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F I F T Y - F I V E
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2023-07-16 23:59:20
MercyCrownScroll for the second chapterâĶ
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My Stepbrother   F I F T Y - S I X
ELIZABETH. "Oh." I mouth and lick my lips, tearing my gaze away from hers so she doesnât see the disappointment and a second gloom in my eyes. When I return my eyes to hers, I say, "Thatâs what you want?" "Yeah." She nods as she removes her hands from my shoulder. "I donât think I can stay here any longer. I moved us here in the first place so we can start a new life, a happy one hopefully, but now a sad memory has been made. Iâd be reminded of that every second I spend here and I donât want to, so we should return home. To ma." She puts on a smile as she takes my left hand and covers her palm over it. "And your dad." "Right." I swallow as I struggle to find the right words. Obviously, I know sheâs hurt and I feel terrible for her too, but I didnât think sheâd want to move states. And itâd be a lie to say I donât feel sad about that. Or that my heart doesnât break at the thought of not seeing James again. I still havenât heard his side of the story and the willingness of wanting to
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-17My Stepbrother   F I F T Y - S E V E N
JAMES.I watch her walk away from me, her frame slowly disappearing into the dark while I remain glued to where I stand, unable to go after her because I have a feeling thereâs no stopping her."Fuck." I fold my mouth and run a hand through my hair as her words echo in my head. I hate that she wasnât entirely wrong. When Mom called me two weeks ago and said she wanted to see Dad, I was surprised. I was even more shocked when I found out she wanted to come back. And that Dad was willing to accept her. The first thought I had was to tell Elizabeth. I swear I wanted to, but I justâĶ didnât. I donât know why I couldnât. I managed to convince myself that this was the best thing. My dad divorcing her mom was exactly what we needed. Her mom was never going to accept our relationship, and we were never going to let go of each other. Their separation is our best shot, so I thought it was a good thing. But maybe Elizabeth was right. I wasnât just happy about the divorce because it means I could b
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-18My Stepbrother   F I F T Y - E I G H T
JAMES. I was wrong. So fucking wrong and painfully so. Going to her house and catching her by surprise wasnât going to fix anything. It wouldnât stop Elizabeth from being furious at me. There was no stopping anything if I didnât see the girl herself. When I went to Elizabethâs old place that morning and was welcomed with a deafening silence and an empty house that looked like no oneâs been residing in it for ages, I was confused. If they werenât there, then where could they be? That day, I went to school, hoping I would find her there. But again, I was disappointed. Elizabeth wasnât at school. So where was she? Maybe they went to another place I didnât know aboutâThose were the words I convinced myself with. There was no way she could hide away from me for long. A week passed. Two weeks. Three weeks. A fucking entire month, and there was no sign of Elizabeth. She didnât respond to my texts or my calls. Elizabeth managed to just vanish into thin air. She managed to disappear o
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-19My Stepbrother   F I F T Y - N I N E
JAMES. "Hey, son. You alright?" Itâs Dadâs voice that brings me back to reality and I lock my phone before I turn to him. Heâs standing a foot away with his brows raised and hands in his pockets. I notice Mom is no longer in the kitchen before I say. "Yeah. Why wouldnât I be?" Dad smiles. "Right. Itâs just you had a look on your face" I glance at my phone before I hold his gaze again, my mouth twitching by the sides. My heart is still beating fast in my chest and the thought of letting him on crosses my mind. Not that heâd care about where his ex-wife is, butâĶ "Itâs Elizabeth." The words leave my parted lips before I can have further thoughts on it and one of his hands slips from his pocket as he closes the distance between us, curiosity lining his words. "What about her?" With a big smile on my face, I wave my phone in the air. "I found her. Sheâs in Los Angeles." I donât expect much of a reaction, but I definitely didnât think his face will fall from that news either. A frown for
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-20My Stepbrother   S I X T Y
