Stella’s P.O.V.What’s happening in my life? First, my boyfriend and best friend betrayed me, and then my stepbrother kissed me. But why didn’t I push him away? Why did I let him kiss me? How could I have pushed him away when it wasn’t just a kiss? It felt like he was taking away all my pain and insecurities.As soon as his lips met mine, he took me to another world. A world where there was no pain or betrayal—just the two of us.Damn! I wanted him to keep kissing me because, for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel any pain.Seriously, that fucking Jade never made me feel the way Alex did with just one kiss. It was a soul-soothing kiss. It’s pretty shocking how easily he made the pain disappear.But it’s so wrong. Alex is my stepbrother.God! My mind is such a mess.Thank God Mom called at the right moment before we could cross more lines.We both stayed silent the entire way home. When we reached, Alex went straight to his room, and I told Mom I was fine before
Stella’s P.O.V.I stand outside Alex’s room, drenched and trembling, can’t able to hold myself together. The tears won’t stop, and my heart feels like it’s being crushed under all the pain. I can’t take this. I just want relief, even if it’s crossing all the boundaries with my stepbrother.“Alex, I want relief from this pain. Please, make me feel desirable.” I plead in a shaky voice as fresh tears roll down my cheeks. I’ve never felt this broken before, so desperate for someone to pull me out of this hell.He looks at me with concern and hesitation. He doesn’t move and doesn’t say a word at first, but I can see the conflict in his expression.“Stella…” He steps closer, his hand brushing against my arm, but then he pulls back. “You need to come inside and get warm. You’re drenched.”I shake my head, clutching his shirt, desperate for relief. Deep down, I know I’m making a mistake, but I crave his touch and long for him to soothe my pain and make me forget everything.“No, I don’t care
Stella’s P.O.V. I’m completely lost in the way Alex is making me feel, but suddenly, reality hits me.What am I doing? He’s my stepbrother. In my desperation to find relief, I let him—I can’t even say that. It’s so wrong. First, I let him kiss me and now this. Oh, God! How could I let this happen?I wasn’t in my right mind, but Alex was. He could’ve stopped me.I push him away with all the strength I can muster. My hands shake as I sit up and pull the covers around my body.“Stella…” He looks at me, his eyes filled with worry.Tears well up in my eyes again. “No, Alex… I can’t do this. You’re my stepbrother.”“Stella, please…” he tries to touch me, but I stand up, shaking my head furiously and clutching the bed sheet. “You shouldn’t have done this.” I hurriedly wear his t-shirt, shedding tears. “You should’ve stopped me. You shouldn’t have let this happen.”I see the hurt flash in his eyes, but I can’t focus on that right now. All I can think about is escaping, getting away from h
Stella’s P.O.V. I enter the classroom, fidgeting with the strap of my bag, my mind wandering about the thoughts of Jade. It’s like I’m just physically present here, but my mind is somewhere else.As Zoe and Selena glance at me, I force myself to smile, walking over to them. I never thought that one day it would get so hard for me to even smile. As I settle down with them, Selena asks, “You alright?”I remain silent, staring blankly at the desk. How can I lie to them that I’m fine when I’m anything but? I’m completely shattered. And last night, in desperation to feel better, I was willing to cross all boundaries with my stepbrother. What would they think of me?“You were supposed to return two days after the trip. Right?” Zoe asks, placing her hand on my shoulder. As she talks about the trip, tears well up in my eyes. The trip, which I thought was going to be the best, became a nightmare. The image of Jade lying with Leah on the bed flashes in my mind, and my lower lip quivers as t
Alex’s P.O.V. I pull up to the abandoned warehouse. The place looks rundown, the perfect setting for what’s about to go down. I just can’t wait to make those two fucking people suffer who caused Stella so much pain.Every time I close my eyes, her crying face flashes before me, and it shatters my heart. I wish I could take away all her pain.I climb out of the car and head to the entrance, where I meet one of Gabriel’s men.“They’re inside,” he informs me. “Tied up, just like you requested.”I give him a curt nod and follow him through the corridor. I can hear the faint muffled voices of Jade and Leah.When we reach the room, I see them bound to chairs, their faces pale and drenched with sweat. They’re struggling against the ropes, shouting and screaming at the men who brought them here. The sight of them like this brings a satisfying smile to my face. This is just the beginning. I’ll make them pay for every single tear Stella has shed because of them. They’ll beg me for mercy, but
Stella’s P.O.V.The music pounds around me, and Selena and Zoe are dancing, trying to pull me into the moment, but I can’t.It’s been a week since I caught my boyfriend cheating on me, and since then, I’ve been trying hard to move on, but nothing is helping me out. I’m also trying to keep my distance from Alex as much as possible because I know that if I talk to him, I’ll end up begging him again to make me feel better.I’m yearning for the way Alex made me forget all my pain like magic that night, but I just can’t let him do that again. It’s so wrong.Seated on the corner seat, I sip the drink in my hand, but the alcohol does little to numb the pain. It’s like I’m trapped in my mind, no matter how much I try to distract myself.I watch as people laugh, drink, and let loose, wishing I could do the same. But all I can think about is the betrayal, the image of Jade and Leah haunting me.Selena comes back to the table. “Stella, try to let it go. Come and try to dance.”“I’m not really fe
Stella’s P.O.V.“Stand in front of the mirror and take off your clothes, Stella.” He orders in a husky voice, his intense gaze making me weak on my knees.Jade never looked at me like this—with so much desire, so much intensity. It’s like Alex’s gaze is devouring me, stripping away all the pain with each passing second. I feel the wetness between my legs just from the way he’s looking at me.“Do it, Flower.” He commands again, pulling me back to the earth.I obey, stepping in front of the full-length mirror that takes up one wall of his room. My reflection stares back at me, and I wonder. Am I really worthy of this? Of him?‘I’m bored with you. Your body doesn’t even turn me on anymore. No curves, no excitement. You’re not a desirable woman. You never satisfied me.’ As Jade’s cruel words ring in my ears, my eyes well up with tears.Don’t cry, Stella. Just don’t cry again.“What’s wrong?” Alex asks, standing behind me, his hands gently gripping my arms as he looks at me in the mirror.
