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Chapter 82
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2026-01-13 23:27:41
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My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 133
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, unbothered.
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 132
Stella was six weeks old when Riley realized something was wrong.Not with the baby. Stella was thriving, a calm easy baby who seemed content to just observe the chaos around her.The problem was Riley.She'd been here before. The crushing exhaustion. The crying at nothing. The feeling of disconnection from everything, even her own newborn.Postpartum depression. Again."I thought I'd be better prepared this time," she told Dr. Morrison during an emergency appointment. "I knew the signs. I'm on medication already. Why is this happening again?""Depression doesn't care about preparation. You've had four babies, Riley. Your body's been through tremendous stress. Add in your age, the hormonal changes, the demands of four kids, and depression is almost inevitable.""So what do I do?""Same as before. Adjust your medication, increase therapy, ask for help. You know the drill."Riley did know the drill. But knowing didn't make it easier.Samuel stepped up immediately, taking on even more ch
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 131
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 130
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."
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Riley turned thirty-eight in the spring, and for the first time in years, she felt her age.Not in a bad way. Just in an awareness of time passing, of chapters closing, of life moving forward whether she was ready or not."I'm almost forty," she told Samuel on her birthday morning."You're thirty-eight.""Which is almost forty.""By that logic, I'm almost thirty.""You're twenty-nine. You are almost thirty."Samuel groaned. "Don't remind me."They'd planned a small party. Just family and close friends. But the kids had other ideas."Surprise!" Selene yelled when Riley walked into the kitchen.The room was full of people. Sarah and Lysander with their kids. Max and Nora. Diana from Pack Truth. Victoria Moore. Even Patricia had flown in from New York."You all came," Riley said, tears already starting."Of course we came," Sarah said, hugging her. "It's your birthday.""It's just a birthday.""It's never just a birthday."They ate cake and opened presents and told embarrassing stories a
My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim 128
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 Chapter 79
Fatima looked different than Riley remembered.Gone was the innocent cousin who used to braid Riley's hair at family gatherings. This woman was harder, sharper. Her eyes cold as she leaned against a metal support beam, arms crossed.And beside her stood Dalton Lillard. Riley's ex-boyfriend. The swi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-28My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 83
The fallout from Max's press conference was immediate and brutal.By noon, every major news outlet was running the story. Olympic swimmer falsely accused. Doctored footage. Prince of the Hades Pack implicated in conspiracy. The internet was on fire with speculation, opinions, and hot takes.Samuel'
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-28My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 80
The interrogation room smelled like stale coffee and fluorescent lighting.Riley sat across from Detective Chen, a wolf from the Springfield Pack who'd been assigned to the case. Samuel was in another room with his own detective. They'd been separated the moment they arrived at the station, standar
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-28My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 78
The cemetery was quieter than Riley remembered.She stood at Onika's grave, Samuel beside her, both staring at the weathered headstone. Her aunt's name carved in stone. Fatima's mother. The woman who'd loved her stepbrother Suraj until it destroyed her."You sure it's here?" Samuel asked.Riley kne
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-28
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