Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 52

(Angel's POV)

I scrubbed my laundry and my mind was a million miles away. The sharp scent of detergent stung my nose but it was the least of my worries. Hande was beside me and she was chatting about something, but I wasn't really listening. My mind was lost in the chaos of everything that had been happening lately.

I felt eyes on me like tiny needles pricking my skin. I glanced around and caught a few of the girls quickly looking away. Their murmurs were getting louder and harder to ignore. They weren't even trying to be discreet anymore. "Did you hear? She's been sneaking around with her stepbrother. Can you imagine?" one girl muttered, and her voice was just loud enough for me to catch. My stomach twisted.

"Hey, Angel," Hande nudged me. "Ignore them, okay?"

I nodded, but it wasn't that easy. The whispers grew sharper and crueler.

"Seriously? And she acts all innocent!"

"I heard they're really close. It's disgusting."

"Enough!" Hande's voice cut through the noise, clear and sharp. "Mind your business! You don't know anything about her."

A girl with frizzy hair scoffed and stepped forward. "Why are you defending her? Maybe you're in on it too."

Hande took a step closer and squared her shoulders. "Say that again. I dare you."

The tension in the room thickened and I felt like I was going to be sick. "Let's just go," I whispered and pulled Hande back. "Please, let's just leave." "But Angel-"

"Please," I begged and my voice cracked. Hande finally gave in and let me drag her away.

We barely made it into the hallway when we ran straight into Ava. Her smirk told me everything I needed to know.

she sneered. "And she brought

Hande snapped. "We don't have time for

flicked to me with contempt. "You know, I always thought you were pathetic, Angel. But this? Messing around with your own brother? That's

"Everyone does. And now, they're finally seeing you

shook. "Leave me

what?" Ava challenged with a nasty grin spreading across her face. "You gonna run to your brother

cruel. "You're in no position

rushing to my face, the humiliation burning

Angel, always hiding behind someone else." Her expression turned malicious. "You should've seen the way Hendrix looked at me last night. Maybe if you weren't so pathetic, he'd be looking at you that way

and my voice echoed through the hallway. "You don't know anything about us!" I yelled and my chest heaved with anger. "You're just jealous because you've

moment, Ava looked stunned. Then her expression twisted with rage and her eyes flashed with

truth!" I yelled back as tears blurred my vision. "You're nothing but a

that made my eyes water. I screamed and tried to fight her off but

hesitate. She threw herself at Ava and pulled her away from

was Ava's face twisted with anger. She was saying something, something vile and ugly, but I couldn't hear

suddenly, the chaos paused. I glanced up,

going on here?" she

didn't wait to hear her response I just ran, tears streaming down my face,

reached the lounge. I stumbled inside and needed

steadied me. His face softened when he saw my

but he wouldn't let me. "Hey, it's okay," he murmured softly. "You're safe.

He didn't say anything. He just held me tighter and ran a hand through my hair. "Shh,"

finally stopped crying and my breath came in shaky gasps. Thomas pulled back slightly and used

looked up at him and for the first time in a long

on my skin.