Alex’s P.O.V. I scoop Stella into my arms after making her cum hard on my fingers, and she buries her face in my chest, encircling her arms around my neck. I carry her towards the bed and gently lay her down on it. After leaning down, I run my fingers through her hair. “Feeling better now.” She looks at me with a smile on her face. After a long week, finally, her smile reaches to her eyes, and it gives me immense peace. She responds, her eyes fixed on me. “Better? Feeling so good now. Thank you, Alex.” “Don’t thank me because I’m doing this for myself.” Listening to my words, her brows narrow in confusion. “For yourself?” Grinning at her, I lie down beside her. As I pull her into my arms, she doesn’t resist. Instead, she snuggles up into me. I can feel her warm breath on my chest, which is sending shivers down my spine. I answer her, “I can’t see you in pain, Flower. It hurts me. That’s why I’m ready to do anything to make you feel better.” She lifts her head from my chest an
Alex’s P.O.V.“I love you more, Alex.”These words are like a lifeline, pulling me out of the storm I’ve been drowning in. I can hardly believe my ears. For so long, I’ve waited to hear those words from her lips.Suddenly, all my pain disappears, and the only thing I feel is immense satisfaction. Stella’s confession means so much to me. It means she is finally ready to give me her heart completely. She trusts me. She is giving love a second chance.I stop walking, frozen in the moment. All the darkness, the guilt, the fear—it’s still there, but her words make it bearable.I glance down at her in my arms. Did she really say it? Or is my mind playing tricks on me?Carefully, I lower her to the soft sand near the water, the waves lapping gently at the shore, their sound as peaceful as always.I cup her face in my hands, brushing her cheeks with my thumbs. “Say it again, Please, Stella. Say it again.” I request, fixing my eyes on her.Her eyes are filled with immense affection, and she sm
Stella’s P.O.V.“Please don’t regret for a second for killing that monster, Stella. You’ve freed your mother from the unbearable pain. You have no clue how relieved I am. Thank you.” My mom expresses her gratitude when I lie her down on the bed at night in one room of Alex’s beach house.After my mother was discharged, nobody wanted to return to the place where we used to live with that monster. My mom has so many painful memories tied to that house, and I killed the monster there. Alex didn’t want any of us to be anywhere near a place haunted by his memories. So he made the decision to bring us here instead.I tuck the blanket around Mom. I’m glad I gave her peace, but what about the weight I carry now? The monster is gone, but the trauma of killing someone is unbearable. And I can’t share it with anybody. Alex and Mom, both are dealing with their pain. How can I burden them with mine when they’re already struggling to heal?“Mom, you don’t need to thank me,” I respond, sitting on th
Alex’s P.O.V.The next morning, I’m still seated in the waiting room of the hospital. Stella and I spent the entire night here, though sleep was a stranger. The load of everything that’s happened is suffocating me. I’m still trying to digest that my father was a monster who caused suffering to Stella’s mother. It’s like a nightmare to me.“I can completely understand what you’re going through, Alex.” Sky breaks the silence. He sits beside me. Stella is with Zoe and Selena inside her mother’s room.I know he can feel my pain because, a few months ago, he also discovered the evil deeds of his father. Since then, he’s been working tirelessly day and night to become stronger than him so that he can put his father behind bars.I glance at him with sorrowful eyes. “How did you do it, Sky? I mean, how did you even begin to understand the fact that your own father was… like this? I don’t know how to move forward from here. You know I feel like I’m stuck, drowning in shame.”Sky leans forward,
Alex’s P.O.V.I feel so lost. Completely lost.When the doctor informed us about the condition of Stella’s mother, I felt like killing my father. How could he torture someone to this extent? Why couldn’t I ever see his true face?Before Stella’s mother, did he torture other women? Did he also hurt my mother?My chest tightens with immense pain as I sit outside Stella’s mother’s hospital room, lost in thought. How can I face Olivia, knowing that I carry the blood of the man who hurt her? How am I supposed to promise her I’ll keep Stella safe when my father inflicted so much pain on her? Will she ever be able to trust me?I stare at the floor, fists clenched, and try to steady my breathing. Thoughts revolve endlessly around my mind: Did I somehow miss the signs? Have I been blind to my father’s true nature all my life?The truth is, I don’t know who he is anymore. I don’t know who I am anymore. And worse, I don’t know how I’ll prove to Olivia that I’m not like my father—that I would rat
