Perfect Bastard (by Mary D. Sant) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38:

ETHAN

She remained silent, her gaze locked on mine as her breathing quickened. Then the doorbell rang. The damn Anthony.

“In your dreams,” she muttered through clenched teeth before turning away and heading toward the kitchen.

I followed her, running into Jack along the way. He walked past me with a suggestive smile, making it clear he was going to greet his guest

When I entered the kitchen, everyone seemed busy with something.

“You owe me a new painting, Ethan,” Zara said when she saw me, holding Sophia in her arms.

“I think we should all go greet Anthony,” Zoe said, slipping out of my brother’s embrace and heading toward the living room.

She shot me a teasing smile as she passed. Will and Anna followed her. Zara approached me, handing over Sophia, who was still engrossed in the lollipop !

had brought her.

“Your turn to hold her for a bit. Meanwhile, Ellie and I are going to touch up our makeup.”

They both left, leaving me alone with Sophia and my brother. I set Sophia down on the kitchen counter, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease slightly.

“You can try to hide it, but I can see the tension in your shoulders,” my brother said, making me sigh.

“Unfortunately, because of you, I can’t tell Uncle Bennett to go screw himself,” I smiled at Sophia, wiping a little sticky spot from her cheek.

She ignored me completely, too focused on her task of licking the lollipop.

“Need I remind you that I warned you? Now deal with it while I have some fun.” He walked past me,

still smiling.

Bastard. Who needs enemies with a brother like that?

“Looks like it’s just you and me,” I said to Sophia.

After playing with her for a bit, I felt a little more relaxed, so I reluctantly made my way to the living room. There was no escape.

Everyone was sitting on the couches, chatting. And since the situation required some politeness, I approached Anthony to greet him, handing Sophia back to

Jack first.

“Ethan Morgan,” I extended my hand, aware that everyone’s eyes were on us.

“Anthony Harrison. You must be Bennett’s brother, just back from England,” he said as he shook my hand.

I nodded. His grip was firm, and he was only slightly shorter than me. Dark hair, blue eyes. Fine, He was decent enough, dressed well, and seemed in shape, but he had a bland air about him.

I hoped Miss Brown thought the same. It might be petty of me, but I couldn’t help but feel a deep dislike for him. He wanted something that was mine, and

that made me want to kick him out.

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Chapter 38:

I sat on the couch next to jack, and Sophia wanted to climb back onto my lap. At least she was distracting me a bit, making the situation feel slightly let unbearable. I played with her in my lap while the others chatted, keeping a close eye on every move and word Anthony made.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, he seemed like a decent guy, which meant there was a chance he and Ellie would hit it off. The thought of that made my throat tighten with an uncomfortable knot that kept growing.

Eventually, Miss Brown entered the room alongside Zara, who was the first to approach Anthony to greet him. My body tensed as Ellie’s turn came, and I held my breath when he got close enough to kiss her cheek,

f She smiled genuinely, giving him a loud, cheerful greeting. For a moment, I was amused, knowing she’d done it just to spite me after I’d called her impolite.

But when I noticed the way he looked at her, from head to toe while she was distracted, the anger I’d been trying to keep in check flared up. If Sophia hadn’t been on my lap, I probably would have gotten up to punch the guy in the face.

Soon after, Zara led us to the dining room, where the table was already set. I didn’t take my eyes off Miss Brown as she and Anthony walked ahead of me. I hated seeing how interested she seemed in every word he said.

When I reached the table, there were only three empty seats left. One at the head of the table, which belonged to Jack, who had just stopped Anthony to chat, giving me an opportunity. The other two seats were one to Ellie’s right and one directly in front of her.

I needed to act fast. I looked at Sophia in my arms and had an idea.

“Do you want to sit next to Aunt Ellie?” I whispered.

She nodded.

“Then if Mommy asks, just say you want to sit with Uncle Ethan.” She nodded again, satisfied.

