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THE TALK
Last Updated:
2025-03-01 18:47:09
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MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN EXPLANATIONS
“The issue goes beyond clearing my name, Father. If going out there and speaking the truth and everyone believing me was as easy as said, I would have done that a long time ago to save you both and Joe from all this,” I explain.He slightly wiggles his head, gesturing to me that he does not understand what I am driving at or what I am going on about. “What is so hard? What is so hard about telling the truth?”“It is so hard, Dad. It is so hard for people to believe you if you have been framed in such a way like mine.”They look at each other, confusion settling between them. “Framed? What are you talking about? Do you want to mean that you didn’t cheat on Leon and that you didn’t break that man’s head? Are you saying that someone is unjustly tarnishing your name for nothing?” Father asks.I take a deep breath, balancing my emotions. “You taught me values, Dad. You taught me how to respect myself and how to carry myself as a woman of dignity and class. You and Mom taught me all the mor
Last Updated : 2025-03-01MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN THE PLAN, HER WAY
“I know that you picked him from the streets and that you gave him everything. Even the guts that he has right now to ruin you!”Shit!He knows. And I should not have underestimated him. He is Mr. Montana! Everything that money can buy, he can have it all in a snap. That includes digging up any shit about anything or anybody. And here I was, thinking that my sescre was safe. Love indeed had turned me stupid and blind.“I am sorry, Father. I failed you, and I failed myself. This is all my fault for loving wrong,” I apologize, sincerely.He reaches for my hand across the table, squezzing it. A gesture that I appreciate so much. Because I missed this closeness. I don’t know how I have survived all these five days without it, but I can tell now that I was dying inside. I hug his hand back.“You were in love, my child. I just wish that you trusted your father from day one. We probably would not be here. But what is done is done now. We need to pick up the broken pieces and move on. As for
Last Updated : 2025-03-04MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN THE SAVAGE CROWD
I walk out of the office with a smile on my face. Resolving the misunderstanding with my father feels like the heaviest load has been lifted off my shoulders. I am finally feeling like Montana—powerful and untouchable. Now I have my father’s understanding and support. My enemies better get ready.I mumble a prayer to the heavens when I don’t run into Rina or that gross ex-friend of mine, Janie. I don’t want anything to ruin this smile. I want to go home and plan an insane, shameless plan to get this Rina out of this place. I need her to have the grand exit of her life. One that she will never forget. One that will make her curse the day she decides to mess with Belladine Montana. A dose bitterer than the one she and Leon served me.From a distance, I spot some people behind the gate pointing fingers toward me. Well, I am not sure. I mean, this is a resort—the biggest one there is in the city. They must be showing their interests and admiring them. Everything is to be admired here—from
Last Updated : 2025-03-04MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN THE SAVIOR
I drop my hands from my face, and I look through the crowd, wanting to say something, to scream for them to stop. My vision is blurred, but through the haze, I see them before I even formulate what to say.Rina. And Janie.They are standing at the edge of the crowd, just watching. Rina’s face has that slight smirk, barely there, but I see it. And Janie—cold and distant, her arms crossed like she is watching something she has no part in. But I know better. They are behind this. I can feel it deep in my gut.The humiliation burns through me, hotter than the sting of the tomatoes. I try to wipe my face again, but more rotten fruit flies toward me. One hits my leg, another my back. I stumble, barely managing to stay upright."Bitch!" someone shrieks, and the crowd surges closer."You are getting what you deserve!""Cheating slut!""Leon is better off without you!""Trash!"Their voices are everywhere, surrounding me, drowning me. I try to shield myself, but it’s useless. I feel someone pu
Last Updated : 2025-03-04MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN KICKED OUT
The drive has been quiet all the way through, with me battling with the weight of the abhorrent events that just took place. The ringing sounds of the insults from those stupid people are still haunting me. Joe has been holding my hand for as long as I can remember, demonstrating his comfort. The whole car is filled with this gut-choking smell. At some point, I shed tears because I don’t deserve this at all.Finally, Joe and I pull up in front of the condo. We park, and he is quick enough to get my door. I am still barely covered in his coat, but it is not helping much. Everyone stops on what they were doing in awe of us. That is what I have become now—a center of attraction. Murmers erupt, people wrinkle noses from the smell I am reeking, eyes grow intense on me, while some turn their faces away from me.I try to hug the little courage that I have and keep my head a little bit high, although I am dying inside. Joe’s tries to keep a straight face, lightening the moment a little. His h
