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FINDING HOMAGE

Author: JOSSY
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-04 14:56:31

The car is moving through the quiet streets, and the city lights are fading into the distance. I was able to control Joe hours ago, but he insisted that we take all the time that we needed to pack and prepare to leave. And I didn’t have a way of objecting to that. He sent me to the shower immediately to wash off that gull-ripping odor I was reeking while he did the packing. Then we stayed, almost in silence, perhaps wondering how and when this would all end, until darkness started crawling in.

He did not let me stress over the luggage still. He carried the heavy suitcases and loaded them in the car all by himself, and then we set off, took innumerable rounds in the city, trying to get our minds together, and finally took off to this road.

Joe’s hands tighten on the wheel, his eyes focused ahead. The silence between us feels heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts. I glance at him, but he doesn’t look back. I know he is still angry about what happened. I know he is still wishing that he ha
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  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   OPENING OLD WOUNDS

    *FLASHBACK*“Please, I beg you, don’t do this.” My mother’s voice cracks with desperation, her hands trembling as she clutches the front of his shirt. “We are your family. A distinguished family with a name to protect. I am your only wife, and our daughter, Bella, is your only child. How can you tell me that you have some woman and another child somewhere?”“Dad has another family?" I think out loud, covering my mouth and hoping that I wasn’t too loud, which, gladly, I wasn’t because they didn’t hear me. That is quite some news. They don’t know that I am here, and that allows me the privilege to get more news.My father stands tall, his face tinged with some regret. “Mariam, I am sorry, but it is what it is, and I could no longer bear keeping you in the dark.”He reaches for my mother’s face, which is drenched in tears. It is the very first time I have seen my mother cry. The first time I saw my father hurt my mother like this. This is tearing me into pieces too. I am hurt too. I am h

    Last Updated : 2025-03-04
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   THE CAUSE OF HER HATRED

    We are seated on the couch. We just prepared one because I know this conversation will not be easy. Staring at Joe, my heart continued pounding with the weight of the memories I had long been buried. I know the truth will hurt him, but I guess he finally deserves to know where my hatred for him and his mother was drawn from. He has it. I owe him that."Talk to me," He says after a long while.I take in a deep breath, my eyes averting his. "You and your mother were the cause of our family's rift, Joe." I blurt out, my voice shaking. The words feel heavy, but there is no stopping them. Joe sits still, his eyes filled with hurt and confusion, just like I anticipated"You were a mistake that was not supposed to happen," I continue, trying to keep my voice steady. "As young as I was, I had grown so attached and possessive of my family. And then I just overheard the breaking news that another child was about to sneak into my family and I had to share my family with him. That alone was somet

    Last Updated : 2025-03-06
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   UNDENIABLE

    Joe's hands remain on my face, his touch soft but steady, as if he is afraid I might disappear. His eyes, usually so strong and unshakable, are now filled with something delicate—guilt, regret, and a tenderness I have never seen before which I understand because the truth is just drowning on him just now. All along he perhaps thought I was a sick jealous bitch to drag the hatred to such extremities.“I am the one who should ask for forgiveness, Bella,” Joe says, his voice thick with emotion. “For all the pain I have caused you. For being the reason your family broke apart. For the loss of your mother.”I shake my head, but he doesn’t stop.“From the moment I came into your life, everything changed for you," he continues. "Your mother... she suffered because of me, and I hate that I was part of that. I hate that I was the one who made your life so hard. I regret that I am the reason you lost her.”His words make my heart ache. I can see the torment in his eyes, the weight he has been c

    Last Updated : 2025-03-06
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   THE ARREST

