Page 106 of The Arrogant's Redemption

"No. Your parents don’t deserve that. I’m fine. There’s just one more thing I need to say to your sister." She turns. "Don’t get in my way again, Lois. I may not be a Seymour—" She pauses, bringing my hand to her lips and kissing it. "I may not be a Seymouryet. But I was born in pain. I’ve lived with it since I was a child. Try standing in our way again, and I swear, you’ll regret it."

Alexis

After saying everything I needed to say to Lois, I laced my fingers through LJ’s and walked past her like she was nothing.

I sat with my fiancé in the living room, and he didn’t say a word about the scene I’d just caused—as if it were nothing at all.

Maybe to him it was nothing, but I’m still shaking. I’m used to bottling things up, not letting them out. And honestly? It felt liberating to direct my anger where it belonged.

While I listen to LJ chat with his parents, I watch Sedric showing off—doing his drunken astronaut walk around the room. My father-in-law looks like he’s in the presence of a god, utterly smitten.

"Mom, Alexis agreed to be my wife," LJ says out of nowhere—right as Seth walks in without his girlfriend.

According to LJ, she’s already out of the picture. Shame. I liked her. She was so nice!

"Wait, what? Are we celebrating something?" Seth asks.

"What!" Sedric repeats, copying him, and everyone bursts into laughter.

"We should throw a dinner to celebrate the engagement," my soon-to-be mother-in-law suggests. "LJ told me your stepdad is sick, Alexis. I’m so sorry, dear."

"Thank you."

"What do you think about hosting an engagement dinner here?"

"Sounds great!" I say at the same time LJ does, already imagining Badger—with his wild hair and full tattoos—among the Seymours. "But why don’t we switch things around and host it at my mom’s boyfriend’s restaurant instead?"

"I prefer that idea," LJ agrees, and I know it’s not just about the food—he gets my drift.

"Congratulations to you both," Lois says, stepping back into the room. She still has puffy eyes, but she’s all made up again, like she wasn’t crying her eyes out thirty minutes ago.

After what happened, I didn’t think she’d come back down.

I watch her, this girl who’s probably my age, and wonder how the hell she composed herself so fast. Then I remember what LJ told me about his family—they’re trained to fake it. To mask their emotions.

Even though I don’t want to, I feel a stab of pity for her.

And to top it off, Sedric suddenly runs toward her—something he’s only ever done with his father—wrapping his arms around her legs.

Lois looks stunned. The mask falls right off her face as she stares at me, silently asking for permission to pick him up.

I give her a slight nod. She bends down, and Sedric throws his arms around her neck, planting a big, drooly kiss on her cheek.

"Hi there, little man. I’m your auntie. And by the looks of it, we’re gonna get along just fine," she says.

Lazarus

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

"Before we go upstairs,let me just say this—you’re a better human being than I’ll ever be."

She knows I’m referring to the fact that she allowed Lois to get close to our son.

Sedric stayed at my parents’ place with the nanny, at my mother’s request. She and Dad can’t seem to get enough of our boy, and Alexis, gracious as ever, agreed. But tomorrow, he’ll be back under our roof.

"I love my son, Lazarus. I’d do anything for him—even coexist with your sister."

I smile, shaking my head. "Life really pulled a fast one on us, didn’t it?"

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