Todos os capítulos de Bound by Sin: My Stepbrother’s Obsession: Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 20

SageThe moment I stepped into the ballroom, I knew I had made a mistake coming. I did not even want to be here, but my mother had insisted I make an appearance and so I did. It wasn’t the size of the room though it was massive, ceilings soaring so high they felt like they were meant to humble you. It wasn’t the glittering chandeliers or the polished marble floors reflecting light like water.It was the way the room noticed me.I felt it before I saw it. Conversations stuttering. Laughter hitching. Eyes turning, lingering longer than they should. I had walked into spaces before bars, parties, crowded streets but this was different. This wasn’t curiosity. This was assessment.I suddenly became aware of everything. The way the red dress clung to my waist. The way the fabric moved when I walked. The bare skin at my shoulders, my collarbone exposed beneath the soft glow of golden light.I swallowed and forced myself to keep walking.Mom’s hand rested lightly on my arm, guiding me forward

SageI don’t move for a long time after Ella walks away.I just stand there, frozen, staring at the space she occupied like if I look hard enough, I might find the pieces of myself she shattered scattered on the ground. The night air feels colder now, sharper, biting through the thin fabric of my dress and straight into my bones.My chest aches.Not the dramatic kind of ache that begs for attention, but a deep, hollow one like something vital has been scooped out and left empty.I wrap my arms around myself and finally let the tears fall.They come quietly at first, slipping down my cheeks without sound. I wipe at them angrily, embarrassed even though no one is here to see me. I don’t want to cry. I hate crying. It makes everything feel real in a way I’m not ready for.Ella’s words replay in my head, relentless.Pathetic, Abomination, Pretending to be innocent.My throat tightens as a sob finally breaks free.I never wanted this. I never wanted to move here, I hates it here, I had no

AndreThe road narrowed, winding along the cliffside, and I kept my hands steady on the wheel despite the pull in my chest. The city lights faded behind us, replaced by darkness that felt almost sacred. Sage sat silently beside me, her arms folded around the dress bag, eyes fixed on the window. I could feel her tension radiating off her, quiet, tight, unrelenting.When I finally pulled the car over onto the dirt shoulder, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to. She knew we weren’t home, knew something was different. I killed the engine, and the world fell into silence, a wide, open, impossible silence that stretched out over the ocean, the cliffs, the distant horizon.I opened my door first, the cool night air rushing in, carrying the faint salt of the sea and the soft bite of wind off the cliff. She followed without hesitation. No words, no protests, just a small nod, her bare arms brushing the jacket I had draped over my own shoulders. I stepped closer to the edge, feeling the sol

SageThe moment we stepped out of the car, the weight of the night hit me all over again. My heels clicked against the driveway, and I had to catch myself against the car to steady my legs. My chest was still hammering, my mind replaying every inch of the cliff, the kiss, the silence on the ride back. I wanted nothing more than to collapse, to retreat, to vanish into my room and pretend none of it had happened.But the universe apparently had other plans.Andre’s father, Warren, was standing near the front door, arms crossed and jaw tight. The second he laid eyes on us, his expression twisted, a storm breaking. “Andre!” His voice boomed, carrying authority and a sharp edge that made my stomach flip. “What the hell is going on? Where have you been?”I froze beside Andre, feeling the tension radiate off him. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch, didn’t even glance at his father. His hands were tucked into his pockets, shoulders squared, jaw tight. He was like a statue, unshakable, unreadable,

SageSleep eluded me that night. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind a wild, spinning carousel of thoughts, images, and memories. Andre’s coldness from earlier in the evening played over and over in my mind, his clipped words, his nods, the way he had mentioned Ella’s name like it was a blade sliding across my chest.I tossed and turned, pulling the covers tight around me as if the fabric could shield me from the ache inside. My chest felt heavy, my stomach churned, and my hands trembled as I scrolled aimlessly through my phone.Social media became my only tether to him. Every post, every story, every minor update from his accounts I checked obsessively, as if watching him from a distance could give me some measure of control, some small comfort.Hours passed. My eyes stung from lack of sleep, my body exhausted, yet I couldn’t stop. Each refresh brought a mix of hope and dread. Maybe he’d post something about the night. Maybe he’d say something, anything that reminded me tha