Last Updated : 2025-03-04MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN FINDING HOMAGE
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-04MY 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 : 2025-03-04MY 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
Latest chapter
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN MISTRUST
The drive has been deadly silent. The night feels as if it is closing in on me. Joe does not look happy with me at all, or at least, he is not okay. He had been avoiding looking my way ever since we got into this car half an hour ago. I want to talk to him so badly because I understand that I fucked up by leaving him in the dark and following my crazy ideas. And I know that hurt him so badly. That was his ego that I touched by trusting Jayden over him.I was about to speak when my phone buzzed on my lap, and I grabbed it fast, checking the message.It is from Jayden. 'I now accept that I will never have a place in your heart. It hurts, but I have to accept it. Thank you for the time that I spent with you. I will never forget that because they are worth keeping. You were right. It is best if we go our separate ways. I may have lost you, but I still have that one drive-justice for my mother. That will keep me going. Good luck to whoever gets to our target first!!!' Yours, Jayden.Shit!
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN A WARNING
“I thought she was totally disconnected from us. I am glad that she is still with us,” Joe says, a small smile playing on his lips.This feels so overwhelming! We have a new hope, and this can never feel any good. As if pulled by a certain force, I move closer, sealing the gap between us, and I reach for his lips, kissing him gently, a kiss of assurance. He does not waste time but captures my lips, returning the kiss with the same gentleness and passion.Jayden clears his throat from behind me, reminding us that we are not in our own world as we thought. Unwillingly, we break the kiss, and we take a moment to just admire each other, again, forgetting that there is someone else in the room.“We should start heading home. We don’t know when Father will be awake,” Joe says, and I nod my head.“Well, excuse me, here!” Jayden speaks, making us turn to him. He looks pissed, and his looks speak of disapproval.“Mr. Man, what is she now, huh? Something you can control the way you want? Are yo
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN IRONING THE PLAN
I take a shaky breath, the weight of the room pressing down on me like a storm ready to explode. My eyes dart between Joe and Jayden, their standoff pulling me into a whirlpool of confusion and dread. Every nerve in my body feels raw, screaming with fear. Things never end well whenever these two clash. I hid from Joe and ran off with Jayden, and I could see the anger and suspicion in Joe’s eyes, which made today’s encounter feel even worse.Joe’s eyes burn into mine, searching for answers I can’t give him right now. His presence feels overwhelming, his possessiveness like chains tightening around me. Jayden stands tall, his calm demeanor barely masking the fire beneath. He has always been the rational one, the protector, but now he is as much a threat to my fragile sanity as Joe is.“Joe,” I finally manage to whisper, my voice trembling. “What are you doing here? How did you…”“How did I find you two?” He cuts me off, his voice calm but harsh. “Of all the things you could do, Bella, y
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN THE CLASH
I pace back and forth in the room, my fists clenched tight at my sides. My mind feels like it is spinning, and actually, it is indeed spinning badly. On one hand, I want to at least grant Jayden this one wish. After everything he has done for me, he deserves it. But how can it deny me the one thing that I can’t let go? Why did he have to ask only for this of all the things? Well, of course, with the exception of loving him. I would have really loved to grant him even just this one wish.But I can’t!My heart is burning crimson with the wrath I feel for that jerk. My desire to seek revenge for what that moron did to me is unquenchable and unstoppable. That is why I had to even run away from my father just so I could achieve this. How can I just drop it like that?“You and I know that Leon is not alone in this, Bella,” Jayden starts again, standing so close to me, his voice soft. “He has people, and you also mentioned that some of the people have other motives to want to hurt you. You c
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN POINT OF CONFLICT