ELIZABETH. Two months ago, I left San Francisco. Two months ago, I walked away from James and ended whatever we had going on between usâour unnamed relationship. Two months ago, I got my heart broken. And it wasnât just me. My mom did too. Kind of silly that we both got hurt by the father and the son. Two months ago, we moved back to Los Angeles, and itâd be a lie if I say it was just easy; that coming back home was exactly what we needed to get over what happened. It wasnât. Not immediately. At first, it was hard. Waking up each day knowing James wasnât next door hurt. But that wasnât the worst part. The worst part was getting his texts and calls, yet having to ignore each one. Even when my fingers were itching badly to reply to his texts. My ears to hear his voice and my heart to feel his presence, even if it meant through my phone. But I walked away from him so I couldnât go back. I just couldnât fall back into his arms. So every time I see his calls or his texts, I remember th
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-21My Stepbrother   S I X T Y - O N E
ELIZABETH. "Hey! You forgot this!" I halt just before I push the glass door and turn to see Jared walking towards me with a key in the air. "Oh, thank you. Skipped my mind." I smile at him as I take the key from him and throw it inside my bag. When I lift my head, I notice him staring strangely and I lift a brow. "Whatâs that look for?" He slips his hands into his pockets and put on an innocent smile. "What look?" "You know what look." I chuckle as I cross my arms over my chest and he tilts his head. Heâs gazing at me like he knows one of my secrets and before I can call him out on it, he opens his mouth. "So that guy. The one who was here earlier?" My heart skips a beat at his reference to James, and I drop my hands from my chest. "Yeah?" I hate that my tone is nervous and I canât tell if Jared catches it. "Had a history together?" He questions and I swallow. "Why would you ask? Did it look like we do?" "You were in the restroom together for almost an hour." He points out and I
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-22My Stepbrother   S I X T Y - T W O
ELIZABETH. Jared doesnât speak as he moves closer, and I watch as the smirk on his face gets bigger as his eyes lower down my face. When he doesnât shift his gaze from wherever itâs landed, my eyes follow and I gasp, immediately dropping my hands over my chest when I realize heâs staring at how my breasts are almost spilling from my bra. "Eye up, Vance!" I snap, and he chuckles as he meets my eyes. "Canât blame a guy for staring. Those are beautiful." His voice is loud so I can hear him from here and heat rises to my cheeks as I tighten my hands around my chest. "Shut up. What the hell are you doing here?" Jared has only been to my place once, and I didnât think heâd remember the route or even come back here. He steps forward again, and heâs almost near my window. The house is a single detached with one leveled ground and three bedrooms, so it makes it easier to access the windows. Like I said earlier, nothing luxurious. "Will you go out later tonight with me?" He drops the questio
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-22My Stepbrother   S I X T Y - T H R E E
ELIZABETH. "Hi!" Jared smiles as I open the door and I stammer, not expecting him to be the one at the other end. "Ohâhey. Hi. Youâre here. Again." He chuckles and I pull at the ends of the big shirt I have on before I press a hand to the doorframe. "What are you doing here?" I notice the bruises across his face and some dark spots, but before I can question on it, Jared speaks. "You werenât at work yesterday, so I thought you might want to hear this. It isnât exactly something I should say over the phone." He rambles and I lift a brow as I lean against the door with my arms crossed over my chest. "Whatâs it?" Jared sighs and removes his gaze from me for a few seconds. He hooks his fingers through his belt before he meets my eyes and says, "So this might get you mad, but that guy of yours was at work yesterday." I stare at him, confused for a second, before the words sink in and I drop my hands from my chest. "Oh, James?" He nods. "He wanted to see you." So he didnât go back to San
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2023-07-23
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My Stepbrother   Bonus Chapter - James + Elizabeth 02