Stella’s P.O.V.I sit with Alex in the waiting room as the doctor treats our parents. Alex has been completely silent since I told him the truth about his father. That truth has shaken him deeply.On one hand, my heart aches for him, and on the other, for my mother, who has been suffering for who knows how long. Why did God make her endure the same pain she had in the past? Why didn’t she tell me?Alex’s hands are clenched tightly in his lap, and his jaw is tense, as though he’s fighting an internal battle. I can’t blame him. He would have never imagined his father would be a monster.This entire ordeal has taken so much out of both of us. But for Alex, I know it’s different. His world has been turned upside down in a way I can’t even begin to imagine.I glance at him, his face pale and his eyes distant, as if he’s locked away somewhere I can’t reach. The person sitting next to me looks so lost, like a stranger who endured a painful truth he never expected to face. This is a side of A
Alex’s P.O.V.As I sit in my car, waiting for Stella to return, my watch suddenly begins beeping.Damn it!Something is wrong with Stella.Without a second thought, I jump out of the car and rush inside, my mind spinning with worry. I keep praying in my mind that she’s alright.I head straight to her room, but she’s not there. I check everywhere—the bathroom, the balcony—but she’s nowhere in sight. The constant beeping from my watch only makes my heartbeat race with anxiety.What happened to her? She looked so happy when she walked into the house. How could things go wrong in just a few minutes?“Stella…” Desperately, I call her name as I step out of her room, but there’s no response.When I reach the door of her mother’s room, I stop, noticing Stella’s bag lying on the floor just outside.I wonder what her bag is doing here.Then I push the door open and step inside. My eyes widen in shock as I take in the scene. Stella is sitting, hugging her mother tightly, and both of them are cry
Stella’s P.O.V. "Can we have the same sandwich we had last time, please?" I ask as he opens my door and I step out. “No.” He denies it, shutting the door close. I look at him in shock. “Why?” He lets out a laugh, tapping my nose. "I was just kidding, Stella. Of course, we can have that sandwich. Today, whatever you want, we'll do. It's your day, my love." “Who could’ve thought that the Mr Grumpy would get so sweet one day.” I pull his cheeks, causing him to chuckle. “Now I’m yours Mr NMG.” He leans in and pecks on my cheek, making me grin. Then we head inside and eat sandwiches from the stall. My birthday is already going so amazingly. First, I woke up to my room decorated with so many gifts—it felt like a dream. And now, these delicious sandwiches! Wow! As we finish our sandwiches, Alex takes my hand and guides me towards the ice rink. When we enter, I notice something unusual—the entire rink is completely empty. My face falls as I glance around, thinking that the rink m
Alex’s P.O.V.“Anyway, what were you doing in the mall?” I question, glancing at Stella, who is sitting in the passenger seat beside me as I drive us back home.“Actually, I’ve also planned something for my birthday.”My eyes widen in surprise at her words. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”“Because it was a surprise for you, Alex.” She pouts at me.I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re planning something for me on your birthday? Unbelievable.”“You deserve it.” She locks her eyes filled with profound love on me. “You’ve done so much for me, Alex. I want this birthday to be about us.”I glance over, feeling like I’m falling for her all over again. “You know, you’re amazing.”She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Then just wait. Tomorrow will be unforgettable—for both of us. And you won’t stop praising me.”“I’m quite excited now. But what about the surprise I’ve planned for you?” I raise my brows at her.“Your surprise?” She taps her finger on her chin thoughtfully, which brings a smi
Alex’s P.O.V.I end the call and grip my phone tightly. All I wanted was to surprise Stella for her birthday. But now, I’ve hurt her when I meant to make her feel special.I hurry toward the parking lot, my heart pounding with worry.Shit! I shouldn’t have lied to her. The betrayal of her ex-boyfriend has left deep scars on her which take time to heal. She is trying so hard to move on and give a second chance to love. And now, because of my lie, she’s reliving that pain.I’m such an idiot.As I reach the parking lot, I spot her near her car. She’s standing there, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes moist. She looks small and vulnerable. My heart aches at the sight.I just rush towards her and embrace her tightly into my arms. “I’m so fucking sorry, Flower. Trust me, I had no intention of hurting you.” I apologise, pulling her closer to me.“I trust you, Alex. In fact, I’m sorry for doubting you in the first place.”A smile flashes across my face at her words, and I pull her back