Stepbrother Dearest: Bound by Secrets

The sound of tires crushing the fine gravel in the driveway sounded like teeth grinding together. I clutched the hem of my favorite cotton blouse—the best clothes I owned, though they now felt like rags in the face of the opulence before me. I tried to grasp at the remnants of my simple life in the suburbs. A life that was now officially over."Alina, darling, please put on a more cheerful face," my mother whispered, squeezing my cold fingers.I turned to her. Her eyes sparkled with a hope I hadn't seen in years. She deserved this happiness after the years we spent struggling with overdue bills and my tuition."Victor is a very kind man. He has prepared everything for us," she added reassuringly.I forced a stiff, thin smile. I was happy for her, truly. But looking at the ten-foot iron gates with their spiked carvings that we had just passed, I felt like a bird surrendering its freedom to enter a golden cage.The house—more accurately described as a modern castle—stood arrogantly atop

For the rest of the drive, not a single word passed between us. I began to notice small details that had previously escaped me. At the gates of our elite neighborhood, men in black suits stood at attention. They didn't smile. And as we passed the security post, they bowed to Adrian—not out of standard respect, but with a deference born of pure fear.When we arrived at the campus, I hoped he would just let me out and disappear. Instead, Adrian killed the engine and stepped out with me."I can handle the situation myself, Adrian," I protested as he walked beside me, hands in his pockets, his eyes constantly scanning the perimeter."Finish your business, little duck. Less complaining," he replied curtly.Several female students began whispering as we passed. Adrian was too conspicuous. He looked like a high-end magazine model who had taken a wrong turn into a crowd of students in t-shirts.While I stood in line at the administration office, I saw Adrian standing a distance away near a la

That morning, I intended to head to the library downstairs to find some peace. However, I froze at the top of the stairs when I saw a line of black SUVs parked in front of the lobby. The doors flew open, and several men stepped out wearing suits that were far too sharp for a casual visit.Perfect. The guests had arrived while Mommy was out of the house. Had they forgotten I was here, or did they simply not care?I hid behind a pillar on the second floor, peering down into the vast living room below. Victor and Adrian stood there, welcoming the guests. The atmosphere was so rigid that the very air seemed to freeze."The supplies at pier four have been secured," said one of the strangers, a man with a jagged scar stretching across his cheek. His voice was heavy and commanding. "But the Serpent’s Blade is starting to move in the gray zones. They’re looking for a gap in the last shipment.""They won’t find anything but an open grave if they dare cross the line," Adrian countered. His voic