All Chapters of Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

20 Chapters

Chapter 11 – His World

POV: ElenaBy Wednesday afternoon, I had successfully avoided Jace for almost two days.It wasn't simple. Living under the same roof made avoidance nearly impossible, but I had managed it by leaving for class early, staying on campus late, and taking advantage of the fact that basketball seemed to consume most of his spare time. The arrangement wasn't perfect, but it gave me enough distance to avoid thinking about the ring on my finger and the mess my life had become.Unfortunately, the moment I stepped through the front door that evening, I knew my luck had run out.Richard was sitting in the living room with a tablet balanced on his knee and the same expression he always wore when he was about to interfere in somebody else's business. My mother sat beside him with a cup of tea in her hands, looking far too innocent for someone clearly involved in whatever conversation was waiting for me."Perfect timing," Richard said.I immediately became suspicious. Dropping my backpack onto a nea

Chapter 12 – Close Enough to Touch

POV: ElenaBy Thursday morning, I had become campus property.That was the only explanation for the number of people who suddenly seemed invested in my life. Everywhere I went, someone was staring. Some students looked curious, others judgemental, and a few openly jealous. The worst ones were the people who smiled politely when I was nearby and immediately started whispering the moment they thought I was out of earshot.The attention followed me from one class to another. By the time I reached my literature lecture, my phone had already accumulated several messages from people I barely knew asking if the engagement was real. Apparently, becoming Jace Calloway's fiancée had transformed me into a public discussion topic overnight.I ignored every message.Unfortunately, the internet wasn't interested in being ignored. A notification from one of the campus gossip pages appeared at the top of my screen while I waited for class to begin.HALDEN'S GOLDEN BOY FINALLY OFF THE MARKET?I immedi

Chapter 13 – Uninvited Thoughts

POV: ElenaThe strange thing about Jace's reaction to Aiden was that he never mentioned it again.Not during the drive home after lunch. Not during dinner. Not even later that evening when we accidentally crossed paths in the kitchen while looking for something to eat. He acted as though the conversation outside the library had never happened, which should have been a relief.Instead, it irritated me.The entire situation was ridiculous. Jace had no right to care who I spent time with. Our engagement wasn't real, our relationship wasn't real, and the ring on my finger existed because he had blackmailed me into wearing it. Yet somehow, his reaction kept replaying in my head. Every time I remembered the way his jaw had tightened when I mentioned Aiden, I found myself smiling.I hated that.The next morning, I arrived on campus determined to focus on normal things. I had classes to attend, assignments to finish, and a project presentation approaching faster than I would have liked. For o

Chapter 14 – Appearances

POV: ElenaBy Saturday evening, I was standing in front of my bedroom mirror wondering whether it was possible to fake my death and escape a charity fundraiser.Unfortunately, the answer was probably no.A garment bag lay open across my bed, revealing the pale blue dress Richard had insisted was "perfect for the occasion." He claimed that university donors, local business owners, athletic sponsors, and several influential families connected to the school would attend tonight's event.According to me, it sounded like hell.I smoothed my hands over the fabric and sighed. The worst part wasn't even the event itself. It was the fact that I had to attend it with Jace.A knock sounded against my bedroom door before it opened. My mother stepped inside. For a moment, her expression softened when she saw me. "You look beautiful," I said, smiling faintly. "You have to say that.” “You're my mother." "I'm also right."She crossed the room and adjusted a loose strand of hair near my shoulder. The

Chapter 15 – The First Shot

POV: ElenaI should have known Camille wasn't the type of person who made threats she didn't intend to follow through on.The problem was that part of me had hoped she was all talk.After the fundraiser, life settled into something that almost resembled normal. Classes continued. Jace buried himself in basketball. Richard remained obsessed with public appearances. For three whole days, nothing exploded.Then Thursday arrived. I was walking across campus after my morning lecture when my phone started vibrating nonstop inside my bag.At first, I ignored it. By the fifth notification, I stopped walking.Something was wrong.Pulling out my phone, I found more than twenty unread messages waiting for me. Most were from classmates. A few were from people I barely knew. One was from my mother. The knot in my stomach tightened.A message from Lila sat at the top of the screen.Call me. Right now.Before I could even process what was happening, my phone rang.Lila.I answered immediately. "What

