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Chapter 24
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2026-10-11 01:37:36“Poppi…”
His voice was different this time. Lower. Rougher. Almost uncertain. Like he wasn’t sure he should even be saying her name like that. Poppi stopped breathing for a second. She could hear the faint sounds coming from inside the house—the distant music, voices drifting through the open windows, someone laughing loudly enough to carry across the yard. But out here, everything suddenly felt muted. It was just the two of them. And the space between them. She slowly turned her head toward him. Madden was already watching her. His eyes moved over her face, searching for something she refused to give him. Permission. Reassurance. A reason to believe he wasn’t imagining the tension that had been building between them for weeks. “Don’t,” she whispered. Madden’s jaw tightened. “Don’t what?” She swallowed. “Look at me like that.” A faint, almost humorless smile touched his mouth. “How am I looking at you?” “You know how.” “No,” he said quietly. “I don’t think I do.” He stepped closer. Poppi instinctively stepped backward. Only one step. But Madden noticed. His eyes dropped briefly to the distance she’d created before returning to hers. “Poppi…” She shook her head. “We shouldn’t be out here.” “Then go inside.” She didn’t move. Neither did he. Madden’s expression changed. Something in his face softened, but somehow that made it worse. His hand slowly lifted, hesitating for a fraction of a second before his fingers brushed the sensitive spot along the side of her neck. Poppi’s breath caught. His touch wasn’t demanding. It was barely there. And somehow that made her want to lean into it. Madden noticed her reaction. His eyes darkened. He gently drew her closer. She didn’t fight him. That was the problem. Her body moved before her mind could catch up, closing the small space between them until she could feel the warmth of him. “Let me make you feel what I feel, Poppi,” he murmured. Her eyes fluttered closed for half a second. “No.” “You don’t even know what I’m going to say.” “I do.” “Then tell me I’m wrong.” She opened her eyes. Madden was so close now that she could feel his breath against her cheek. “Don’t think about anyone else,” he whispered. “Not right now.” Her heart hammered against her ribs. “Madden…” “Do you want me?” The question landed harder than she expected. She looked away. “I can’t answer that.” “Why?” “Because you already know the answer.” His expression shifted. “Do I?” She didn’t respond. Madden’s hand fell from her neck. For one second, she thought he was going to step away. Instead, when she turned, his fingers gently caught her wrist. He pulled her back toward him. Poppi stumbled forward, her body colliding with his. Madden immediately steadied her by placing a hand at her waist. They froze. Neither of them moved. Her hands landed against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her palms. Fast. Too fast. “You need to let me go,” she whispered. “Tell me to.” She looked up. “What?” “Tell me to let you go.” “Madden…” “Say it.” She opened her mouth. Nothing came out. His eyes searched hers. “Look at me.” She did. “Tell me you don’t want this.” Poppi’s breathing became uneven. “Tell me you don’t want my hands on you right now.” Her fingers curled slightly against his shirt. “Tell me you don’t want me to kiss you.” She stared at him. For a second, she couldn’t find the words. Because the truth was sitting right there between them. And neither of them wanted to say it.
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My Affair With My Stepbrother Chapter 47
Not because it wasn’t true. Because it was. The phone rang. Madden. Poppi answered. “Hi.” His voice came through the speaker, tired and quiet. “Hey.” For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then Madden asked, “You okay?” Poppi smiled sadly. “No.” He laughed softly. “Me neither.” She curled her legs beneath her. “How far are you?” “Still a long way.” “That’s not an answer.” “I know.” She could hear the road beneath his voice. “You driving?” “Yeah.” “Then don’t talk to me.” “I can talk and drive.” “No, you can’t.” “I’ve missed your bossiness.” Poppi smiled. “I’ve missed you.” Silence. Madden’s breathing changed. “Say that again.” “No.” “Poppi.” She laughed softly. “You heard me.” “I just wanted to hear it twice.” Her smile faded. “Madden…” “Yeah?” “I don’t want us to make this harder than it already is.” “I know.” “I mean it.” “I know.” “But I don’t know how to do this.” His voice softened. “Neither do I.” Poppi stared down at her stom
My Affair With My Stepbrother Chapter 46
The house felt different without Madden.Poppi didn’t know how else to describe it.It wasn’t quieter.Fred was still moving around downstairs. Valyn was still in the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets as she cleaned. The television was playing in the living room even though nobody seemed to be watching it.Everything was exactly where it had been yesterday.And somehow, everything felt completely different.Poppi stood at the upstairs window, watching the empty driveway.Madden’s truck was gone.She had watched it disappear nearly twenty minutes ago.She had stood there until the very last second, until the truck turned at the end of the street and disappeared behind the row of trees.She hadn’t moved since.Her arms were folded tightly across her chest.Her hand slowly drifted down to her stomach.The baby.She still wasn’t used to thinking that word.Baby.Their baby.Madden was somewhere on the road to Maryland right now.And she was standing in Texas, pregnant with his child.
