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

Ava," Hande snapped. "We don't have

But this? Messing around with your own brother? That's low, even for you."

stepped closer. "Everyone does. And now, they're finally seeing you for the fraud

hands shook.

her face. "You gonna run to your brother for protection?" "I'm warning

cruel. "You're in no position to warn anyone, Angel. You're just

rushing to my face, the

seen the way Hendrix looked at me last night. Maybe

ground and my voice echoed through the hallway. "You don't know anything about us!" I yelled and my

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

because it's the truth!" I yelled back as tears blurred my vision. "You're

I knew it, Ava lunged at me and grabbed my hair with a force that made my eyes

hesitate. She threw herself at Ava and pulled her away

cries but all I could see was Ava's face twisted with anger. She was saying something, something vile and ugly, but I couldn't hear it over the pounding in

it!" a voice shouted, and suddenly, the chaos paused. I glanced up, heart racing, as Miss Stefan approached with

on

free and shoved Ava away. I didn't wait to hear her response I just ran, tears streaming down my face, ignoring Hande's calls

running until I reached the lounge. I stumbled inside and needed a moment to breathe and think. But instead, I crashed

His face softened when he saw my

"Hey, it's okay," he murmured softly. "You're safe. I've got

crumbled against him and sobbed uncontrollably. He didn't say anything. He just held me tighter

shaky gasps. Thomas pulled back slightly and used his thumb to wipe away my tears. "You deserve so much more than

for the first time in a

skin.