    Would I ever forsake this man?There is nothing even to think about that. Nothing to mull over at all. I will never, ever forsake come whatever may. He is my life. My great love. My sweet forbidden love. And to him, I will stick until the end of the world. And even in the afterlife, I want a life with no one else but him.I open my mouth to give him my sincere response, but before I can say anything, a sudden loud bang at the door echoes through the house, jerking us apart from each other as we spring to our feet.Joe frowns, and so do I. We trade a questioning glance, wondering who could have visited us here.The banging continues, making it unbearable. Joe moves quickly toward the door, while I freeze, my heart thundering in my chest. Something feels off, like a cold, creeping dread. Well, this has been my life for the past weeks and I hate that I can't live in peace.I trail behind Joe to see who it is at the door. "Who could that be?" Joe mutters, already reaching for the doorknob

    Last Updated : 2025-03-06
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   BLACKMAIL

    Would I ever forsake this man?There is nothing even to think about that. Nothing to mull over at all. I will never, ever forsake come whatever may. He is my life. My great love. My sweet forbidden love. And to him, I will stick until the end of the world. And even in the afterlife, I want a life with no one else but him.I open my mouth to give him my sincere response, but before I can say anything, a sudden loud bang at the door echoes through the house, jerking us apart from each other as we spring to our feet.Joe frowns, and so do I. We trade a questioning glance, wondering who could have visited us here.The banging continues, making it unbearable. Joe moves quickly toward the door, while I freeze, my heart thundering in my chest. Something feels off, like a cold, creeping dread. Well, this has been my life for the past weeks and I hate that I can't live in peace.I trail behind Joe to see who it is at the door. "Who could that be?" Joe mutters, already reaching for the doorknob

    Last Updated : 2025-03-06
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   SECRETS

    “Ooh, I understand,” She speaks again, “You can’t ask for money from your parents because they don’t know about what their beloved children are doing under the sheets, huh! How about I start with them? I think it is only fair I alert them rather than risk them suffering heart attacks when the video goes viral.”“You better not involve them, Janie, or I will…”“You will do what, Joe?”The nerve of the wretched bitch!I take a good mount air, calming myself. “I don’t have that of money at the moment, but I will figure it out. Just don’t drag Bella or our parents to this?”“Well, for your parents, I can think about leaving them out of this because I can anticipate the harm that this news would cause them. But that Bella, she is the sole-fucking reason why we are doing this so there is no exception for her. She has to feel the pain of her betrayal!”“But I am giving you what you want so you should leave her alone!!!” I scream through the phone.“Just don’t take long figuring my money out,

    Last Updated : 2025-03-06
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   THE LATE NIGHT VISITOR

    It is late at night, and all I have been doing is tossing and turning on this weak bed. I thank God I was taken to a private cell. I pull myself up and sit on the cold, hard bench in this gawddamed dirty cell, unable to sleep. I would be lying is I say that I have any hopes of getting even a drop of sleep this long night. I know I won't.I try to think of Joe and what he is hiding from me. Is it something connected to my arrest? Is he worried about how our parents will receive the news of my accusations? Or what got him so worried?Suddenly, the sound of keys turning in the lock pulls me from my thoughts. The door creaks open, and a guard steps in. "Come out. You have a visitor," his gruffy voice echoes in the small room.My heart skips a beat. A visitor? At this hour? How is it even possible that the police allowed a visitor in at this hour?Maybe Joe? Maybe he has some good news? Maybe he has found a way to get me out of this nightmare in the middle of the night? Or maybe our parent

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  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   THE ATTACK

    The night screams with silence and dread—the loneliness I have never felt before. I sit up on the bed, my back leaning against the bed as I stare at the blank walls of this room. I miss her so much. I curse the fact that she had to spend the night in that cold, dirty place. And I curse that bastard for pulling such a long one on us. How dare he do this to Bella? Up until now, I respected Bella’s decision to let her handle that moronic son of a motherfucker on her own. But not anymore. This bastard will know that he messed with the wrong person. Nobody messes with my woman and goes scott-free. I will show him what it means to mess with someone that is not even yours. Someone that you should not dream of. I can’t believe that Jerk has the guts to hurt her after everything he has reaped from her. Sick bastard! I would blow his brains out if it wasn’t a crime!Suddenly, I hear a loud knock at the door that jerks me up from the bed. It is not a polite knock but a heavy, aggressive one. An

