All Chapters of The Playboy Stepbrother's Rules: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

The Morrison mansion Was very quiet.Every footstep, every door closing, every word spoken too loud just got swallowed by the high ceilings and the thick rugs and the money that was built into the walls. To anyone else it probably felt peaceful. To Alex it felt like being underwater.He was sitting at a desk that could’ve hosted a board meeting. The thing was massive, dark wood, polished until you could see your reflection in it. And he was using maybe one square foot of the corner. Cracked tablet, three textbooks, one blue highlighter that was dying. Across the room on a shelf sat the laptop Silas bought him the week they moved in. Custom built. Still in the leather sleeve. Alex hadn’t opened it once. If he did, it meant he was accepting it. Accepting that he was part of this house, part of this family, part of the charity case Silas and Bridget were trying not to call him.A knock came at the door. Soft, familiar."Hey, sweetheart?" Bridget. His mom. She poked her head in wearing

The curtain ripped open and Kevin was already halfway through it"get the fuck out of my way" he shoved both hands into Paxton’s chest "Alex is in there and I’m not waiting"Paxton didn’t budge, he just caught Kevin’s wrists like they weighed nothing "relax sweetheart, you really don’t want to go in there""Are you out of your mind" Kevin tried to yank free "I heard someone go in, I heard a body hit the wall, if Troy’s drunk friend is in there with him I’m going to—""Troy is the one in there," Paxton said flatKevin stopped breathing "what did you say""You heard me," Paxton said "Troy saw you on the stairs with the blindfold, he followed you up, and now he’s in there with Alex, so unless you want this to turn into a scene you’re going to stand right here""Let them what" Kevin’s voice broke "Alex doesn’t even know it’s him, he can’t see, Paxton let me go right now""And then what" Paxton leaned in "you pull him out crying in front of half the VIP, you think that’s better, Troy’s lik

The library was supposed to be safeAlex got there at five in the morning, before anyone, before the sun, before Troy could wake upHe sat in the back of the economics section with a wall of books around him, folders spread everywhere, trying to focusIt didn’t workHis phone was face down on the desk, it buzzed and he jumped_Devil Brother_He didn’t open it, he deleted it, but he could still see the wordsHe reached up and checked his collar, every button done, fabric rubbing against the mark on his neckHis hips still hurt"you’re losing it" Alex whispered "just focus"The chair across from him scrapedAlex looked up, ready to see TroyIt was StolasOf course it was StolasDark suit, glasses, perfect, Harrison Industries heir, the only person who ever beat Alex for first"you’re early" Stolas said "doors just opened and you’re already camped""I have a meeting at Morrison Global" Alex said "I didn’t want distractions""distractions" Stolas smiled a little "wise, especially with the

Alex left before the sun finished rising. He moved through the house like a shadow—socks on the stairs, door eased shut, no lights. The bruise on his neck still ached when the collar rubbed it. He didn’t check the mirror. He didn’t want to see whatever expression would be waiting there. The train was half empty. He sat by the window and watched the city blur past, fingers tight around the strap of his bag. Every time the car rocked he felt the ghost of Troy’s hand on his thigh from the night before. He pushed the memory down and opened a notebook he had no intention of reading. Campus smelled like wet concrete and coffee. Students drifted between buildings with headphones and paper cups. Alex kept his head down and walked faster than usual. He had two morning lectures and a free period in the library. If he stayed busy enough, maybe the words from last night would stop repeating. *I’m yours.* He had said them. Then he had run. First lecture passed in a haze of supply-chain mode