Sleeping With My Step Daddy-Chapter 38: “The Proposals"

Rico stared at the phone screen, a deep frown creasing his brow. He had just tried calling Kai—but the line didn’t even ring.

Blocked.

He exhaled heavily, tossing the phone onto the desk. His fingers clenched into a fist, guilt gnawing at him.

"I did something really wrong... to that kid," he murmured to himself, haunted by yesterday’s confrontation.

---

Flashback – Yesterday, Rico’s Apartment

Rico sat alone on the couch, dabbing his busted lip with a cotton pad soaked in antiseptic. The sting barely registered—his thoughts were louder than the pain.

Ding-dong.

He groaned. "Who the hell now?" He stood up, annoyed, and swung the door open.

His eyes widened in surprise.

"Bast?"

Standing in the doorway, Bast didn’t say a word. His eyes scanned Rico’s face, settling on the bruised cheek and split lip.

Rico clicked his tongue. "Why are you here?"

Bast stepped in without invitation. "What do you think? After what you did to Kai, did you think I’d stay silent again?"

Rico shut the door behind him. "What do you want now?"

Bast turned around slowly, anger simmering behind his calm face. "Why do you always pull this shit, Rico?"

Rico gave a cold smile. "Yes, I did. Now tell me... how does it feel, Mr. Sebastian, to be rejected by your own lover? To be left behind just like you left me?"

Bast didn’t respond. Instead, he picked up the tube of ointment from the table, uncapped it, and gently touched it to Rico’s lip.

Rico froze, caught off guard by the softness in Bast’s actions. After all these years, why was Bast suddenly being... kind?

Bast placed the tube back on the table. "I’m sorry."

Rico blinked. Did he really just say that?

Bast sat down on the edge of the couch. "The reason I broke up with you... wasn’t because of Kai. It was because you cheated on me. Don’t put that on him. Don’t punish him for our past."

Rico looked down, guilt washing over him.

"I never meant to hurt him..." he whispered. "He’s just... too innocent."

Bast stood up, his voice colder now. "Then don’t. I know you, Rico. Deep down, you’re not the monster you pretend to be. Don’t act like someone you’re not."

Rico looked up slowly. "Where is Kai?"

Bast didn’t turn around. "It’s not your business anymore. Don’t talk to him. Don’t meet him. If you value your life, stay away."

With that, Bast walked out, closing the door behind him.

Rico sat there in silence, the words cutting deeper than any bruise.

In Present __

Rico sat in his car, gripping the wheel tightly.

"What does Bast think?" he muttered under his breath. "He can order me around and I’ll just obey? No... I’ll meet Kai. Again and again if I want."

With that, he started the engine and drove off, determination flashing in his eyes.

---

At College

Kai sat under the shade of a tree on campus, scrolling through his phone. Miles, his best friend, leaned closer, eyeing him suspiciously.

Kai blinked. "W-What?"

Miles smirked. "I’m just thinking about last night... Did you and Bast do something special?"

Kai’s face turned crimson. "N-No! Not like that..."

Miles narrowed his eyes dramatically. "Don’t lie to me, Kai. Your neck looks like a battlefield. And is that a bite mark on your ear? Should I count them?" He reached for Kai’s shirt collar playfully.

Kai quickly pushed him away, flustered. "Okay, okay! Yes, we... slept together."

Miles grinned, practically glowing with excitement. "So?! Did Bast do something special?"

Kai, still blushing, nodded. "Y-Yeah..."

Miles leaned in closer. "What did he do? Come on, spill!"

Kai glanced away shyly. "It was just... more intense than before."

Miles laughed out loud. "Wow! I should tell Ethan to do something ’extraordinary’ too!"

Kai gave him a warning glare. "You want to die?"

Suddenly, Eden appeared and dropped his bag on the bench beside them. "What are you two doing?"

Kai froze, and Miles chuckled with a mischievous grin. "Oh, just talking about some extraordinary stuff."

Eden tilted his head, confused. "Extraordinary stuff?"

Kai quickly slapped a hand over Miles’s mouth. "No! Just casual talk. Nothing weird."

Eden shrugged and sat beside them. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you something. My sister’s getting married next week."

Miles’s eyes lit up. "No way! That’s amazing—she’s so lucky!"

Eden smiled warmly. "I’d really be happy if you guys came to the wedding."

Miles threw up a thumbs-up. "Of course we’re coming!"

Kai nodded with a smile. "Yeah, we’re really happy for her. Count us in."