    Last Updated : 2025-03-08

Latest chapter

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   END OF THE LIES

    “Um, my dear?” His father calls, and I turn to her, leaving Rey’s eyes scorching my skin. “I think it is time. And forgive me once again, but hold nothing against your friend. She is a good soul. I just needed to get to the root of all this, and I knew she was the only person who had the answers that I sought, aside from you, of course. She means well.”I knew it was. “So, this happens to be the evidence that you have been telling us about, Irma? What is this all about? Where did that come from? Why do you have an old check for this huge amount from our company?” Ana asks.Well, I had not anticipated this happening any sooner, but I guess my father-in-law and my friends planned this well. I can’t lie anymore.I turn to Rayafter looking at these two women, who look like they are about to pee in their pants. “I am…”“She asked me for the money. She blackmailed me!” Katherine snaps, confusing everyone.Even I am confused by her guts! I blackmailed her. With what? Or for what? She is so s

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   THE SECRET IS OUT

    The three of us once again trade quizzical glances. There is more.“What?” We all trace our heavily pregnant gazes to Katherine as she whimpers, “This joke is the worst of the pains, so what more is there, Mazur?” She asks.A joke? She is still refusing to believe that he is divorcing her, even with the divorce headline in bold and staring right through her eyes. Not even his serious tone is enough to convince her. Poor woman! I wonder how she does not collapse after the next blow, and I am also eagerly waiting to know what it is.“I have frozen your cards, Katherine. From this moment on, you have nothing. You are barred from coming close to any of my companies because I have erased your name from everything that has my name on it. As for your children, I will leave it to them to decide. I want you to sign these papers and get out of my house.”Mr. Mazur’s words hang in the air like a heavy cloud. Silence has been the only sound for a long time. Fear and questions linger in the room.

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   ONE BATTLE WON

    “You can’t do that!” Tarah screams, springing to her feet. “You know that you need us. You need the support of my family for this business. You can’t terminate this agreement. You can’t…”“Your parents and I, young lady,” Mr. Mazur cuts the hysterical parrot off, “have already talked. We agreed that this agreement was a mistake. It is not working. Since this mess has also touched their family because you are in the picture, they agreed to end it in peace and set our children free. We will refund all the investments that your company made in our empire once we do our calculations, and that will be the end of it. For now, all you both need is to sign the papers and go your separate ways.”Hello, to the moon and stars. Here I was thinking that I would be the one to have this bitch divorce my man, but it seems like the stars and the moon were working on my case. Blessed be unto the heavens and to this man as well. God, please restore his health so that he can witness and be a part of the

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   MARRIAGE TERMINATION

    We all get to Mr. Mazur’s room with fear and curiosity gnawing within the deepest parts of our souls. I know we are all worried. For instance, I have come to love this old man like a father. He adores my child and is excited to welcome the next one that is on the way. He has justified my stay in this house and my love affair with his son with sincere intent. How can I not love him?“Father? We are all here. I thought we had a party next week, which you were preparing for. What is with this sudden meeting?” Ray asks.And I know how much he adores his father. I remember how badly he pleaded with me not to harm his father. Our paths crossed in this second phase, and my heart was pounding with waves of vengeance and wrath. He was willing to do anything, even to take up his father’s punishment on his behalf. And in the months that I have been in this house again, I know how deeply he cares for him. He and another love him so much. He may be rendered incapable of anything right now, but I s

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   AN URGENT MEETING

    Katherine remains mute, but her expressions ooze hurt and pain. It is like this is a bitter pill that she has to swallow.“Next time, don’t you dare go high and mighty on me, Katherine. You don’t want to cross, or else...”“Shut up!” Katherine shuts her up, her voice coming out between gritted teeth. “Don’t say something that you will regret,” she hisses again as they stand before each other like two antagonistic lions.I feel Rayshift beside me, and before I know it, he is standing up, taking me with him as he approaches them. They drop the rage when they sense us. As if we have not been watching the entire show. As if there is anything new with them. I know their secrets. I know they were together in that blackmail attack against me years ago. The person I pity is Rey, because I still have not found the courage to do what she did.I know that he deserves to know. I know that he has all the rights to know what his mother is capable of. I know he needs to know what his mother thought

