All Chapters of CRAVING MY BULLY STEPBROTHER : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Lucas The dean’s office smelled of polished wood and old books, I sat across from Dean Hargrove, the folder of evidence spread out on his desk like a verdict waiting to be delivered. All the evidence we'll need of Sienna’s confession, timestamps linking her to the edited videos and fake posts, literally everything was there. Isabelle waited outside with her father, still recovering but stronger now that the truth was surfacing. Dean Hargrove reviewed the materials in silence, his brow furrowing deeper with each page. Finally, he looked up, expression grave. “This is damning, Lucas. It goes far beyond typical student misconduct. I’m lifting the suspensions on both you and Isabelle effective immediately. Full reinstatement, no marks on your records. You’ve both been through enough.” Relief washed over me, but I kept my face steady. “And Sienna?” He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “She’s on thin ice, possible expulsion is on the table. I’ll be meeting with her a

Isabelle “Okay, let's do this,” The school gates stared back at me. A placed I had once feared would swallow me whole. I walked through them with Lucas’s hand in mine. His presence was a solid reminder that I wasn’t facing this alone. My heart hammered against my ribs, but it wasn’t the frantic terror of before. This was different. The suspension had been lifted, Sienna’s public confession had circulated widely, and Lucas’s video of apologies had shifted ever that even my scholarship had been returned. Still, stepping back onto campus felt like a test. Lucas squeezed my fingers, his proud stride matching mine. “You’ve got this,” he murmured, glancing down at me with that warm, unwavering look that had carried me through hospital nights.“And I’m right here.” I managed a small smile, adjusting the strap of my bag. The familiar pathways wound between buildings, lined with students hurrying to morning classes. A few heads turned immediately. Whispers followed, but they lack

IsabelleThe rumor rippled through the hallways before the first period even started. By lunch, it had solidified into confirmed fact that Sienna had been officially expelled. She had transferred to a private school hundreds of miles away, her parents pulling every string imaginable to erase her from our campus entirely.I overheard the news in the cafeteria line, whispered between two juniors who didn’t realize I was standing right behind them. “Did you hear? Sienna’s gone for good. Expelled and shipped off like yesterday’s trash,” one said, her voice laced with a mix of shock and glee. “Her dad must’ve paid a fortune, I guess board connections couldn’t save her this time.”The tray in my hands felt heavier, my knuckles whitening around the edges. Then something inside me loosened—a knot I hadn’t fully acknowledged until it began to unravel. Relief flooded in first, warm and dizzying, but it was chased by a sharp pang of grief. Not for Sienna, but for the version of myself that had

Isabelle “Lucas, wait up!” I called across the crowded hallway after last period, dodging a group of freshmen. My backpack felt heavier than usual today, packed with notes for my latest article on campus support groups.He turned, that easy grin lighting up his face as he adjusted his duffel bag slung over one shoulder. “Isabelle! There’s my favorite person. Practice ran late again, but I’m all yours now.”“Hey, you coming to the fundraiser tonight? The team’s raising money for new equipment, and I told the guys you’d be there. Bailey’s helping organize the whole thing, she’s got these killer ideas for the silent auction.”“Bailey?” I asked, keeping my tone light even as a small knot twisted in my stomach. “She is the new trainer, right? The one who’s been working with the team on recovery stuff?”“That’s her,” Lucas said enthusiastically. “She’s sharp, Isabelle. She knows exactly how to tape an ankle so it doesn’t buckle during games. She caught a couple issues with my form last we

Isabelle “If this is how you want it, then fine!” I screamed, breaking their contact. Lucas chased after me, pulling me by my arm.“Lucas, why does it feel like Bailey is always in the middle of everything lately?” I asked, my voice rising slightly as we stood near the school parking lot. “I saw you two talking closely again.”Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “Isabelle, you know it’s professional. Bailey’s dealing with a lot on her end too. Can we grab dinner tonight and actually talk instead of this back and forth?”“I wish we could,” I replied. “But I have that editing deadline, you have practice, it’s the same story. I believe you, but the time apart makes my old doubts scream louder.”He pulled me close for a moment. “I hate how this season is testing us. Bailey’s been a solid friend to the team, that’s all. Trust me, please, I love you, Isabelle Barrett, only you.”“I’m trying,” I whispered before watching him head to the field house. At the apartment, I threw clothes into a