Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Stepbrother, My Ruin: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

I was there again. In the room, watching that woman fight with my mum. They were angry. The woman botched face could not even frown. Her frown deep as she pushed my mother against the shoulder. The atmosphere was filled with tension, their angry words shaking the house at twelve midnight. “You tried to poison me!” my mother’s voice wavered, but she stood her ground, her eyes wild with anger and something else. Sadness and desperation. Fear. The woman scoffed, arms folded across her chest. “You’re delusional.” “I know what I saw.” My mother’s hands clenched into fists. “You switched my medication. I almost died.” A slow smirk curled on the woman’s lips. “And yet, here you are. Pathetic.” I was just a child, standing frozen near the door, my tiny fingers gripping the edge of my dress. I didn’t understand everything, but I understood enough. I understood that my mother was in pain. I understood that this woman—this other woman—was the reason for it. “You ruined

I felt my throat tighten. "What?" Elara’s lips parted, but no words came out at first. Her eyes were wide, unfocused, as if she were reliving something. Something dark. I reached forward, gripping her wrist. "Elara, talk to me." She exhaled shakily. "Sienna told me everything." I didn’t move. I just waited. And then— "They did it before," she whispered. "Years ago. To another girl. This same nude issue." I felt my stomach twist. "Who?" She hesitated. Then, "Her name was Lillian Prescott." That name. It sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Elara swallowed. "She wasn’t rich. She was on a scholarship. Just like most people in Ravencrest. And one night, they picked her. Told her it was just a game. Just fun." Her voice cracked. "But it wasn’t. It never was." A lump formed in my throat. "What happened?" Elara looked down at her hands, curling them into fists. "She wanted to fit in and they broke her." Silence. I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. E

I noticed the conflict in Ryder’s expression.It was subtle, barely there, but I caught it—the way his jaw tightened, the way his fingers flexed against the counter like he was holding something back.His lips parted, then closed again.And then, finally, he exhaled. “Evie… there’s nothing you can do.”My stomach clenched. “What?”“There’s nothing I can do, either. Not the way you want or expect me to.”I shook my head. “You want to help, but you won’t?” My voice rose. “They—she—deserves to rot, Ryder.”His fingers pressed against the marble. “You think I don’t know that?”“Then why—"“Because, Evie, how do you expect me to bring Sienna down when her mother is a judge?” His tone was sharp now, frustration bleeding through. “Think about it. Even if you take this to court, her mother will make sure it doesn’t even see a trial.”I swallowed. “There has to be a way—”“If you want to do this,” he said, voice calmer now, but firm, dangerous, “you have to break her support first. And even th

“Ryder, come on, man. Some of us actually want to see the game. It’s almost 4 p.m.,” Nate called from the other side of the door.Ryder exhaled slowly, his patience hanging by a thread. His forehead dropped to mine, his breath hot against my skin, the frustration rolling off him in waves.He sighed. “He’s annoying me.”I bit back a smirk. "Just answer him." I whispered. With a final groan, he pulled away, just slightly, his fingers still brushing against my waist. “Wait here.”I nodded, watching as he walked out of the bathroom, I followed but didn't reveal myself. He ran a hand through his already-messy hair before unlocking it.The second the door cracked open, Nate’s annoyed expression slipped into curiosity, his gaze flickering over Ryder’s shoulder. “You alone?”Ryder leaned against the doorframe, blocking the view inside. “Yeah. I told you I’d watch later.”Nate arched a brow. “That’s funny, because I could’ve sworn I heard—”“Just go, man.” Ryder sighed, exasperated. “I want t

The room was quiet, filled only with the sound of our breathing.My body was completely spent, my limbs heavy, useless, relaxed.Ryder’s arms were still wrapped around me, his fingers drawing lazy circles on my skin, like he couldn’t stop touching me.I felt warm, safe, cherished.And that?I wished I didn't. I wish it was just fucking and no feelings, but his attitude towards me makes me wonder if he cares for me. Wants me to be his girlfriend, which is impossible, rather than his sex buddy. Does his heart skip a beat just like mine?Why do I keep on putting myself in such position?I gulped.I let my head rest against his chest, feeling the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest. His lips brushed against my temple, soft, gentle, tender in a way that made my chest tighten.“How do you feel?” he murmured, his voice low, rough, still thick with heat.I let out a breathless laugh. “Like I just had the life sucked out of me.”He chuckled, his chest vibrating beneath me. “You did.”I g