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   NO PARTY

    I join the annoying party, hugging my fury at my claws because I am supposed to be having the best of this moment with Ray and not burning my arse here watching some manner of less arses drink their already inebriated asses off. Why did this b*tch even need us here? All they have been doing ever since we sauntered from the kitchen is just drink and pick on Ray and me. And she—I don’t understand why she had to stay this close to Rey. She annoyingly pressed against him on the left side while I was clinging to him on the right. The poor guy is so uncomfortable and lost at the meaning of this whole thing, just as I am. And you, if all she wants is to show off, then I don’t need to stoop so low. I know who it is that matters to Rey. I am serious as fuck about where I stand in his life.I unbandage my hand from him and shift aside from him, an action that causes him to reach for my hand and shift closer, pinning himself on me and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. With ease and care, he g

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   NOT THREATENED

    She cloaks her anger for a minute, putting on her signature bitchy crown. But today, her act is not working decently. Even through her iciness, you can still pick up the pecks of anger, hurt, and shame. Bingo, Irma Rose! You are serving this diet, which is the recommended diet. Thumbs up! Stuff her more!“Do not be too sure. And, by the way, how did it feel to see me kissing my husband, whom you can’t stop swooning over? I saw how you almost collapsed with utter stupor and hurt. Did your heart break into pieces after witnessing us kissing?” She asks, almost emitting a smirk.Sha! This witch is so cheap at devising plans. Was that the only way she could come up with to rile me? My! My! She should have asked me for some advice to spice up her rubbishy, unsuccessful plan. She couldn’t even pull off something to equal a kiss. Such a pathetic loser!“I admit I was thunderstruck and hurt at first seeing Rey’s lips on your disgusting ones for a second. But then, reality slapped me—that was a

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   CHALLENGE

    After a moment, she clears her throat myriad times, scraping the back of her neck as if she has an itchy skin disease. She is still mired in ignominy and bewilderment, and her friends are still looking at her with dismay and shock. She could have prepared them instead of trying to showcase something that isn’t real.“I will just get some glasses. Feel at home and make yourself comfortable on the seats.” She is still battling with her conflicting sentiments.Her friends start dragging their confused bodies to the seats where Rayis is perched, while she starts towards me. I was about to get out of her way, but she grabs my hand and drags me inside the kite with her.The door slams shut behind us, the fresh scent of our raw sex with Ray minutes ago slams our nostrils, and we stare at each other like two antagonistic lionesses that we in reality are.I roughly jerk my hand away from this bitch!“What in the devil’s name were you doing in here with my husband?” Tarah screeches after I snat

  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   BAD RECEPTION

    “What were you doing in there? Been screaming your name for minutes, hun!” I hear that bitch’s voice as I finish cleaning myself up with the Soviets.Hun? Since when? And what is that?annoying cheesecake tone? Trying to play some lovey-dovey games to fool her fucking guests? I reckon she is even clinging to my Rey’s arm or fixing the nothingness on his tee just to show off. Bitch!“Uuuu! Spare us, will you?"Spare us?From what?Silence!There is no voice from that witch, and these parrots of hers are just cheering; only the devil knows what. I detest those shrieking sounds! They are making my ears itch! I fix my hair and walk out feeling so raw and content, and...And dumbstruck!The heartbreaking visual visage of my Ray and Tarah together with their lips pressed so iniquitously against each other impairs my visual sense for a minute.Holy fuck!I slam my back on the closed kitchen door the minute it closes. A tinge of stinging tickles jolts down my spinal tube, almost paralyzing me

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