Perfect. At least I’d have an excuse. I moved toward Miss Brown and sat down beside her. She shot me a frown before smiling at Sophia.

“Sophia wanted to sit next to you,” I shrugged.

My little partner in crime nodded in my lap.

“It’s time for you to sit with Mommy,” Zara said from my right, catching Sophia’s attention as she tried to pull her away.

“I want to sit with Uncle Ethan.”

“Uncle Ethan needs to eat now, sweetheart.”

“It’s fine,” I reassured Zara.

For the next ten minutes, I felt a mix of emotions–rage, frustration, regret, and pure hatred. I kept fantasizing about punching Anthony as I watched him

flirt and talk with Miss Brown.

Sophia had already left my lap to sit with her mother, and the conversation had moved through topics like Anthony’s career, his failed marriage, his travels, and even his childhood.

My patience was wearing thin. Watching Miss Brown engage so easily in every question he asked about her life only irritated me more.

She seemed genuinely interested in him, and it was driving me insane, especially seeing how kind and polite she was being. It was as if she wasn’t being

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Chapter 38:

herself her usual teasing, bold nature had vanished, and I wanted it back.

I was discreetly watching as she brought her glass to her lips, licking them afterward when I thought I heard Anthony invite her to lunch the next day.

I stared at him, trying to confirm if 1 had heard correctly.”

“Of course, if you’re free,” he said with a smile, making me want to smash his teeth in.

“Well, I think I…” she started to respond but suddenly gasped when I placed my hand on her thigh, sliding it under the table. I felt her whole bo tense.

Say no.

I stroked just above her knee before slowly sliding my hand upward, lifting her dress, savoring the feel of her soft skin beneath my fingers.

She cleared her throat before kicking my foot. So, I moved my hand to the inside of her thigh. I enjoyed watching her breathing quicken as my fingers

inched closer to her panties.

She swallowed hard, taking a deep breath.

“I’ll check my schedule,” she said, before kicking my ankle with the tip of her shoe. “But I think I’m free.”

I felt fury hit me like a wave, making me dig my fingers into her thigh. I wanted to drag her away and show her that was the wrong answer. So I decided to

do it with my fingers. But just as I reached the fabric of her panties and discovered she was wet, she stood up, pulling her dress down.

“Excuse me,

I need to go to the bathroom,” she said before turning her back on us.

I wanted to follow her and show her that she couldn’t flirt with another man in front of me, involvement. Knowing she was wet didn’t help my situation.

but that was impossible with everyone aware of our

We gathered again in the living room after dinner. I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a second, feeling like I was about to explode while watching the two of them talking in a corner, away from everyone else.

Sophia had gone to bed, and there was nothing left to distract me. Zoe approached me.

“You know you’re not hiding it well, right?” she leaned her arm against mine.

“Don’t start,” I said, downing the rest of the whiskey in my glass.

“I guess this didn’t turn out the way you wanted.”

“What do you want?” I sighed, trying to hold onto whatever patience I had left.

“I have an invitation.”

“An invitation?” I asked, eyeing her with suspicion.

“The holidays are coming up, and we’re taking a trip in a week…”

“No,” I interrupted. I wasn’t interested. I’d rather keep working.

“Let me finish.”

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“What makes you think I’d want to go on a trip with you and my brother?”

“We’re all going.”

“All of us?”

“Our group of friends. Even Neil and Jason.”

“So, not only would I have to put up with you and Bennett, but four other couples too?” I scoffed, shaking my head.

As much as I missed my friends, there was no way I’d agree to this madness.

“Ellie’s coming too,” she said, watching me carefully for any reaction.

“Of course, she is, crazy enough for that.”

Who in their right mind would accept going on a trip where they’d have to deal with five couples alone?

“Think about it. You need to relax a little. We all know you work too much.”

“I appreciate your concern, but the answer is no.”

“Fine, then I’ll invite Anthony to take your place.”

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