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Chapter 61

Author: R. F. Ewele
last update publish date: 2025-12-28 01:45:59

Samuel held Isis like she might disappear if he let go.

She was shaking. Not crying, just shaking, these little tremors that ran through her whole body like aftershocks from an earthquake. He could feel how thin she'd gotten, all sharp angles and bones where there used to be soft curves.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into his chest. "I'm so sorry, Sam."

"Don't." His voice came out rough. "Don't apologize to me."

"But I left you. I chose him over you and I..."

"You didn't choose anything." Samuel p
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  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   127

    Riley woke up to her phone exploding.Thirty-seven missed calls. Sixty-two text messages. Her email inbox overflowing with notifications.She grabbed her phone, still half asleep, and opened the first message. It was from Sarah."CALL ME NOW. There's a photo. It's everywhere."Riley's stomach dropped.She opened Twitter. The photo was the top trending topic in Springfield.There she was, wrapped around Samuel in the aquatic center, kissing him like her life depended on it. The caption read: "Springfield Herald reporter Riley Chen caught in compromising position with college swimmer she was assigned to cover. Age gap relationship or abuse of power?"The comments were brutal."This is disgusting. She's almost 30 and he's barely legal.""Classic predator behavior. Using her position as a journalist to get close to a young athlete.""Someone needs to investigate this. This is grooming.""Age gap relationships are valid! Stop being judgmental!""Seven years isn't even that much. My parents

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   126

    Summer brought unexpected visitors.Riley was working in her home office when the doorbell rang. Luna got there first, always eager to answer the door despite being repeatedly told not to."Someone here!" she announced.Riley opened the door to find a woman in her early forties, well-dressed and vaguely familiar."Can I help you?""Are you Riley Armani? Riley Chen Armani?""Yes. And you are?""My name is Victoria Moore. I'm Tiara's older sister."Riley's stomach dropped. She'd known Tiara had a younger cousin, Aria, who'd warned them about Marcus. But an older sister?"I didn't know Tiara had an older sister.""We were estranged. I left the pack when I was eighteen, moved to Seattle, cut ties with the family. I only found out about Tiara's death two years ago." Victoria's eyes were red-rimmed. "I should have come sooner. But I was angry. At her, at myself, at everything.""Would you like to come in?"Victoria entered, looking around the house with interest. Luna watched her suspicious

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   129

    Samuel won bronze in his third event, the four hundred meter freestyle. Riley watched him stand on the podium with two gold medals and one bronze around his neck by the end of the Olympics, and thought about how far they'd both come. He'd competed in three Olympic games. Won six medals total. Two silvers, three bronze, and now finally, the gold he'd been chasing his entire career. "I'm done," he said on their last night in Oslo. The kids were asleep in the next room, and they were sitting on the hotel balcony despite the freezing temperature. "After this, I'm retiring." "You're sure?" "I'm twenty-six years old. I've accomplished everything I set out to do. I have a family I love and who actually needs me present." Samuel looked at her. "It's time." Riley nodded. She'd known this was coming, but hearing him say it out loud made it real. "What will you do? After swimming?" "I've had some offers. Coaching positions. Commentary work. One company wants me to be their spokesperson."

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   128

    The third film premiered in December, timed perfectly for awards season.Riley walked the red carpet in a stunning emerald dress, Samuel beside her in a tuxedo that made her heart skip despite ten years together. The kids were home this time, deemed too young for the chaos of a premiere that would run past midnight."You look beautiful," Samuel murmured as cameras flashed."You look pretty good yourself.""Just good?""Devastating. Happy?""Very."The film was everything Riley had hoped for. The director had stuck the landing, giving the trilogy a satisfying conclusion that honored the books while adding cinematic flair.When the credits rolled, the audience gave a standing ovation. Riley found herself crying, overwhelmed by seeing her story, her characters, her world brought to life so perfectly."You did it," the lead actress told her at the after-party. "Created something that's going to last. People will be watching these films twenty years from now.""That's surreal.""That's leg

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   127

    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 terrifying.

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   126

    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 were pre

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   Chapter 47

    “Baby, what is happening here?” Isis asked, facing Nova with a look of bored pride. Her perfume was expensive, but it did little to conceal the unique scent Suraj had always known.Suraj’s jaw dropped. He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Isis Cepheus?”“Eww!” She snatched her hand away in immediat

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  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   Chapter 43

    Three months later Samuel wasn’t himself anymore. Just last month, Taira had an accident on her way to meet him, ending up in a coma the principal and coach refused to remove him from dream cup competition. Max and Nora traveled to God knows where, Fatima and Dalton in a fresh wave of love that o

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  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   CHAPTER 42

    Nora and Max had agreed to be back together, since it was clear that they were still in love. It was hard for Max to forgive her, but he felt he had no other option... in all his life, since Samuel’s mother, he had never found a love that felt as real as what he had with Nora.“I accept that you did

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-22
  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   Chapter 45

    The swimming stadium was in the middle of a standup ovation for the athletes as they came out of the backstages. Fatima had stopped at the backstage, holding Samuel and Dalton Jersey's and phones. The coach left her side to stand at the coaches side of the stadium, leaving her alone. Fatima

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-22
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