Roses For My Bully Step Brother

LianaFreedom is supposed to make you feel light. When the music thumped in the room and your classmates gave you a tight farewell hug, you should be heaving a sigh of relief. That was what everyone said. In fact, what the professors hinted at with indulgent smiles, and what my classmates toasted to with cheap champagne and their laughter echoing through the corridors of the art building. Freedom was meant to arrive the moment I zipped my portfolio case shut and turned in my studio key. Instead, it sat heavy in my chest like I just knew what life meant.I stood alone in my studio, my fingers resting on the scarred wooden table where I had spilled paint and tears over the last four years. The afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows, illuminating unfinished sketches pinned crookedly to the walls. Sketches of faces without names and cities unpainted. My name was already removed from the door. I folded my smock carefully."You did it," I told myself. "You survived."As I reached

Liana“Well, little Liana. Don't just stand there and look. Come hug your big brother.”I froze mid-step. The nickname was the one he had used to humiliate me and to remind me of how small I was.I lifted my head slowly, forcing my eyes to meet his.Liam Shedrach leaned against the wall now, his mouth twitched into that smirk I knew too well. The blood in my veins turned to ice."There is no need to cause a scene now," I began, keeping my voice low and controlled. But my pulse spiked, and I couldn’t stop the bitterness from spilling over.“Little Liana,” he repeated, louder this time, his eyes dancing with amusement. He had caught the attention of a few guests. “I have to say, you haven’t changed a bit.”"And what is it you see, Liam?”"Everything. You're just the same four-eyed Liana I always knew from high school. Pathetic and always trying to insert yourself into my life."That was it. Something snapped inside me. Seven years of humiliation, seven years of his laughter haunting me

LiamI remember everything. Like how the day had smelled like rain and the air smelled like tobacco when my father called to tell me he wanted to remarry. A decision I never expected after his divorce two decades ago. When he first told me, I thought she was just another gold digger looking for a way to bleed him dry."She is only after your money, dad!" I would constantly say.But he went ahead and organised the engagement party anyway. So I met her once, Triana Robert. And I knew instantly that her daughter was Liana Robert. The one I always bullied in high school.Hell no! I was going to stop this in any way that I could. Liana was a pathetic student back then, and I was more than certain she wouldn't be any different now. Just intimidate her and she will convince her mom to leave my family the hell alone.That was my plan. Until she walked into the Engagement party, looking like a goddess. Her hair was styled longer and silkier, framing her face in a way that made her lips look fu

Liana…I didn't say yes to Tim because I wanted to. I only said yes, because every time I tried to open up my mouth and refuse. My mother's eyes kept pleading with me not to ruin this.So here I was, standing in front of a mirror and fixing my hair for a job I didn't apply for. When I was done I went downstairs only to see that Liam was already waiting for me.He looked so good in his well tailored suit. Extremely handsome and it was kind of surprising to me because that was the first time I had seen him looking so responsible, just like how a grown-up man would look like.The white shirt underneath his suit was a little bit unbuttoned at the collar, and it was just enough for it to be distracting. He looked down at his wrist watch to check the time and for a moment I just stared hard at him, forgetting how to even breathe because he looked so damn handsome like a young bachelor coming straight out of a magazine cover.“Liam” I called out, clearing my throat but I didn't get any respo

Liana…I didn't expect him to still be there. The plate of food was still in my hands as the smell filled my nostrils, reminding me of how hungry I was but I still chose to be adamant and sulk in my anger.What if Liam hadn't come to me with my food, would I have starved myself for the whole night just because I was angry.? But that was enough reason.My back was pressed against the door. I had only slammed the door shut in his face, but I hadn't moved from that exact spot.I turned towards the door and I opened it. I stepped back, leaving the door half-open.“What are you still doing here?” “I wanted to apologize.” he said and I exhaled slowly.“You already did.”“I apologized for today.” he said. “Not everything else.”“You don't have to.” I answered back, staring straight into his eyes.“I actually do need to apologize to you. What I said at work was wrong. And the way I treated you back then_” he stopped, trying to put his words into the right sentence. “I was cruel.”The Liam wh