My Affair With My Stepbrother Chapter 45
Madden and Poppi entered the gated oak tree near the wooden swing and sat. Poppi fidgeted with her hair. Putting it in and out of a ponytail. Madden gave her his undivided attention.“What’s going on?”She took a deep breath.“So I haven’t seen you much for the last month. And I have been kind of going through something on my own,” Poppi stated.Madden reached for her hand but resisted, “I’m sorry you have been dealing with something Poppi. I’ve tried to honor what we said and I stayed away. It is very confusing and heartbreaking for me. Anchor is just easier unfortunately. But we agreed to that, right?” Poppi nodded and looked out towards the barn. “I mean, we ended this Poppi. You wanted this. Me leaving, me with Anchor, this is what you wan—“ he began.“I’m pregnant Madden,” she blurted out. The words felt so heavy coming out. As if she pick them up and hold them in her hands.Madden stopped. He turned towards her with his eyes wide open. “What?” He asked.“I’m pregnant. With
My Affair With My Stepbrother Chapter 44
The second decision proved even harder.Fred.Just thinking his name made Poppi’s stomach tighten.She loved her stepfather.He had raised her.Protected her.Believed in her when she hadn’t always believed in herself.He had been there for every birthday, every school event, every heartbreak. He had taught her how to drive, sat beside her when she cried, and never once made her feel like she was anything less than his daughter.And now she had to tell him the one thing that might completely destroy the life he thought they were all living.She was pregnant.With Madden’s baby.Her hands trembled as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the test sitting on the nightstand.She had looked at it so many times that morning that the two lines almost didn’t feel real anymore.Almost.She placed a hand over her stomach.There was nothing to feel yet.No movement.No bump.Nothing that should have made this feel real.And yet, somehow, everything had changed.Madden was leaving for Maryl
My Affair With My Stepbrother Chapter 43
The house had never felt so loud.The laughter downstairs drifted through the vents while Poppi sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the pregnancy test she’d tucked inside the back of her nightstand. Hidden beneath old dance recital programs and birthday cards, it still felt like it was glowing.Two pink lines.She’d checked it a dozen times, as though somehow they might disappear if she looked hard enough.They hadn’t.Her hand instinctively drifted to her stomach.Nothing had changed.Everything had changed.A knock sounded softly against her bedroom door.“You awake?” Valyn asked.Poppi swallowed. “Yeah.”The door cracked open just enough for her mom to peek inside.“You okay? You’ve been awfully quiet today.”“I’m just tired.”Valyn studied her for a second, the way mothers always seemed to know when something wasn’t right. But after a moment she smiled gently.“Don’t stay up too late. We leave early to take Madden to the airport.”Airport.The word hit like a punch.Tomorrow.T
My Affair With My Stepbrother Chapter 42
Back home Poppi and Madden stayed away from one another. They didn’t glance at each other the way they used to. Valyn noticed.Poppi was cleaning Thunder’s hooves out one evening and Valyn joined her. She pulled up a stool next to Poppi who was covered in dirt and hay. “Pops, you’ve been so down lately babe. What can I do?” Valyn asked, hand her a tool she was trying to reach. “Mom! Are you serious? You know why I’m sad. There is nothing you can do to change it so please just let it be until August 20th comes and he goes home,” Poppi said, letting Thunder rest her hoof. Valyn almost spoke but withheld. She knew her daughter was right. She hated seeing her hurt this way. “I love him, mom. You don’t care about that though do you?” Poppi asked.Valyn was speechless. She tried to form words…the right words. But she had nothing that would heal her heart. She hugged Poppi and then walked back up to the house. Poppi sat in the barn and cried. She couldn’t believe this was her life. Fa
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