Chapter 1
“Mom, Uncle Dan, I get accepted in the study abroad program in Florenent kylar announced quietly in the living room of their Upper East Side apartment, her voler as gemle as a ripple on still water.
Her mother, curled up on the leather sofa, lit up with excitement. “You got in When do you leave for Italy?”
Her mother hadn’t expected such a rushed timele. While excited, wmry lines creased her forehead. “I’ll help you pack everything. Since this is your first time in Europe, especially Haly, I reached out to Patricia you member my old sorority sister? Her son is doing his master’s in Florence. You can reach out to him if you need anything. And don’t feel awkward abet–you wo were actually promised to each other when you were kids, back when our families were close. If you hit it off, great. If not, at least you’ll have friend there,”
Skylar nodded absently, fiddling with the acceptance letter.
Her mother looked surprised at her easy agreement. Skylar, honey.. you’re lay with this? Does this mean you and your boyfriend finally broke
Skylar fell silent, her fingers stilling on the paper,
Uncle Dan immediately caught on, slamming his hand on the coffee table. “That guy never even showed his face at our holiday dinners–clearly WASIT serious about you Good riddance!”
“Boyfriend? What boyfriend”
A sharp voice cut through the room’s heavy atmosphere
All three turned to see Callias standing in the doorway.
He stood there in a crisp black shim and tailored slacks, his presence commanding the room with an innate grace that spoke of old money and prep school polish
Skylar trembled slightly as she stood. “Brother.”
Callias responded with a meaningful “hmm, tossed his car keys in the crystal owl by the door, and headed upstairs.
That woning, their mother prepared a feast and opened a bottle of aged Chian
She raised her glass beaming at her family, ready to announce the news “Come, let’s celebrate together, Skylar is about to-
Sensing danger, Skylar quickly interrupted, “Mom, this wine tastes off. Maybe we should open another bottle?”
Her mother looked puzzled – the wine was perfectly fine. But Skylar had already pulled her into the kitchen under the pretense of selecting a new
bottle.
“Mom, please don’t tell Callas about Florence yet.”
Her mother found this strange at first. But thinking of how protective her stepson had always been of his sister, she understood their close sibling bond and agreed.
After picking at her dinner, Skylar retreated to her room upstairs. She showered and lay in bed, slowly drifting off to sleep beneath her down conforter
Al midnight, right schedule, someone joined her.
His breath fell on her neck, followed by sed lips grazing and sipping at her. The cool sensation fally woke Skylar from her drowsy state.
She stiffened, instinctively pushing him away, “Callias!”
“So, mom’s little matchmaking with some Italian grad student has you pushing away now?” In the darkness, Callias’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, has veice dangerously so, “What was I then? Just a convient fuck all these years?”
Skylar knew he’d misunderstood but didn’t explain.
14:40
Nine Chances to Break a Heart: The Love That Never Bee Chosen
Chapter 1
Callias’s expression darkened in the silence,
He pulled her close. “Sklar, haven’t I told you? No hoyfriends. You’re mine aldre.”
Teeling his heat against hey hack, Skodar wamed in avid an argument. She “It’s my time of the meath. I don’t feel well-
Hearing her soft excuse, Callias s expression softened, though he frmed “Wt your eyelet last week? Running out of excuses, baby?) softened slightly, Chongh his grip remained farm. “But I won’t force you. Not tght, Get some sleep.”
He held bet rightly in his armA
Lastering to his steady breathing beside her ear, she lay awake,
Name knew that her boyfriend was her brother, Cafuasi
Attwelve, when her mother remarried into the wealthy Harrison family, shoal Collins, their only son, became step siblings.
At fourteen, she called him brother, he called her sister–ibe picture of silding harmony to their private school classmates and socialite circles.
At eighteen, he found her diary filled with secret confessions of love. He lounged against her desk, smiling as he read it over and over, then caught her hand as she tried to march it back, planting a kiss on her blushing cheek,
At twenty, their first night together happened during a thunderstorm. After it, they became addicted to each other, unable to stop.
Siblings by day, secret lovers by night, hiding their passion from Manhattan’sne social circles.
Skylar had always been the perfect Upper East Side daughter–straight A’s, cherry committees, Junior League events. Her relationship with Callas was the only wild card she’d ever played.
She loved him so much that she didn’t mind keeping their relationship hidden forever they could elope to Europe someday, start fresh where no know the
But these dreams shattered two weeks ago when she overheard his conversation at his private clubs
It was pouring that day. She’d gone to bring him his forgotten umbrella, but just before opening the oak door to the members‘ lounge, she heard his
Cal, what’s your endgame with the stepmom’s daughter? Thought you were just going to hit it and quit it? Why’re you still stringing her along?”
“Teah, weren’t you just getting back at her mom for marrying into your family Don’t tell me you’ve actually caught feelings.”
Revenge”
Their relationship wasn’t about love – it was revenge
Skylar’s face drained of color. Her mind went blank, her body trembling, but she stubbornly stayed to hear Callias’s response.
Then his cold, cruel voice reached her ears.
“The longer the game, the sweeter the payback, isn’t it?”
The room erupted in laughter while she stood frozen outside, her world crashing down
So he never loved her. Dating her, calling her his, their passionate nights together it was all revenge for her mother taking his mother’s place in the family!
Her mother still had to live in the Harrison household. She couldn’t let this become fodder for the society gossip columns.
After much thought, her only escape roue was Florence – leaving Manhattan, leaving him.
Now, only ten days remained before she would disappear into the Italian coryside.
Thoking at the countdown on her phone, Skylar removed Callas’s arm from her waist.
Minutes later, he embraced her again. Each time she moved away, he unconsciously drew closer.
Nine Chances to Break Heart: The Love That Never Been Chosen
Ber patience score this with this bark and teeth. Tuaily, she placed a pillow
This time, be stared pui
Skylar found her peare at last.
She knew their story would soon teach is eml
She would no longer belong to him no longer be his dirty little secret,
