After I Dressed as a Man, He Mistook Me for His Rival Chapter 04

After I Dressed as a Man, He Mistook Me for His Rival Chapter 04

Everyone at Evershore Prep knew Lachlan favored Maribel.

On her birthday, he gave her a diamond necklace that probably cost more than most people’s cars.

That night, her classmates rented a private karaoke room to celebrate. When Truth or Dare started, Maribel lost round after round.

She never had to drink once.

Lachlan took every shot for her.

I went to the restroom once. When I came out, I found him leaning over the sink.

He looked like he had thrown up more than once. His face was pale enough to scare me.

I hesitated, then still walked over to steady him.

“If you feel sick, you can tell my sister.”

The moment my fingertips brushed his, Lachlan stilled.

His pretty brows drew together, and he pulled away without making it obvious.

“Why is it you?”

The floating comments appeared, dripping with delight.

[Sutton is so gross. He really planned a fake run-in just to get close to Lachlan.]

[Same with the kittens last time. What’s the point of trying so hard? Even if Lachlan suspects something, he’ll pretend he doesn’t know.]

I withdrew my hand. “I was passing by.”

Even after I walked far away, I could still feel his dark gaze on my back.

That night, I went home early.

Around nine, a light rain started falling. Dad looked worried.

“Sutton, go pick up your sister.”

I kept my head buried in my book. “Someone will bring her home.”

Mom frowned and snapped, “I don’t feel safe letting some boy bring her back. Sutton, how did you get this selfish?”

The room went stiff.

Dad shut his laptop and quickly softened his voice to comfort her.

I said nothing. I pulled on a rain jacket, grabbed an umbrella, and ran out.

By the time I picked Maribel up, the streets were almost empty.

That was when our luck ran out.

On the way back, a few guys blocked us in an alley.

“Sutton, what do we do?” Maribel whispered. “I’m scared.”

Her voice was so small that anyone would soften hearing it.

I didn’t tell her I was scared too.

I only set down my backpack.

“Maribel, when they get distracted, run to the main road. Don’t look back.”

That was how it was supposed to be, wasn’t it?

When we were little and something broke at home, I took the blame.

Every teddy bear our parents bought went to her.

If there was a huge bug in her bookshelf, she would scream until her face went white, and I would be the one calming her down while forcing myself to kill it.

The thing Mom and Dad said to me most often was always the same.

“Promise us you’ll protect your sister. You’re a boy.”

“Maribel was born with a heart condition. She’s fragile. You’re healthy, so be a good little brother and let her have her way.”

“Our Sutton is so sweet. You understand us, don’t you?”

I had heard those words too many times.

So many that they had become a habit.

That was why, when the blows came down, I barely hesitated.

I stepped in front of her.

When they yanked my hair, I kicked them in the stomach.

The noise finally drew attention, and someone called 911. Only then did those guys curse under their breath and scatter.

I wiped the blood from my forehead and reached out to pull Maribel up.

A few kind strangers took us to urgent care.

Lachlan heard about it almost immediately.

He rushed over, and the first thing he saw was the scrape on Maribel’s knee.

“Sutton, why couldn’t you be more careful?”

“She’s hurt. Is this how you protect your sister?”

Maybe he was just worried.

The air around him turned cold, and the questions came out before he could stop them.

Maribel sobbed and shook her head, trying to defend me, but she couldn’t get the words out.

“Hey, Lachlan. Calm down.”

Tavish stepped forward and patted his shoulder.

“Sutton got hurt too. His forehead is still bleeding.”

“This one isn’t on him.”

Only then did Lachlan notice the bandage on my forehead.

His voice stopped.

He didn’t say anything else. He turned and went to the front desk to take care of the bill.

Tavish knew he was in a bad mood and followed to talk him down.

From far away, I heard Lachlan say coldly, “He’s her brother. Protecting Maribel is the bare minimum.”

“What does he have to feel hurt about?”

“I can’t trust him with Maribel at all.”

I lowered my head and dragged the toe of my shoe over the hospital tile.

I didn’t say another word.