Glass Hearts [BL] Chapter 174: Stay Away From My Stupid Brother II[June’s POV]

I shut the door slowly, like my body hadn’t caught up to my brain yet.

Then I just stood there.

The room felt suddenly... too quiet. My ears rang with her words on repeat.

Stay away from my stupid brother. He brings different girls over and you’re going to get hurt.

I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the duvet like it was supposed to anchor .

My chest felt tight, heat kept crawling up my neck.

I an... she doesn’t know . She doesn’t know what’s going on between us.

But she knows him.

I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head like I could toss the thought out.

He carried my shopping bags, called his girlfriend in front of the butler, had a whole room prepared for . He... he made feel wanted. To feel special.

My chest ached, because I knew she was right...he’s really a careless, heartless player.

I dragged myself to the bathroom and turned the shower on hot. Letting the steam swallow felt easier than letting my brain run in circles.

When I ca out, my hair was damp and dripping, I wrapped a towel around it, rubbing at the strands. My skin felt fresh, but my head was still buzzing.

I sat on the bed, wrapping my hair with the towel when a knock ca through.

I walked barefoot towards the door, still towel-wrapping my hair, and pulled it open.

And yeah.

It was Ian this ti.

Ian stood there, his hair was still damp from his own shower, wearing a plain white T-shirt clinging to his shoulders, and a dark joggers hanging loose on his hips.

His streak of white hair was even ssier now, one strand kept falling over his forehead.

He looked really attractive, I wasn’t going to lie.

"Dinner’s on the way up," he said casually, dropping his phone on the dresser. Then he looked at . "Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

I blinked too fast, forcing a laugh. "What? I don’t. I’m fine."

He squinted, walking closer. "Juney..." His voice softened. "You’re acting weird. Did sothing happen while I was gone?"

My throat went dry. I forced a smile, clutching the duvet tighter. "Nothing happened. You’re just paranoid."

He tilted his head. "Hmm. You’re a terrible liar, you know that?"

I rolled my eyes too hard, hoping it would hide how unsettled I actually felt. "You’re imagining things. Now go dry your hair before you drip water on my princess suite."

He chuckled, shaking his head like he wasn’t convinced but letting it go... for now.

anwhile, my heart wouldn’t stop racing, Yuri’s warning kept echoing under all the softness in his smile.

I was scrubbing my hair with the towel, maybe too roughly, because my arms were shaking with nerves.

Ian stepped closer without asking, grabbing the towel gently from my hands. "You’re gonna break your neck like that," he murmured.

Before I could protest, he patted the towel over my head and started rubbing slow circles against my scalp.

His fingers brushed the back of my neck, and goosebumps shot down my arms.

I froze, too aware of how close he was.

"See? Easy." His voice dropped low. "You’re supposed to be gentle, princess. Like this."

I wanted to snap at him, roll my eyes, sothing. Instead, I sat there, heat crawling up my cheeks, my breath kept stuttering like I’d forgotten how to inhale properly.

He leaned down, close enough that I felt his breath at my ear. "Why so shy? You were fine a minute ago."

"I...I’m not shy," I stamred, tilting my head away, but he just chuckled, still drying my hair slowly. Flirty without even trying.

And that stupid streak of white hair fell in his face again. He looked like every dangerous thought I wasn’t supposed to be having.

But he noticed. Of course he noticed.

His hands stilled for a second. "June." His voice was softer now. "Why do you look so paranoid? What’s spinning in that head of yours?"

My chest tightened. Should I tell him? Should I not?

Before I could decide, my phone buzzed loud against the duvet. My heart leapt at the na on the screen.

"Ash!" I nearly shouted, fumbling to answer. "Thank goodness. Please tell you’re with Dominic."

Ash’s voice ca through calm. "Yes, he’s with now. We boarded a ride, we’re going ho."

Relief flooded so fast I almost cried. "Thank God..."

Then Ash added, "Tell Ian I said thank you. And June... take care of yourself, okay?"

"Yeah," I whispered. "You too." I cut the call, my chest was still rising.

Ian raised his brows, still holding the towel like he hadn’t moved. "Well?"

I swallowed. "That was Ash. He said Dominic’s with him. They’re going ho. And... he said thank you."

Ian nodded once, and exhaled. "Good. That’s one less thing to worry about."

He tilted his head, studying again. "But don’t think I’ve forgotten. You were about to tell why you look sad."

I sighed. Then, quietly: "Your sister ca by. Yuri. She... she said you bring different girls over. And that I’ll get hurt if I’m not careful."

I rushed the words out, not accusing, just spilling them like they’d been burning a hole in . "I’m not saying she’s right. It just... stuck in my head."

The second the words left my mouth, silence swallowed the room.

Ian just stood there, towel in his hands, his gaze fixed on .

My stomach twisted. Crap. Crap crap crap. Why did I even say it? He was probably gonna laugh, or get annoyed, or worse confirm it.

I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, staring at the floor. "I shouldn’t have said anything. Forget it. It’s stupid."

The towel hung loose in his hands.

"She said... that?" His voice was calm.

I swallowed, suddenly wishing I hadn’t brought it up. "Yeah, I know she’s your sister, but she doesn’t really know . It just... stuck in my head."

Ian let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his damp hair. He looked away, and tightened his jaw. "Of course she’d say that."

Sothing in my chest tightened. "Ian..."

He leaned against the dresser, finally looking back at , and for once there was no teasing in his eyes. Just this kind of tired heaviness.

"Yuri hates my guts, June. Always has. We didn’t even grow up together. She was in Korea with my mom, and I stayed here with my dad. Different countries, different lives. Then suddenly, we’re supposed to be siblings. But she looks at and sees... everything she resents. Dad. Money. Blackwell. The whole family ss."

He dragged his hand down his face, exhaling. "I’ve been trying...really trying to win her over. To show her I’m not the enemy. But... I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she’d go as far as to tell you that. To try and scare you away from ."

The way his voice cracked a little at the end made my throat ache.

I stepped closer, reaching out instinctively, tugging the towel from his hands and holding it between us. "Ian..."

His eyes softened when they t mine. "I didn’t want you to hear it like that. Not from her. Because the truth is..." His hand caught my chin gently, lifting my face so I had to et his eyes. "Yeah, I’ve been a player. I won’t deny that. But none of that matters when it cos to you."

His thumb brushed my jaw, and my chest tightened.

"You’re not just so girl I bring around. You’re... you. That’s different. And I’d never let you get hurt, not by ."

My throat closed up.

He leaned back slightly, letting breathe, "Besides... the only girl I’m trying to bring over now is you."