.


    I ignored him and asked Stephen,


    "You called me."


    "Since we are going to be siblings, let me introduce you to my friends."


    As Stephen began to introduce his friends to me, I cast nces in their direction.


    One by one, I said hello to Ronald, Cyrus, and Paul.


    "And he isn. You know him, so I don''t need to say much about him. I heard that he apologized to you for his


    47


    rude behavior. So I think we are all clear now," Stephen said, trying to dismiss all the conflict between me and fan.


    Just as I was about to say that I did not have any problems with anyone,n''s mocking, voice came to irritate me.


    "Why is your soon-to-be sister so silent? She wasn''t this quiet in the library, though."


    I gave him a look. He smirked at me as if I hadmitted some sin with him that


    he was covering up for me.


    I groaned in my head.


    ''This guy is getting on my nerves!''