เข้าสู่ระบบ✦ ❦ ✦ Kelvin Pov ✦ ❦ ✦The day my father married Helen's mom, I knew I was fucked.She walked into this house like she owned it—rolling her eyes at everything, annoyed at me specifically, like my existence was somehow a personal insult. I remember thinking she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and also the most infuriating thing.I have been living under the same roof as Helen for two years, and I've been good. I have been the perfect son, perfect stepbrother, the guy who never steps out of line. Not because I'm actually that nice. But because Helen seemed completely unreachable. Cold. Like she would rather die than give me the time of day. So I waited.This morning though, something changed.I was leaving for school when she was in the sitting room, just scrolling through her phone. I greeted her—normal, casual—and when she looked up at me, she stammered. Her words got all tangled up, and she couldn't even make eye contact.That was new. I didn't say anything. Just smile
✦ ❦ ✦Helen Pov✦ ❦ ✦6:50pm. I was still in my room, standing in front of the mirror in a dress that was definitely too much for a birthday party and absolutely perfect for what I needed to do tonight.The goal was simple: look hot enough that nobody would question why I showed up with my stepbrother. Make it seem intentional. Make it seem like I had my shit together.I was touching up my lipstick when I heard a knock on my door."Helen? We should probably leave soon if we want to—"I opened the door before he could finish, and there was Kelvin. Just standing there in casual jeans and a white fitted t-shirt that made his chest look like something out of an ad I definitely should not be noticing.Fuck. "Are you ready?" he asked, and there was something different about him. Not the usual apologetic energy. More like he was actually expecting me to be done."Yeah, let's go."He drove. Of course he did. And he opened the car door for me like we were in some romantic comedy, which imm
✦ ❦ ✦Helen Pov✦ ❦ ✦Saturday morning. The one day I actually planned to sleep past noon, and my mother decided it was the perfect time for a lecture."Helen, I really think you need to be nicer to Kelvin. He's your brother now, and—""He's my stepbrother," I cut her off, pulling the blanket over my head. "And he's two years older than me, so why am I the one who needs to be the mature one?"My mom sat on the edge of my bed, doing that thing where she tries to look hurt and understanding at the same time. It doesn't work on me anymore."Kelvin has always been nothing but kind to you. I just don't want you upsetting your stepfather. Holland has been very good to us, and I wouldn't want—""Holland doesn't give a shit about me, Mom. Let's not pretend he does." I finally looked at her. "And if you want someone to lecture, try lecturing your husband about being an actual stepfather. Or his son about being an actual stepbrother. But leave me alone."She opened her mouth like she had m
✦ ❦ ✦ Helen Pov ✦ ❦ ✦"Hey, can you stop flexing your chest all around the house? It's fucking disgusting. I'm sure you think you look cool, but sorry—you just look ridiculous."The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Kelvin stood in the doorway of the living room, fresh from the gym, still in his tank top with sweat glistening down his arms. He just looked at me, that soft expression on his face making it worse.He's nothing but a sweet soul. That's the problem.Yeah, he's got muscles that make you lose your mind a little. Yeah, his face is unfairly handsome in a way that pisses me off. But it's the niceness that gets me. That gentle, apologetic thing he does with everything. People like that are fake as hell—hiding behind all that "good guy" bullshit."I'm sorry, Helen. I never meant to bother you."His voice was so low, so fucking innocent I wanted to scream.I'd done everything to get him to snap at me. To yell. To show some edge. But Kelvin just apologizes and takes
My fingers hovered over the silver wristband like it might burn me. The blood was still wet and fresh. The smell hit the back of my throat and I swallowed hard, trying not to freak out.Stay calm, Eloise. You’re not some delicate rich girl who screams at the sight of blood. Pull yourself together.But this wasn’t just blood, this was Valentina’s. The same girl who’d been holding hands with Eric just minutes ago, laughing under the string lights like the world wasn’t a toxic cesspool.I straightened up fast, heart slamming against my ribs. The garden suddenly felt too dark, too quiet. The distant thump of music from the prom hall felt mocking now, like the party was still celebrating while something terrible had just happened. I needed to get back inside. Tell someone. The principal, anybody.My mind was already spinning through every detail I’d noticed that night. Valentina’s red dress. The way Eric’s hand had rested possessively on her lower back as they slipped out the side door. Th
✦ ❦ ✦ Helen Pov ✦ ❦ ✦Breakfast was so much more weird than usual. Kelvin was already at the table when I came down, eating cereal like it was the most interesting thing in the world. He didn't look up when I walked in. Didn't acknowledge me at all. Just kept his eyes on his bowl like I was invisible.I grabbed a plate and sat across from him like I always did, trying to act normal even though my stomach was doing backflips. We'd almost gotten caught three days ago of course I understand that he was just being careful."Hey," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "Can I ride with you to school? I don't really feel like taking the bus today."He took a spoonful of cereal. Chewed and swallowed. Finally looked at me, and there was absolutely nothing in his expression except just... blank."Nah, I'm good," he said, standing up and taking his bowl to the sink.That was it. No explanation. No maybe next time. Just a flat rejection and him rinsing his bowl like I hadn't even asked.I watched hi
The mansion gardens had been transformed without becoming unrecognizable.Simple white flowers hung from strings between trees. Chairs arranged in two sections facing a stone arch. No stage, no grand performance space. Just a place where two people could stand and say things they actually meant.Se
Selena didn't sleep. She lay in the dark listening to the mansion settle—pipes shifting, the distant hum of the AC, the weight of what happened on the terrace pressing down on her like something physical. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt it: the heat of his mouth on hers. The way he'd tilted
Selena's mother was in the private room at Royal Crest Hospital, looking stronger than she had in weeks. The upgrade had already happened. The surgery was already scheduled for tomorrow. Selena sat beside her mother's bed, smoothing down the expensive blanket, not quite ready to explain where the
The smell of disinfectant and despair clung to everything in the hospital corridor. Selena Jesus sat on the cold plastic chair, elbows digging into her thighs, staring at the faded white floor tiles like they held answers. “The cancer has spread to her liver,” Dr. Patel said gently. “Without surg