ELIZABETH.âTWO MONTHS LATER.Miley is saying something about organizing a party for my birthday, but Iâm not paying attention as my gaze runs along the words on my screen, my left palm pressed to my cheek. As if sheâs right here with me and knows Iâm not listening, her voice booms through the speaker, "Elizabeth? Youâre not listening to me, are you?"I gaze at the phone on the desk, and the screen reads for fifteen minutes. I think I stopped paying attention around five minutes, but I still lie and say, "Of course I am.""What were my last words?""You were sayingâĶ" I trail off and thereâs silence on her side. "âĶ something about Darcy and a party.""Elizabeth!" I can imagine the frown on her face as she calls my name and I chuckle, finally grabbing the phone as I lean back in my chair. "Sorry, Iâm just busy with work. I really donât want a party, Mile.""Are you leaving for James?"I purse my lips, a small wave of sadness hitting me and my voice is small when I answer, "No. Heâs busy,
My Stepbrother   Bonus Chapter - James + Elizabeth
ELIZABETH.âFOUR YEARS LATER.Iâm nervous.My harsh breathing fills the tiny space of the car and I rub my palms together before I look out the window with my heart racing in my chest.Everything goes past me in a blur. Houses, shops and restaurants. And the closer the car gets me to him, the faster my heart pounds; so loud that I can no longer hear the words the driver is uttering to me.I donât know why Iâm this nervous.Actually, I do. I havenât seen him in almost a year. It shouldnât be any big deal since we speak occasionally over the phone; video calls, voice calls, texts. We tried to remain close in every way possible and although I had tried hard to convince myself those were more than enough; I knew they couldnât compare to seeing him with my naked eyes. Like Iâm about to do very soon.Iâve been counting down the days until Iâll stand before James and now that itâs come, I canât help the nervousness that spikes through me. Along with a tiny fear. I donât want it to be there, b
My Stepbrother   NOTE!
Hello loves,First, Iâd love to thank you all for being so patient with me on this book. Despite the long gap between the updates and my disappearance, you still waited patiently for James and Elizabethâs story and no words can describe how thankful I am to have you all. I wonât lie; I wasnât so sure Iâd be able to find the excitement I felt when I first started this book again because I was away from the characters for so long. But I did. I found the spark I had from the beginning and I enjoyed the time I spent writing this book. Thank you all so much for pushing me and forcing me outâthough some comments were harsh, I still appreciate them all haha.Now to my updating schedule.Itâs been a mess, hasnât it? I know thereâs been too much gap between my updates and you might not believe me when I say this, but I hate missing frequent/daily updates just as much as yâall do. It makes me less disciplined and incompetent when I donât write as much as I plan to and I especially hate disappoin
My Stepbrother   O N E H U N D R E D & E I G H T
ELIZABETH.~A MONTH LATER.We stayed in San Francisco for a week and only left after Lilyâs discharge. When we got back to Los Angeles, I could still tell everything that happened back there took a toll on James. Although he tried to hide it, tried to smile more; it was evident everything he learned from his parents had taken something from him and I was scared for a long time heâd never get that back.But he didâĶ or at least heâs trying.His eyes are no longer as dull as they seemed when we first arrived, and I can see the spark in them. Each of the smiles he throws at me now is genuine and he spends less time trying to hide the pain he feels. Heâs being himself againâheâs being my James, and heâs back to me.I havenât felt as at ease as I did six nights ago when he woke me up in the middle of the night and just laid his head on my chest as he cried in my arms. He poured out his pain to me one last time and since then, he can speak about his mom without looking like itâs the last thin
My Stepbrother   O N E H U N D R E D & S E V E N
ELIZABETH.James' brows crease at Gabrielâs words, and I squeeze my hand in his as my heart pounds in my chest."What? What are you talking about?" James asks and Gabriel shakes his head, a sad look in his eyes. "Iâm sorry, son. She left.""What do you mean, she left?" James' voice raises higher and Gabriel swallows, "I was justâshe was here when I arrived. She was asleep, and I just went to the reception to settle the bills and make some inquiries, but when I got back; she was gone. And your sister was crying. She said Zara left and said to not look for her."I feel my heart breaks in my chest for both of them and James' grip on my hand gets increasingly tighter till it starts to hurt but I donât pull away. He remains silent and just stares at the man before usâwho looks just as shaken by the revelation."Iâm so sorry, I didnâtâ""No." James voices out now and his tight grip starts to loosen. I hear him exhale before he says, "Itâs good she left, and like you said; she doesnât want t