Eden beamed. "Thanks, guys."

Miles suddenly froze when he saw someone approaching. His cheerful expression shifted into a scowl.

"Why is he here again?" Miles muttered, glaring ahead.

Kai blinked. "What?"

He turned his head—and saw Rico walking toward them, hands tucked in his coat pockets, face serious. Kai’s smile slowly disappeared.

Rico stopped in front of them. "Kai," he said, voice calm but hesitant, "I want to talk to you."

Miles immediately stepped forward, grabbing Kai’s hand protectively. "Let’s go, Kai."

Kai looked at Rico, then at Miles. "Wait, Miles."

"Kai..." Miles protested, clearly upset.

"Just wait for me in class," Kai said gently.

Miles frowned, wanting to argue more, but Kai had already made up his mind. Reluctantly, Miles let go of his hand. Eden watched the whole exchange, eyebrows raised.

Rico nodded. "Let’s go," he said softly to Kai.

As the two walked away toward the campus café, Eden leaned in to Miles and asked, "Who is that?"

Miles crossed his arms. "Just some crazy man."

Eden blinked. "Seriously?"

Miles turned, walking toward the classroom. "Forget it. Let’s just go."

---

At the Café

Kai and Rico sat across from each other. The atmosphere between them was thick with silence. Rico’s hands trembled slightly as he held his coffee. He was clearly nervous.

Kai simply stared, his expression unreadable.

Finally, Rico broke the silence. "I’m sorry, Kai. I hurt you."

Kai didn’t respond right away. He just looked straight into Rico’s eyes, calm and quiet.

Rico struggled to keep the eye contact, guilt settling heavy in his chest. "I didn’t mean to... things just—"

"It’s okay," Kai said, cutting him off. He stood up and grabbed his bag.

Rico quickly stood too. "Wait—you’re not angry with me?"

Kai looked at him, his voice still calm. "Nope."

Rico grabbed his wrist gently. "If you want to punch me, do it. Yell. Just... don’t walk away."

Kai freed his hand. "I don’t want to punch you, Rico. Honestly, I’m not even mad anymore."

He looked away, voice soft. "It’s just good to finally know the truth. I know you were hurting. That’s why you acted the way you did."

Rico clenched his jaw. "I’m not lonely."

Kai glanced at him, then turned to leave. "I need to go."

Desperately, Rico called after him. "What about starting over?"

Kai paused and turned around, confused. "Start over? We weren’t anything before... so there’s nothing to start."

Rico stepped closer. "Then... let’s at least be friends."

Kai shook his head. "No. Bast told me not to meet you again."

Rico sighed and mumbled under his breath, "That old man..."

Kai didn’t turn back. He just walked away, his footsteps quiet.

Rico stood there, alone in the café, staring at the space Kai had just left.

"...Okay," he whispered. "I’ll take it. We’ll meet again... someday."

At Vaughn Corporation___

Rico stepped into the sleek lobby of Vaughn Corporation. His secretary hurried beside him, whispering, "Mr. Rico, we’re late for the meeting."

Rico’s expression soured. "It’s fine. Let’s go."

They entered the meeting room.

Inside, Sebastian Vaughn—Bast—was already seated at the head of the table, arms crossed, eyes sharp. His presence radiated cool authority.

"You have no sense of time, do you?" Bast said flatly.

Rico offered a polite smile and took his seat. "Apologies. I hope you didn’t wait long."

He glanced to Bast’s side, half-expecting to see Jeff as his secretary. But it was someone else. His gaze lingered for a moment before he refocused.

"Well then, Mr. Sebastian," Rico said, flipping open the file in front of him. "Let’s discuss the project."

"I’m not interested in working with you," Bast replied coldly.

Rico leaned back, unfazed. "Afraid of me?"

Bast’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "You really think that?"

Rico smiled wider, knowing exactly where to poke. "I just wonder... are you scared you’ll fall for me again?"

Bast didn’t respond, but the cold intensity in his eyes said everything.

Rico cleared his throat and slid the file forward. "Let’s keep it professional. Forget the past—this proposal is solid. We both stand to gain a lot from this deal. Personal history shouldn’t interfere with business, don’t you think?"

A beat of silence passed. Bast stared at the file but didn’t touch it.

Then, without a word, he stood up.

"I’ll think about it," he said, his voice sharp, emotionless.

And with that, he walked out of the room.

Rico sat still, a smile lingering on his lips.