As soon as the limo pulled up to the curb, I flung open the door and marched into our townhouse.
My stilettos clacking noisily on the parquet, I stormed into Sebastian's room.

My beloved stepbrother was sitting in bed reading, with his arm in a sling. I wrenched the book
out of his hands and glared in his face. Nonplussed, he smirked up at me. "Something wrong,
Kathryn?"

My temper flared. Raising my hand, I slapped him across the face with all the strength I could
muster. "You bastard! Do you have any idea what your bible-thumping virgin did?"

At the mention of Annette, Sebastian's smirk disappeared. "What?"

"She made about a million copies of your diary and passed them around at your 'funeral', that's
what! The stupid bitch ruined my fucking reputation! I'll never be able to show my face in
Manhattan again!" Energy spent, I collapsed on the bed, sobbing my heart out.

Then, the most surprising thing happened. Instead of applauding his darling Annette's deed,
Sebastian reached over and gently brushed my tears away. Tilting my chin so that I was face to
face with him, I saw that his face was ashen.

He pulled me into an embrace and began stroking my hair. I relaxed into his arms. I felt
comforted and secure, and yet there was this nagging feeling in my mind. Then it suddenly
dawned on me.

Disentangling myself away from him, I looked him in the eye. "Why aren't you celebrating? Isn't
this what you've always wanted? For me to be exposed to the rest of the world? You put the little
hick up to this didn't you? Don't pretend that you're concerned, Sebastian. Because if you are,
you would never have faked your death and your stupid Annette and the rest of the world wouldn't
be blaming me for your death, and none of this would have happened!"

I felt completely disgusted. He'd probably planned it with Annette before he "died" because he
knew that his virgin princess would blame me for his death and would not hesitate in pulling all
stops to get back at me. And I'd actually let the bastard comfort me.

I got up and ran blindly out the door. Sebastian's mouth opened to protest, but I slammed
the door behind me before he could say anything else.