All Chapters of My Stepbrother's Secret Obsession : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

✦ 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓 ✦The house was completely quiet when I went downstairs.Xavier was already gone for work. The only sign he’d been in the kitchen at all was a small folded piece of paper resting on the counter next to the coffee maker.I picked it up and opened it.Stop doubting yourself.You already know the answers.—XI read it twice.Six words. That was all he'd left behind.No apology for last night. No explanation for the way my heart had hammered against his chest. Just quiet confidence.Somehow... it steadied me more than a dozen speeches ever could. I folded the paper, slipped it deep into my pocket, and left for campus.The main economics auditorium was warm and crowded by noon.All six fellowship candidates sat at a long table facing Professor Vance, three guest teachers, and two visiting board members. The room was tense, the only sound coming from pens scratching against paper.Tristan sat two chairs down from me, sitting up straight with a confident smirk on his

✦ 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓 ✦Breakfast was unusually quiet.The only sounds were cutlery against porcelain and the steady rain tapping against the kitchen windows. Richard glanced at his phone twice before finally setting it beside his coffee cup."Everyone needs to be ready by seven sharp tonight," Richard said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "The Cole Enterprises charity gala was moved up to this evening. It's short notice, but the media coverage will be massive."Mom smiled, leaning over to adjust his napkin. "It's wonderful, Richard. The boys will be there."I stopped buttering my toast and looked up. "Tonight? I have a group study session for the fellowship.""Reschedule it," Richard said in his strict, non-negotiable tone. "The whole family needs to be seen together. University officials, board members, and journalists are attending. I won't have an empty chair at our table."Across the table, Xavier hadn't said a word. He sat in his crisp white shirt, calmly cutting his f

✨Julian✨I woke up with my heart pounding against my ribs, lying wide awake in the dark. For a second, I thought it was just a bad dream. But then I touched my mouth. My lips still felt hot, swollen, and stinging from the night before.A sudden, dizzy rush of heat went straight to my chest, followed immediately by a heavy, sick drop of guilt.I sat up fast, threw my legs over the side of the bed, and walked straight into the bathroom. I stared at my own reflection in the mirror. The dark shadows under my eyes were real. The nervous sweat on my skin was real.I kissed my stepbrother.The thought hit me like a physical blow. My hands shook as I turned on the cold tap and splashed water over my face, trying to wash away the memory of how his hands had felt on me, how his mouth had tasted in the dark. It didn't work.Downstairs, the house felt quiet in a way that made my skin crawl. Everyone was sitting at the dining table. Richard sat at the end, staring down at his tablet. Elena was pou

✦ 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐓 ✦The drive back was completely silent.Xavier kept one hand on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. But as he merged onto the main road, his other hand reached across the center console and rested flat against my thigh.His palm was heavy and burning hot through the denim of my jeans.My breath caught in my throat, my entire body going still. He didn't squeeze or say a word, but the casual weight of his hand on my leg sent a wave of heat rushing straight through my stomach. The heavy, dark mood from this morning was completely gone. The air between us was still warm and intense, but it felt softer now reassured.I sat in the passenger seat, resting my chin on my other hand as I looked out the window, every nerve ending in my body hyper-aware of his thumb slowly brushing back and forth over my knee. Every few seconds, I couldn't stop myself from sneaking a look at him—his sharp jaw, his messy hair, the calm way he drove with one hand.I thought

Julian The clock on the lecture hall wall hit exactly four o'clock.I practically scrambled to pack my notebook and pens into my bag. My professor was still wrapping up his final thoughts on the whiteboard, but my mind had left the classroom twenty minutes ago. My heart was already pounding against my ribs in anticipation.I hurried out the side doors, keeping my head down as I cut behind the humanities building.The back parking lot was quiet, surrounded by tall oak trees that blocked the view from the main campus path. Parked under the shade of a large branch was Xavier's sleek dark sedan, its engine idling silently.I looked around to make sure nobody was watching, then opened the passenger door and slipped inside.The moment the heavy door shut, the noise of the outside world vanished.Xavier was sitting in the driver's seat, his jacket off, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked over at me, his dark grey eyes trailing over my face before settling on my lips."You're righ