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Chapter 28 – Cracks In the Team (Part 1)
publish date:
2026-07-13 05:31:54
Latest chapter
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 30 – Breaking Point (Part 1)
POV: ElenaBy the time I got to the athletics complex that afternoon, the basketball team was already deep in practice.The second I stepped inside, all those familiar sounds hit me at once basketballs pounding the floor, guys sprinting up and down the court, sneakers squeaking like crazy on every cut. Coach Mercer’s voice kept booming over everything, yelling whenever someone blew a play or lost their focus.I slipped quietly into the bleachers with my backpack, hoping not to distract anyone. Jace had texted earlier that practice might run late and told me to wait if I didn't mind.I didn't.The arena looked different when it wasn't packed with screaming fans. There were no flashing cameras or announcers. No music blasting through the speakers. Just athletes pushing themselves to exhaustion under the watchful eyes of coaches who seemed to notice every mistake.Coach Mercer blew his whistle."Again!"A collective groan rippled through the team. "You think the teams we're facing next m
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 29 – The First Blow(Part 2)
POV: ElenaBy the time my last lecture ended, I had convinced myself I could make it through the rest of the day without thinking about the post again. That illusion lasted exactly thirty seconds.The moment I stepped into the hallway, I caught two girls glancing at me before lowering their voices. One of them held up her phone, and although I couldn't hear what she was saying, I recognised my own face on the screen. I looked away and kept walking. It was amazing how quickly strangers could decide who you were. Some believed every word they read online. Others didn't care whether it was true. The story was entertaining, and that was enough."Elena", I stopped.Camille was standing near the staircase, immaculate as always, her designer handbag hanging neatly from her shoulder. She smiled when our eyes met, though there was nothing warm about the expression."I was hoping I'd run into you." "I wasn't hoping for the same thing." Her smile widened slightly. "I imagine today hasn't been ea
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 29 – The First Blow (Part 1)
POV: ElenaThe next morning began with rain.A steady drizzle coated the campus in gray, leaving puddles scattered across the walkways and sending students hurrying from one building to another beneath umbrellas. Normally, I enjoyed rainy mornings. They made the university feel quieter. Today, they only made everything feel heavier.I had barely settled into my first lecture when my phone vibrated.Jace: Coach wants to see me before practice.I stared at the message for a moment before replying.Me: Did you tell him?Three dots appeared almost immediately.Jace: Yeah.Nothing else. No explanation. No reassurance. Just yeah. The simplicity of the reply told me everything I needed to know. He was worried.By the time my afternoon class ended, the rain had eased into a light mist. I found Jace waiting outside the humanities building, one shoulder resting against his SUV. His hood was pulled over his head, and his hands were buried in the pockets of his jacket. He looked exhausted. "How d
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 28 – Cracks In the Team (Part 2)
POV:ElenaI didn't say anything about Ryan.Not yet. Maybe I was overthinking what I'd seen. Maybe the envelope contained nothing more than paperwork. Coach had forgotten to hand out. Jumping to conclusions wouldn't help anyone, least of all Jace.Still, the image stayed with me as we walked toward the parking lot. Ryan's uneasy expression. The man in the dark suit. The quick exchange. The way Ryan had looked over his shoulder before slipping the envelope into his backpack.It didn't feel ordinary."Elena?" I looked up. Jace had stopped beside the SUV, studying me. "You've gone quiet." "So have you." He unlocked the doors but didn't get in immediately. "My head's a mess." "I can tell." He gave me a tired smile. "Is it that obvious?" "Only to someone who's been paying attention." That earned a soft huff of laughter. "I walked right into that one." "You did."For a moment, the tension eased. Then his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen, read the message, and his expression hard
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 28 – Cracks In the Team (Part 1)
POV:ElenaThe drive to the arena felt longer than it actually was.Jace hadn't spoken since hanging up the phone, and I had learned enough about him to know the silence wasn't accidental. Whenever he was trying to keep his temper under control, he became unnervingly quiet. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his jaw set, and he focused so intensely on the road that it was as though everything else ceased to exist.I recognized every one of those signs now.Earlier in the semester, I would have mistaken his silence for indifference. Now I know better."Coach sounded worried," I said, hoping to break the tension before it swallowed the entire car. "He was." "Do you think it's really that serious?" "If he called an emergency meeting, then yes." His answer was clipped, but not dismissive. I took it as a small victory.When we reached the athletics complex, the parking lot was already overflowing. Several players were jogging toward the entrance, while two assistant coaches stood out
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 27 – Smile For the Camera( Part 2 )
POV: ElenaThe photographer finally lowered his camera with a satisfied smile. "I think we've got everything we need."Melissa looked over several of the images on the camera's display and clasped her hands together. "These are perfect." "I'd like to officially retire from public appearances," I said as I stood from the bench. "I'm afraid that's not an option." "It was worth asking." Jace picked up his jacket from the back of the bench and threw me a sideways glance. "You lasted longer than I expected." "I'll take that as a compliment." "It wasn't." "It never is with you." A small smile tugged at his lips before he looked away.Melissa excused herself to speak with the photographer, leaving the two of us alone for the first time all afternoon. "I wasn't lying, you know," Jace said. I frowned. "About what?" "You're talking in your sleep." I stared at him. "I don't believe you." "You also threatened to fail someone's biology exam." "I don't even teach biology." "I know." Heat rushed t
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 3 – The Uninvited Guest
POV: ElenaBy eleven o'clock the next night, my bedroom felt less like a sanctuary and more like a vibrating cage.Thud. Thud. Thud.The heavy, aggressive bass from the sound system downstairs rattled the vintage glass panes of my private balcony. It had been going on for hours. What had started as
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 2 – High Status, Low Profile
POV: ElenaThe sharp, echoing crack seemed to vibrate through the entire house, but neither of us moved.Water seeped into the pristine white tiles, carrying tiny, jagged shards right to the edge of his bare toes. Jace didn't even flinch. He just lowered the juice carton from his lips, his eyes tra
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 1 – The Shadow In the Kitchen
POV: ElenaThe blast of thick, humid air hit me the second I stepped off the jet bridge, but it wasn't nearly as suffocating as the voice vibrating against my eardrum."Elena? Are you off yet? Tell me you’re off the plane," my mother’s voice rushed through the line, accompanied by the distinct, cli
Fake Fiancée To My Bully Stepbrother Chapter 11 – His World
POV: ElenaBy Wednesday afternoon, I had successfully avoided Jace for almost two days.It wasn't simple. Living under the same roof made avoidance nearly impossible, but I had managed it by leaving for class early, staying on campus late, and taking advantage of the fact that basketball seemed to
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