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VULNERABLE

Author: JOSSY
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-24 02:01:32

I stroll into Katherine’s room, the weight of the situation feeling like a beardown on me. My legs are just shuffling, without enough strength. My heart is heavy, with the aftermath of my actions. If that cursed relationship between me and Joe did not exist, if I never met that son of a bitch, all this chaos would never have happened. That accident would never have happened. We would not have resulted to go into hiding and make everyone believe that we were dead for three good weeks. And my father and Katherine would not have been hurt and tormented like this.

I sit beside her, her state still the same, still, with her eyes shut. Looking at her, I blame myself for this. It is not only Joe that I dragged into my web of problems, but his mother as well. I am ruining their lives; the lives of everyone that means so dear to me hang in the balance of jeopardy because of me. I can’t even tell how this will end. I can’t tell who is next to be dragged into this. I already have Mr. Jonathan an
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  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   A GLIPSE OF LIAM'S PLAN

    Joe leans his head against mine, his shoulders trembling. "What if it's not enough? What if she never wakes up?"His words are laced with despair, and it pierces through me like a blade. I've seen Joe face countless dangers with unwavering resolve, but seeing him now, breaking under the weight of his mother's condition shatters something in me."We can't think like that," I whisper fiercely, holding him tighter. "She definitely will get through this, Joe. And so are you. You have to believe that she will come back to us."Joe takes a deep breath, his chest rising and falling against mine. When he pulls away, his eyes are bloodshot, but there's a flicker of determination in them. He nods, brushing the tears from his face. "You're right. We'll fight for her."I place a soft kiss on Katherine's hand, as if it could somehow transfer strength to her. "I'll leave you two alone for a bit," I say, standing up and giving Joe's shoulder one last squeeze.He nods without looking at me, his focus

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   A TOUGH DECISION

    The night sky is clear, the moon glowing bright and casting a silvery light over everything around us. The stars are scattered like tiny diamonds on a black canvas, and the quiet hum of crickets fills the air. Jayden and I sit outside the mansion on an old wooden bench, the chilly breeze brushing against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. It is peaceful; actually, this was my mother’s favorite spot. I remember all the stories we shared, all the memories that are still treasured deep in my heart. Memories, really never die. It has been years, yet it feels like it was just yesterday that we sat here, talking, laughing, and making memories.I glance at Jayden from the corner of my eye. He is sitting beside me, his hands resting on his knees, his posture rigid. He looks like he is lost in thought, his gaze fixed somewhere far beyond the darkness.I would have loved to be with Joe right now. My Joe. My sweet Joe. A slight smile sweeps across my lips at the thought of him, but it fades

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   SOMETHING TO RETHINK

    "It is not about what I want, Jayden," I say finally, my voice trembling but firm. "Because if that was the case, I would stay right here.""Then what is it? Don't you trust me? Us?" He asks."It also not about trust, because I saw how you fought for us even when we were merely strangers to you, and even when you and Joe crashed on every single thing. This is about what I have to do. What needs to be done for the greater good of everyone? I will never forgive myself if something happens to Joe, you, and everyone else because of me. I want to prevent that at all costs.""Even if you have to hurt him? Can you bear Joe being mad at you? The man has a temper and an ego, you know. This might cause a rift between you two. So, can you handle it?"Temper and ego? I am aware of that. And I am actually more worried about how Joe will react to this than Jayden is. But as I said, I have to do this. Love is understanding. He will get mad at first, but I am sure he will understand why I had to do t

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • MY STEPBROTHER'S RETURN   A FATHER'S PLAN

    I hear his footsteps before I see him, the sound slow but deliberate, each step carrying the weight of emotions I am not ready to face. When I glance up, our gazes lock. He is standing a few feet away, his silhouette framed by the soft glow of the porch light, but his cool does not stop me from springing to face, shaking.“Dad? How…how long have you been there?” I ask, and I think the best question would have how much he has heard.He walks closer, standing a step in front of me. His expression not changing. “Not much, but I am curious about the little that I heard.”That made me to breath out the air I did not know I was holding, releaf washing over me. Thank goodness that was all that he heard. He can never know about me and Joe. I hope he never does because he will not only be disaapointed at us, but that will kill him too. Then again, for how long will we manage to keep this a secret now that we are all under the same roof?“Bella,” my father speaks, his voice steady yet tinged wi

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • 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

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • 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.

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • 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

    Last Updated : 2025-03-24
  • 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

    Last Updated : 2025-03-26

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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