Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed By My Ex’s Stepbrother: Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 170

The sound of tyres crunching on the gravel came from the quiet driveway as the Blackwood cars pulled up one after the other.High above the entrance, Tessa stood on the balcony outside her and Roman’s bedroom.She had been standing there for nearly twenty minutes, gripping the railing so tightly her fingers had begun to ache.Her eyes were fixed on the driveway. The first car door opened. Alec stepped out. Then Davin and the lawyer.In the second car, Nandini stepped out slowly, Lakshmi behind her, then Victor. Salima emerged last.Tessa leaned forward slightly, scanning the cars. Her heart began to pound. Roman didn’t get out.She waited. Another moment passed — still no Roman.Her stomach dropped. The front door opened downstairs and the family stepped inside.Tessa remained frozen on the balcony for a few seconds longer, staring at the empty driveway as the realisation slowly sank in.He wasn’t coming home — at least not today. Her chest tightened.Inside the house, the tension wa

Tessa walked slowly along the empty road, her arms wrapped around herself as if she could somehow hold the pieces of her heart together. Her steps were uneven, her heels scraping the pavement more than walking on it.Roman’s voice wouldn’t leave her head.“There is no “us.””Her throat tightened when she remembered.“Hate requires emotion. What I feel for you now… is nothing.”A sob escaped her before she could stop it.Her eyes were swollen, her vision blurred with tears she couldn’t seem to stop. She wiped at them with shaking hands, but more kept falling.“Before I come home, I want you out of my house.”Tessa stumbled slightly, gripping onto a streetlight. Her breathing came out in broken bursts as the memory of his cold eyes replayed again and again.She kept walking. She didn’t even know where she was going.Then a car pulled up slowly beside the road ahead of her, its headlights cutting through the darkness. The engine idled quietly.Tessa didn’t notice.The driver’s door sudd

“What? How’s this possible?” Eleanor asked, shocked. “What are you doing here?”Roman stood there — suit rumpled, jaw bruised, eyes blazing with quiet fury.His grip tightened around Eleanor’s wrist.“Let me go, you son of a bitch!” she growled, trying to pull free.“Don’t,” Roman said quietly.His voice was calm, but it carried a warning that made the room feel suddenly smaller.“Don’t you ever think you can lay a hand on my mother,” he continued, his eyes fixed on her. “Ever again.”For a moment, neither of them moved.Then Roman released her sharply.Eleanor jerked her arm back immediately, rubbing her wrist where his fingers had held it. Her eyes burned with fury as she stared at him.Salima still hadn’t moved.She stood there frozen, staring at Roman as if she wasn’t sure he was real.Roman turned to her.“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.Salima blinked, as if waking up from a dream.“Yes… I— I’m fine,” she said quickly. Her eyes scanned his face, lingering on the bruise on his

Roman pushed open the front door of Blackwood Mansion and stepped inside with Salima right behind him.For a moment, the house was unaware. Then Nandini looked up from the living room.Her eyes widened. “Roman!”She screamed his name and ran straight toward him, throwing her arms around him so hard he took a small step back.“Oh my God! You’re here!” she said, holding his shoulders and looking at his face like she needed to confirm it was real.“I’m here,” Roman said with a small breath.Alec appeared from the hallway, stopping abruptly when he saw him.For a second he just stared.“What the hell…” he muttered under his breath before walking over quickly and pulling Roman into a tight hug.“What happened?” Alec asked as he pulled back. “I thought they were transferring you.”Roman shrugged slightly.“They just told me I could go,” he said. “Apparently Eleanor’s lawyers backed down.”“Backed down? Why?” Roman shook his head. “I have no idea.”Alec frowned slightly but nodded. “Well… I

“What do you mean you’re going to divorce Tessa?” Alec asked, stepping back now. “I mean exactly what I said,” Roman replied. “I’m done with her and I’m done with this marriage.” “Roman you need to calm down,” Alec said softly. “You’re angry. And you have every right to be but this is Tessa.” “And so?” Roman said sharply. “It’s Tessa and so what?” “And so this is someone you clearly still love. You don’t want to do this.” Alec replied. Roman scoffed. “Then you obviously don’t know me. Just because I may still love her doesn't mean I’ll let her humiliate me the way she has.” He stood now, walked to the balcony window and stared outside. “She knew everything. What happened with Klara, how much everything just… destabilised me and she promised. She promised she would NEVER do the same. And look where we are.” Roman inhaled sharply. “I don’t give a fuck about how I feel about her. I’m done.” Alec stared at him for a long moment, searching his cousin’s face. “You’re ser