Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 61

(Ava's

POV)

The rumours reached me first. They always did. Moving through the hallways like ghosts, brushing past my ears, tickling my senses. And the rumours were always the same filled with fragments of conversations, bits and pieces of secrets that others tried so hard to keep buried. But nothing stayed hidden forever, not here. Not when I was around.

That morning, I overheard two girls talking in the lounge. I leaned against the wall, pretending to check my phone, but every word they said sliced through me like a blade.

"I swear, I saw them," one of the girls said, her eyes darting around to make sure no one was listening. "Angel and Hendrix, they were... you know... close." "Close?" The other girl snorted. "Girl, you mean close, close?"

"Yes, I'm telling you. They were practically glued together. And you should've seen the way he looked at her. I mean, who does that with their stepsister?"

My blood ran cold. Angel and Hendrix. I should have known. So they still got the thing going? All the pieces started falling into place. The way Hendrix's eyes still lingered on her during therapy sessions, the way Angel always seemed to tense up whenever Hendrix walked into a room. It was sick they were still keeping at whatever they had going on between them. Disgusting. But it was also the confirmation I needed.

They weren't just stepsiblings. There was something more. Something that made me want to tear my hair out, claw my way through the walls of this damned place, and scream.

The memories started flooding back, unbidden, and I felt myself sinking, spiraling into the darkness that I had fought so hard to keep away.

>>>I was only thirteen when it started. I remember the way my stepbrother looked at me that day, his eyes dark and hungry, like he could devour me whole. "Come here, Ava," he'd said with a warped kind of sweetness. And I was so stupid, so naïve. I didn't see the warning signs. I didn't recognize the danger in his eyes.

And by the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. His hands were on me, rough and demanding, stealing pieces of me that I would never get back. "You're mine, V," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "You'll always be mine.">>>

I blinked back the tears that wanted to spill over. No. I wouldn't let myself go there. Not now. Not when I had bigger things to deal with. Angel. Hendrix. They were my targets now. And I wasn't going to let anyone stand in my way. As I made my way back to my dorm, I passed by Thomas sitting on the bench near the courtyard. He looked up as I approached, his face lighting up with that stupid, goofy smile of his. And that's when I realized the way he watched Angel, the way he'd always seemed to gravitate towards her. It all made sense.

feelings for her

was perfect. If I could turn him against Angel, if I could drive a wedge between them, maybe I'd finally be able to break her. And

the same easy to manipulate, easy to control. I'd learned that the hard way. "Hey, Thomas," I said, leaning against the bench, my voice soft and seductive. "You look lonely. Mind

blinked, taken aback. "Uh, sure, I guess." He shifted, making space

his, just enough to send a spark between us. "You know, you've been spending a lot of time with Angel lately," I said, my tone casual. "What's

"She's... she's

and airy. "Oh, come on, Thomas. We both know that's not true. I see the way you look at her. You like her, don't

I gotta go...do some workout."

done talking

And he was gone.

Strange. Or rather, fascinating.

...

I laid eyes on her. There was something about the way she carried herself and that effortless sweetness. It made my skin crawl. But lately, things had gotten worse. Her eyes followed Hendrix with a look I'd seen one too many times. I wasn't

saw the way Hendrix leaned into her like he was drawn to her. And when she placed her hand on his arm with that light touch, something in

dug my nails into my palms until I felt the sting, reminding myself to keep my rage in check. I'd been here before and had been cast aside for someone else's

last time I wanted to talk to him, it wasn't helping his case. But when I saw him staring at her from across the cafeteria today with that hunger in his eyes, I knew for certain he

as I stood there, hiding behind the vending machine, and my mind raced with possibilities. Two men tangled up with one girl-it was almost poetic how easy it was to ruin things when hearts were involved. Especially when one of those hearts had always belonged to me. Hendrix was mine. I had claimed him long before Angel ever

ago. You don't just attack. You plant seeds, you make

time, I had to be

the fountain just outside the dorms, and his shoulders were hunched over. He looked lost, and I could use that. I smoothed down my hair and made sure my skirt was a little higher than usual. Then I approached him with that slow and measured walk

our legs touched. He glanced at me, startled, and I flashed him a smile, letting my fingers brush over his