All Chapters of Broke Up... Now I Am His Stepfather: Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Derek and Jaden came out of the water bare-chested, board shorts clinging to their hips as they crossed the sand. They headed straight for the umbrella where Will and Caleb lay on their towels, shaded from the noon sun.Derek dropped down beside Will, still damp, his skin cooling as he settled onto the towel.Jaden lay next to Caleb on his own towel, close enough that their shoulders touched as the surf murmured behind them. Derek and Jaden stretched under the umbrella, letting the warm sun filter through around them as their towels warmed under their bodies.Derek shifted closer to Will, nudging him lightly. “I’m kind of bored,” he said, eyes glinting with mischief.Will glanced at him, lips quirking. “Singles are just… unpredictable.”Derek laughed softly, leaning a little on Will’s shoulder. “Oh, is that what they call it now?”The others laughed along, the sound mingling with the rolling surf. Jaden stretched next to Caleb, their shoulders brushing casually, neither moving away, b

Naomi’s eyes shifted sharply, landing on the photos lining the wall. She approached them deliberately, her gaze flickering over the images one by one. The first showed Elizabeth’s parent alone, a smile gentle and warm. The second captured Elizabeth with them, laughter bright and unselfconscious. The third showed Elizabeth as a baby, her round cheeks and wide eyes full of innocence, with her twin sister beside her. The fourth showed Elizabeth twin sister, pressing a kiss to her cheek with tenderness. The fifth held Elizabeth cradled by a striking, handsome young man, his arms around her waist, their smiles wide and unguarded.A sudden sound from the hallway snapped Naomi’s attention, her eyes narrowing, body turning toward the noise with cautious purpose. She followed it into a room where Elizabeth stood facing the window, clutching an enlarged photograph, her posture tense but hesitant.Naomi paused midway, voice catching as she called softly, “Elizabeth…”“I thought you would never c

✦A YEAR AGO✦Emily’s hands shook as she tore open the envelope, the paper creasing beneath her fingers. She stepped into the living room as she unfolded it, her eyes scanning the page before freezing on the words confirming Vivian’s pregnancy. The room seemed to tilt. Her breath caught, her steps slowing, the paper trembling as the truth settled into her chest.Her fingers clenched around it. “How could you?” she whispered, her voice breaking, anger and disbelief folding into each other until neither could stand alone.Jonathan appeared in the doorway and stopped when he saw her. “My love,” he said softly.Emily struck the envelope into his chest. He caught it instinctively, holding it there as he looked down, confusion crossing his face. He opened it, his eyes moving quickly over the page, then back to her. The color drained from his face.“Emily…” His voice shook as he stepped toward her, his hand lifting, stopping short. “Please. I can explain.”“From Vivian,” she said, tears spill

✦TWO DAYS LATER✦◈JONATHAN SINCLAIR'S HOUSE◈“You think you can keep him under your control forever?” Asher said calmly, each word deliberate and heavy. "After killing his parents."Vivian laughed, brittle and forced. “You think you can just take him? He is not yours. I'm his stepmom.”Asher stepped closer, his presence filling the space. “You should be thankful you are still breathing.”“I am not afraid of you,” Vivian said, her voice steady and unwavering.“You should be,” Asher said lethally, stepping back to leave room for the authorities. “Your time here is over.”Vivian’s breath hitched as she noticed uniformed men walking toward her, their eyes locked on her with unflinching authority.******◈MICHAEL' S MOM HOUSE◈Michael entered the house, the silence pressing against his ears, broken only by soft moans that drifted from the bedroom. He froze, heart thudding, each step slow as he got to the door. He reached for the handle, his fingers brushing the cold metal, and pushed the d

“I swear, baby,” Derek said quickly, voice breaking as he took a cautious step and then froze. “I love you, with all of...” “Don’t you dare,” Matilda cut in, rage vibrating through every word as her finger tightened against the trigger guard. “Really?” she continued, her eyes flickering away for a split second before snapping back to him. “Because of you, I haven’t spoken to my son for days. All of it, all I endured, because I thought I found love.” She swallowed, her chest rising sharply. “You will leave this moment, and I don’t ever want to see you again.” Derek nodded quickly, relief flashing across his face as he stepped back. “Okay. Okay.” “Or maybe no,” Matilda said, her voice hardening as her grip steadied. “No more with your trophy lines.” The gun fired, sharp and final, and Derek shuddered once before folding to the floor. Blood spread beneath him, darkening the ground as the room fell into a stunned quiet. Matilda dropped to her knees beside him, the gun slippin