My Stepbrother   O N E H U N D R E D & S I X
JAMES."I thought you left," Elizabeth sighs in my arms, her grip around me growing tighter and I smile as I finally drop a hand on her back, pressing her closer to me. "And where would I go, love?"She pulls back by a bit so she can look into my eyes and her lips push out as she speaks. "I donât know. I just thoughtâ""Thought Iâd run from you?" I finish for her and when she doesnât respond, I lean down to take her lips. Itâs meant to be just a soft reassuring peck, but Elizabeth moves her hands to my neck, deepening the kiss as her fingers play with the hair at the back of my head and I move a hand to her cheek, tilting her head back so I can plunge my tongue inside her mouth.She cups my neck with a palm, her fingers digging into the skin as she moans into the kiss and I move my free hand to the small of her back; I rest it on her ass as my tongue clashes against hers, heat spreading across my skin at the taste and feel of her.When I feel my pants tightening at the front, I start t
My Stepbrother   O N E H U N D R E D & F I V E
ELIZABETH.He doesnât stop sobbing as he clings onto me as though heâs afraid heâd drift away if he doesnât and with each loud cry that leaves his mouth, a piece of my heart breaks for him.I can feel the anguishing pain with each sound that leaves him, and his body shakes in my embrace. I let out a soft exhale as tears roll down my cheeks while I continue to slide a hand down his back, whispering soft promises Iâll do anything to keep. "Youâll be fine, baby. Youâre alright. Iâm here. Iâm here with you."We stay in the position for what feels like long and after a while, his sobs quiet down, but he doesnât move away from me, his breath hot on my neck and I swallow through the tightness of my throat. "Iâm always here with you."The sound of our breathing echoes through the corners of the room and James starts to pull back. He removes his arms from around me but I keep the one hand on the back of his neck as I lift my gaze to stare at him. His eyes are red as he holds my gaze, and I giv
My Stepbrother   O N E H U N D R E D & F O U R
ELIZABETH.I run after him with my heart breaking for him, but heâs just too fast. He dashes through corners quickly before I can even catch up to him, but I donât stop chasing after him, either.I know this must be too much for him, but I just want to be there for him. I want him to know someone hurts for him. But he doesnât wait for me to do either of those things.When I rush out the entrance door and stop only a few steps away with my heart pounding in my chest and my eyes scanning the corners, I donât see him.I donât see James.The car is here, but he isnât. He left. He ran without me.I push a hand through my hair before taking out my phone from the back pocket of the pants I have onâhis pants. My pulse is racing as I press the phone to my ear after dialing his number, and it rings. It rings and my purse vibrates, reminding me that he left his phone with me on our way here.God, James. Please. Please, just be alright. Donât do anything stupid and be fucking alright.Please.Drea
My Stepbrother   O N E H U N D R E D & T H R E E
JAMES.Everything else shatters around me as I stare at her with disbelief coursing through my veins, wanting more than anything for her to take back those wordsâto tell me this is some kind of sick joke.She doesnât.Instead, her tears fall even more as she proceeds to say, "Iâm so sorry, Gabriel. I didnât mean toâ" a sob breaks out, and she shuts her eyes tightly. When she opens them again, theyâre so red that itâs hard to act like she doesnât know what sheâs speaking about. She does. Oh God, she does."What are you saying, Zara?" Dadâs quiet voice comes, no doubt heâs as frightened as I am. "James is my son. Heâs always been. Heâs been from his birth, so why are youâ""He isnât." She insists, and I gulp down the bitterness thatâs quickly rising in my throat. My hand shakes in hers and I quickly let go, fisting my hands in the fabric of my pants to try to stop the trembling. "I cheated. Years back. I was married to you, but I was in love with someone else.""ZaraâĶ""Iâm sorry. I kno
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