Chapter 16 – Everyone Has an Opinion

POV: ElenaBy lunchtime, I wanted to disappear.The problem was that disappearing had become impossible.Everywhere I went, people stared. Some weren't even trying to hide it anymore. Conversations lowered when I walked past. Phones appeared in their hands. Groups of students glanced in my direction before immediately pretending they hadn't. It felt as though the entire campus had collectively decided that my humiliation was the most captivating thing happening at Halden University.The photos had spread faster than I thought possible. Apparently, the internet had decided that my entire personality could be summarised by a few awkward pictures from middle school. I should have stayed off social media, but curiosity got the better of me. When I checked again, the comments were somehow even worse.Some people thought the whole thing was romantic. Others thought it was pathetic. One account had created a side-by-side collage comparing a twelve-year-old photo of me looking in Jace's direc

Chapter 17 – Cameras Never Blink

By the next morning, the paper bag Jace had given me sat empty on my desk, but the knot in my stomach hadn't gone anywhere.I had slept badly, waking every couple of hours only to remember the photos, the comments, and the way people had looked at me on campus. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw strangers laughing at a younger version of myself—a lonely little girl who had once believed the boy she admired might someday notice her.Now the entire university knew she had.My phone buzzed just as I finished tying my hair into a low ponytail.Jace: Be downstairs in fifteen minutes.I frowned and typed back.Why?His reply came almost instantly.Media Day. Richard already told the athletic department you're coming.I stared at the screen in disbelief.Without asking me.Again.A second message appeared.Wear something elegant. Cameras will be there.I tossed my phone onto the bed with more force than necessary."Unbelievable."Breakfast was unusually quiet. Richard sat at the head of the d

Chapter 18 – Someone Is Watching

POV: ElenaFor a long moment, neither of us spoke.The photograph rested between Jace's fingers, but it no longer looked like ordinary paper. It looked like a threat.The image had been taken from outside the Calloway house. I recognized the sitting room immediately—the grand piano near the window, the marble fireplace, and the navy curtains Richard insisted had been imported from Italy. Jace and I were standing in the background, arguing about something I couldn't even remember anymore.Whoever had taken the picture hadn't been standing close. They had been watching us from a distance."They followed us," I whispered. Jace's jaw tightened. "No. I looked at him. "They were already there."Before I could ask what he meant, Sandra glanced between us with growing concern. "Is something wrong?" Jace folded the photograph so quickly that she couldn't see it. "No." His voice was calm. Too calm. "We'll be there in a minute." Sandra hesitated before nodding and disappearing down the hallway.

Chapter 19 – Behind Closed Doors

POV: ElenaFor a moment, I simply stared at the bedroom door.Richard's voice was calm, almost casual, but it immediately put me on edge. Jace had told me to lock the door and wait for him. Instead, his father was standing outside my room asking me to come downstairs.I hesitated before unlocking the door.Richard stood in the hallway with both hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored trousers. Even at this late hour, he looked perfectly composed, as though expensive suits were simply another layer of skin. His expression revealed nothing."I hope I didn't startle you," he said. "You did." A faint smile crossed his face. "I suppose that's fair." He turned without another word, clearly expecting me to follow. Curiosity got the better of me.When we reached the study, he closed the door behind us and walked towards his desk. The room smelled faintly of leather and old books, the shelves lined with awards, framed photographs, and business trophies collected over decades.Richard pic

Chapter 20 – A Gift No One Wanted

POV: ElenaThe message lingered on Jace's phone long after he lowered it.Answer your front door. I left you a little gift.A cold feeling settled in my stomach. The text wasn't dramatic or threatening, which somehow made it even worse. Whoever had sent it was confident enough to know we'd open the door. They wanted us to find whatever had been left outside, and they wanted us to know it was intentional.Jace slipped his phone into his pocket and headed for the staircase."Stay upstairs." "I'm coming with you." His shoulders stiffened. "Elena, this could be dangerous." "So I could stand here wondering what's in that box." He opened his mouth to argue, but before either of us could say another word, Richard stepped out of his study. One look at Jace's face told him something was wrong."What happened?"Jace handed him the phone without a word.Richard read the message carefully, his expression revealing almost nothing. He looked toward the front entrance before pressing a button on the

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