Jayden’s gaze locks onto mine, and I see something in his eyes that chills me to the bone. His grip on my hand tightens, so hard that it is almost painful. “Because, Bella,” he says, his voice grave, “Desmond Erasto is Leon.”Time seems to stop. The name echoes in my mind, but it doesn’t connect. “What?” I say, my voice barely audible.“Leon,” Jayden repeats. “The man who has caused you so much pain, who took everything from you. The man that you are after is the same man that I have been chasing since I became a police officer.”“No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “That’s not possible. That can’t be true.”“I didn’t know at first either,” Jayden admits. “He has changed his name, his appearance, everything. But the pieces began to fit when I started looking into him after everything he has done to you. The way he operates, his greed, his hunger for power—and on the day that I was attacked in the forest, he was among his goons. We had a gun exchange encounter. I bruised him so close with
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN THE TWIST
The silence stretches to eternity, cutting through the space between us. Jayden looks lost, as if his mind has been triggered. He looks like there is a very painful episode playing in his mind, causing me to walk closer.“Jayden?” I call, but instead of looking at me, he shuts his eyes, pain evident. But pain over what? I just asked a question about this seemingly new character of interest in this story.Why is he triggered like this?“Talk to me, Jayden, please. Who is Desmond Erasto, and what do I have to do with him?” I ask, still sinking into confusion.I lift my head, my heart already pounding. The recent situations have taught me to brace myself for the worst lately, but nothing could prepare me for what he says next.“Desmond Erasto... he is my brother. My long-lost wicked brother!”I blink at him, the words not making sense. Actually, I am drawn into more confusion here. He has a brother? “Your brother?”Jayden nods slowly, his eyes clouded with memories. He pulls up two chair
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN THE PLAN
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the small condo, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold steel of my resolve. I sit at the tiny kitchen table, cradling the mug in my hands. The condo is sparse, a temporary hideout Jayden arranged, but it is enough for now. It is a place to think, to plan. And to set the plan in motion.Jayden sits across from me, his own coffee untouched. His dark eyes study me intently, the silence between us heavy with unspoken questions. He is quite a stubborn and selfless guy. When he stopped the car last night, I thought for a moment that I was just about to save a soul from getting into more trouble because of me. But he only stopped to warn me to never ask him to abandon me ever again. That is how we ended up here, in this condo, together."So," he says finally, breaking the tension. "Do I have the right to ask what your plan is? You didn't go through all that trouble just to get out. What exactly do you want?"I meet his gaze, my grip tightening on th
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN THE ESCAPE
The soft glow of moonlight spills through my bedroom window, casting long shadows across the room. My heart hammers in my chest as I zip my bag, the last one to precise, trying to keep my hands steady. Every sound—the rustle of fabric, the faint creak of the floorboards beneath my feet—feels deafening.If anyone hears me, this is over before it even begins. If my father knows that I am already packing, he will pull all strings to drag the entire police force here to stop me. But before that happens, I have to escape. I know it also sounds impossible given the tight security we have here, but I must make it out of here tonight.Jayden’s plan is simple on paper, but executing it feels like threading a needle in the dark. The security here has been so tight from the start, patrolling every corner of the estate like hawks. They don’t just guard the house; they cage it. I hate it, always did. Never have I ever tried escaping, but today I am daring to, and I can’t say that I am not scared.
MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN CROSSROADS
I swallow hard, my throat tight. “The scandals, Dad. The rumors. The pains I have gone through. The humiliations and the shame I have endured and caused you and the rest. For every injustice that I have gone through, Dad. I want revenge on that man who made me go through all that for nothing! But I cannot do that here. I need to be far away from you all so that he does not come after you. I will deal with him without involving anyone.”He exhales sharply, standing up and pacing a few steps away before turning back to face me. His eyes are dark, intense, filled with a mix of frustration and pain.“Do you hear yourself?” he says, his voice shaking. “You think leaving will fix everything? You think running away will protect us? First, I will not let you do something as crazy as that.”“I am trying to protect you!” I snap, standing up so we are eye to eye. “Don’t you see that? If I stay, the scandals will keep growing, and the people targeting me won’t stop. If they know I have ressurrect
