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2026-03-31 23:20:50
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My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 143
Thanksgiving that year was different.Max had a heart attack in early November. Not massive, the doctors said, but significant enough to require surgery and lifestyle changes."He's going to be fine," Nora told Riley over the phone, her voice shaking despite the reassuring words. "But it was scary. Really scary."Riley and Samuel visited him in the hospital the next day. Max looked older somehow, diminished in the hospital bed in a way he'd never looked before."I'm fine," Max said when he saw their worried faces. "Stop looking at me like I'm dying.""You had a heart attack," Samuel said. "We're allowed to be worried.""It was a minor heart attack. Barely worth mentioning.""The doctors disagree," Nora said firmly. "You're on bed rest for two weeks, then cardiac rehab, then significant diet and exercise changes.""I'm an Alpha. I don't need bed rest.""You're a sixty-two-year-old man who just had a heart attack. You need bed rest."Max grumbled but didn't argue further.The incident s
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 142
Winter came early that year, bringing snow in late October. Riley stood at her office window, watching the flakes fall, thinking about how much had changed in the eight years since she'd first met Samuel. Eight years since that pool deck, that terrified moment when her world had shifted. Now she was thirty-five, mother of two, Alpha's mate, successful author and media entrepreneur. A life she'd never imagined possible. "You're being contemplative again," Diana said from the doorway. "Just thinking about time. How fast it moves." "That's very philosophical for a Tuesday morning." Riley smiled. "I'm allowed to be philosophical occasionally." "Occasionally, sure. But you've been staring out that window for twenty minutes. Everything okay?" "Everything's fine. Just... reflective." Diana left her alone, and Riley returned to her thoughts. She'd been feeling it more lately. The passage of time. Selene was nine now, growing independent and opinionated. Isaac was three and
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 141
Tiara's funeral was held on a gray Saturday in late November. Riley and Samuel attended together, along with Max and Nora. They sat near the back of the small chapel, not wanting to intrude on the grief of Tiara's sister and the few friends who'd stayed in touch over the years. The service was simple and beautiful. Layla, Tiara's younger sister, spoke about the vibrant woman Tiara had been before the accident. About her dreams of becoming a veterinarian, her love of old movies, her terrible singing voice that she used anyway. "My sister lost seven years of her life," Layla said, her voice breaking. "But in the time she had after waking up, she lived fully. She moved to Oregon, went back to school, made new friends. She didn't let what happened to her define her final chapter." Riley found herself crying. For Tiara, for the life cut short, for all the what-ifs and might-have-beens. Samuel held her hand through the entire service. Afterward, Layla approached them as they wer
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 140
The scandal broke on a Tuesday morning in October. Riley was feeding Stella when her phone started exploding with notifications. Messages, emails, calls, all coming in simultaneously. She opened the first message from Diana. "Have you seen the headlines? Call me ASAP." Riley pulled up the news with one hand while Stella nursed. Her heart stopped. "ALPHA SAMUEL ARMANI ACCUSED OF FAVORITISM AND CORRUPTION" read the headline from a major pack news outlet. The article detailed allegations that Samuel had been awarding pack contracts to friends and family members, specifically mentioning Riley's foundation and Pack Truth as beneficiaries of preferential treatment. "What the hell?" Riley muttered. She kept reading. The accusations came from a former pack council member, Douglas Chen, who claimed Samuel had pressured him to approve funding for the Tiara Moore Foundation despite concerns about financial oversight. "This is ridiculous," Riley said to Stella, who continued nursing, un
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 139
The phone call came at two in the morning on a Tuesday in January. Riley fumbled for her phone, heart already racing. Nothing good ever came from calls at 2 AM. "Hello?" "Riley, it's Sarah." Her friend's voice was shaking. "I'm at the hospital. Lysander was in a car accident." Riley sat up instantly. "Is he okay?" "I don't know. They won't tell me anything yet. He's in surgery. Riley, I'm scared." "I'm coming. Give me twenty minutes." Samuel was already awake. "What happened?" "Lysander's been in an accident. I need to go to the hospital." "I'll come with you." "Someone needs to stay with the kids." "Then I'll call my mom. Riley, you're not going alone." Nora arrived within fifteen minutes, still in her pajamas. By the time they reached the hospital, Sarah was in the waiting room looking small and terrified. "Any news?" Riley asked, pulling her into a hug. "He's still in surgery. They said something about internal bleeding. Riley, what if—" "Don't. Don't go there yet."
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 138
Spring brought an unexpected letter. Riley was sorting through mail while Luna "helped" by opening junk catalogs and declaring everything "mine!" when she noticed an official-looking envelope with a university seal. Stanford University. She opened it, confused. She hadn't applied for anything at Stanford. Dear Ms. Armani, We are pleased to invite you to deliver the keynote address at our Graduate School of Journalism's commencement ceremony this May. Your work in both traditional journalism and digital media, combined with your candid writing about personal challenges, has inspired a generation of young journalists. We would be honored to have you share your insights with our graduating class. Riley read it three times. Stanford wanted her to give a commencement speech. "Samuel!" she called. He appeared from the garage, covered in grease from working on his truck. "What's wrong?" "Nothing's wrong. Stanford wants me to give a commencement speech." "That's amazing!" "That's
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 102
The TV meeting happened on a Tuesday in Los Angeles.Riley and Samuel flew out Monday night, leaving Selene with Nora, who was thrilled to have her granddaughter for a few days. It was the first time they'd been away from Selene overnight since she was born, and Riley had called three times before
آخر تحديث : 2026-04-01My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 97
The first draft of the book took four months to write. Four months of late nights and early mornings, of Riley staring at her laptop until her eyes burned, of Samuel reading chapters and offering feedback between training sessions. Four months of reliving every painful, beautiful moment of their s
آخر تحديث : 2026-03-31My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 105
# Chapter 100 They did the Good Morning America interview. Riley spent the entire morning before feeling like she might throw up. Samuel was calmer, or at least better at hiding his nerves. They'd done interviews before, but this was different. This was live television. Millions of viewers. No ed
آخر تحديث : 2026-04-01My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 103
The TV meeting happened on a Tuesday in Los Angeles.Riley and Samuel flew out Monday night, leaving Selene with Nora, who was thrilled to have her granddaughter for a few days. It was the first time they'd been away from Selene overnight since she was born, and Riley had called three times before
آخر تحديث : 2026-04-01
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