My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 215: Not Exactly A Wallflower Anymore

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So I did. Article after article painted a picture of the Seymour family in broad, wealthy strokes. Italian immigrants in the 1930s who had turned a small car repair shop into a dealership empire—eight locations nationwide, with a ninth in the works.

Hundreds of millions in net worth, private schools, charity events, the whole bit. And Ethan, sweet, down-to-earth Ethan was the heir to it all, the oldest son of William Seymour, the current yet absent CEO.

I already knew he was rich. Everyone knew the Seymours were loaded. But seeing it all laid out like this, family photos from society pages, Ethan in a tux at some fundraiser when he was fourteen, smiling politely beside his parents made it hit different.

He’d always seemed so normal to me. The guy who split fries at the diner, sent me goofy memes, and held my hand like it was the most natural thing ever.

Then I clicked on an article from seven years ago: "Seymour Brothers Announce Leadership Transition."

William Seymour, Ethan’s dad, was taking a year-long "sabbatical" in Monaco with his wife. He was handing over daily control of the empire to his younger brother, Logan Seymour.

Huh, Logan Seymour.

I froze, a slow grin spreading across my face. Turning the laptop toward Adrien felt like unveiling a treasure.

"Still think I’m crazy now?"

He leaned in, eyes scanning the screen, and let out a low whistle. "Well, damn."

Then he reached over and ruffled my hair like I was a golden retriever who’d fetched the newspaper. "Never said you were crazy. Just mildly, fucking delusional sometimes."

I swatted his hand away, trying to fix my hair. "Prick."

He just grinned, unrepentant, and planted a quick, soft kiss on my cheek—just a fleeting brush of lips, warm and sweet. "Keep going, Shortie. You’re on a roll."

Butterflies flitted around in my stomach again, but I forced myself to focus. I scrolled further, reading aloud in a dramatic newscaster voice.

"’During this period, Logan Seymour, accomplished attorney and younger brother to William, will oversee operations...’ Blah blah, impressive credentials, yadda yadda."

I paused on an accompanying photo: a younger Logan, sharp suit, shark smile, standing beside a shiny luxury car on a dealership lot.

That was the fact, the one who’d taken over the family empire right around when Joanne started needing legal help.

The one who, based on everything we’d pieced together, might’ve ensured her half-brothers never threatened her inheritance again.

Adrien’s expression darkened as he studied the photo. "Why are you staring at him like you want to reach through the screen and punch him?"

"Because I do," I said flatly.

He blinked, then chuckled, though there was little humor in it. "Okay, noted. Remind me never to get on your bad side."

I didn’t laugh. "You know you will, even if I did."

My gaze remained fixed on Logan’s smug, polished face, and something cold settled in my chest. This wasn’t just the man who might’ve helped hide Joanne’s death.

This was the man whose brother—Ethan’s father...had given him power.

The man whose family name was linked to everything Ethan cherished.

And if the darker rumors I’d buried deep were true, the man who’d once laid hands on Ethan in ways no guardian ever should.

I didn’t say that out loud. Not yet.

But scrolling further, digging into Logan’s legal background, family law specialist, early retirement after a "confidential settlement" made one thing clear.

We had our first real suspect.

And he was closer to home than any of us had ever guessed.

The next morning at Brookstone High felt like I had stepped onto a stage where everyone knew the script but me. Adrien pulled up his SUV near the main entrance, the engine rumbling as I grabbed my backpack from the back seat.

We hadn’t talked much during the drive, partly because we were both running on barely any sleep and too much leftover adrenaline from our secret getaway, but mostly because every time our eyes met in the rearview mirror, I couldn’t help but remember the way his hands had felt on my skin and suddenly forgot how to speak.

"Try not to start any riots," he joked as I got out, that familiar smirk on his face.

"No promises," I shot back, slamming the door a bit harder than needed.

As soon as I turned toward the school steps, I felt it, the weight of dozens of eyes on me like spotlights. Students were gathered near the benches, in the doorway, and along the railing, all pretending not to stare, but it was clear they were.

Whispers followed me like a breeze I couldn’t shake; they were quiet enough that I couldn’t catch the words but loud enough to make my skin crawl.

For a brief moment, I panicked, thinking the worst: what if the story about Patrick and his friends at the party had leaked—the almost-assault, the terror, Adrien and Ethan swooping in?

My stomach dropped, and heat rushed to my face as I imagined the rumors morphing into something horrible.

I almost went into a panic attack at the thought of everyone knowing what had happened to me.

Then I saw Gigi and Skylar on their usual bench by the flagpole, Gigi waving frantically while Skylar stood ready to charge into battle for me. I made a beeline for them, weaving through the crowd, trying to keep my chin up and walk normally.

Gigi looked worried when I plopped down beside him. "Guy, where have you been? You just vanished for two days, no texts, no posts, nothing. We were about to call the cops to do a welfare check."

"I’m fine," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just... family stuff. Long story."

Skylar narrowed her eyes, clearly not buying it, but before she could start grilling me, I scanned the courtyard again. More whispers and even more stares.

A bunch of sophomores near the doors actually stopped talking when I looked their way.

"Okay, what the actual fuck is going on?" I asked, keeping my voice low. "Why does it feel like I grew a second head overnight?"

Skylar and Gigi exchanged a loaded glance, then Skylar sighed, his usual sharpness softened by pity. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"You know how we always said the stepbrother thing would blow up eventually?" he said gently.

I nodded, a sense of dread pooling in my stomach.

Gigi leaned closer. "Well... it blew up. Kris found out somehow...and told Shannon. Shannon told literally everyone. The whole school knows you and Adrien are step-brothers now."

A couple of juniors walked past, their eyes darting to me with poorly hidden curiosity. Skylar shot them a glare.

"What are you morons even looking at? Keep moving!"

They hurried off, and the whispers intensified.

Oh...that’s all? Then that’s fine.

I let out a slow breath. Of all the things I was preparing for, this felt... oddly manageable.

"If that’s all," I shrugged, "then it’s not a big deal."