Forbidden Mate- A Step-brother Romance - Chapter 78: Chapter 78

~LANA~
"Please get in the car," Apollo urges, brushing aside my question.
"Why should I?" I retort. "I didn't come here with you. I don't have to leave with you."
I was trying my hardest from giving into the temptations. I knew the second I got into that vehicle with him, the feelings within me would intensify to the point that I would lose the little control I had left over myself. I did not want that to happen when Apollo already made it clear that he was going ahead with the engagement.
He looks worn out and weary as he whispers, "Please, Lana. Just get in."
The car door stands open, and he waits patiently for me to comply. Though I’m still angry and hurt, something in his eyes compels me to climb in despite my emotions.
The moment I settle into the seat, he leans over to buckle me in. I inhale the scent of his hair and nearly lose my composure.
Stop it, Lana. He’s going to belong to another woman soon. You need to get a grip on yourself. I tried talking myself out of these feelings, aware that it wouldn’t be easy. I could spend hours pleading with my heart to let go of Apollo, but I knew it would only make matters worse. No one can simply order their heart to stop feeling for their mate.
Apollo shuts the door and walks around to the driver's side. My gaze is glued to him. He was meant to be mine. I should have exclusive rights over him—no one else. The moon Goddess chose us for one another. Even the Mystic Cloud River united us. Everything is pointing to us being together, yet he’s allowing his mother to dictate his choices. No matter how many times I tried to reach him, to understand why he was so afraid of giving us a chance, he seemed to pull further away. Whatever it was, he continued to keep it from me.
Deep down inside, I knew that his mother was the cause of everything but there was no way for me to prove it unless Apollo actually started opening up to me.
The car ride is silent for a few minutes, but my mate eventually breaks the quiet. "I’m sorry for how my mother spoke to you earlier. I know she can be a handful, or maybe more than that."
I cross my arms over my chest. "You shouldn’t have to apologize for your mother’s behavior. She’s the one who should be saying sorry, not you."
I never understood why someone would apologize for another person's actions, as if they were somehow responsible. Apollo might say sorry all he wanted, but it wouldn’t change the hurtful words that came from his mother. I knew that she was only just getting started. My mother had invited her into our homes and she was taking advantage of her kindness. I knew having her stay with us was a bad idea.
"I know," he replies. "But my mother isn’t the type to apologize. She never acknowledges when she overreacts, even to us.”
That spoke volumes to me. From what little he revealed about her, I could already tell plenty about my mate's mother. She was not a nice woman. She looked like her intentions was to make our lives miserable and only then would she be happy.
"But still," he continues. "What she did at dinner was unjustified. I should have said something. I should have—"
"Apollo," I interrupt him. "What’s the point of this conversation?"
He turns to me, pain flickering in his eyes. "I just wanted to apologize."
"If you're set to marry someone else, and your engagement is only days away, you shouldn't try to engage me in a conversation like this." I tell him. "It'll only complicate matters for both of us."
Why was I saying this? I loved the attention he showed me. Having him alone in this moment brought me a strange happiness, even as it added salt to my wounds.
He exhales heavily, refocusing on the road ahead. I notice his hands tighten around the steering wheel. I was doing the right thing for both of us. We needed to learn to let go, especially if he had already decided to spend his life with Jada.
My heart felt like it wanted to rip out of my chest. I know I should stop but at the same time, I couldn't.
"I'm sorry, Lana," he murmurs for the second time.
There was something else weighing on my mind that I needed to bring up, even though it pained me to think about it. I knew it was better to sever our bond before he wed Jada. It was the right thing to do.
If he didn't reject me yet still went through with his plans to marry her, it would break me. I’d rather he hurt me now so I could cope better when he tied the knot.
I knew my mother was likely going to force me to attend that ceremony, leaving little chance of escape. I needed to start preparing myself right now. If we remained bonded while I had to stand there and watch him in front of hundreds of people get engaged to another woman, I would surely snap. I knew myself and I didn't want it to come to that.
"There’s one more thing I want to say," I tell him. "It’s something I’ve been mulling over for a while. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was ready. I’m not even sure now. But it’s something we need to address."
His forehead wrinkles in confusion as he tries to grasp my words. "What do you mean, Lana?" he asks, concern etched on his face as he waits for me to clarify.
I struggle to form the words, my heart tightening at the thought of voicing it. I was scared he would agree, which would make things easier but also harder in a way.
"Lana?" he calls again, growing more impatient.
"I think you should reject me.” I blurt out.