My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 42: Desperate Parents

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I honestly can’t believe how I ended up arguing with him like that—where that burst of courage even came from. My voice was shaking the whole time, but somehow, I didn’t back down. Maybe it was just that I was fed up with him acting like everyone was below him. Or maybe I just wanted him to realize how much pain he was causing.

I pressed my hand against my chest, exhaling shakily, still feeling the weight of his glare.

Third Person’s POV

Downstairs, the tension hung heavy even after Adrien’s door slammed shut. Helen was standing in the living room, twisting the hem of her blouse, worry written all over her face. The sound of raised voices still seemed to vibrate in the walls, sharp and weary.

Keith sat on the edge of the couch, jaw tight, eyes locked on the dark staircase, looking like a man trying not to lose his patience.

"This isn’t working," he finally muttered, his voice heavy with fatigue. "They’re getting worse."

Helen sighed and lowered herself next to him. "They just need time," she said softly, though there was doubt in her tone. "It’s only been a month. They’re still adjusting."

"Adjusting?" he scoffed, rubbing his hand over his face. "Helen, he fought someone right in the middle of the basketball court. He got suspended and got that on his school records. And now he was upstairs yelling at her like it’s his fault."

Helen frowned, guilt flickering in her eyes. "Noah’s trying, Keith. You know how he is. He’s always been the kind to bottle things up, never complains."

Keith leaned back, letting out a deep sigh and staring at the ceiling as if he could find patience up there. "I just don’t get it," he said, his voice softer now. "I didn’t raise Adrien to be like this. He used to have it together...he wasn’t perfect, but he had respect. Now he’s just angry all the time."

Helen gently placed her hand on his arm. "He’s angry because he’s hurting," she said quietly. "Losing his mom, having to share his life with a new family—it’s tough for him. And for Noah too."

Keith’s expression softened a bit, though the frustration was still there. "So what do we do? Because if this keeps going, we’ll all fall apart before we even feel like a family."

Helen glanced towards the staircase, her voice faint. "We help them. We need to show them they don’t have to hate each other."

Keith nodded slowly, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Easier said than done."

It seemed like whenever Noah and Adrien were acting up, one parent would complain and the other would take up the role of comforting the other and reminding them the to have patience.

The house grew quiet again, their words hanging thick in the air. Up above, neither Noah nor Adrien could hear the quiet desperation in their parents’ voices—if they had, maybe they would’ve realized that the adults were just as lost as they were.

"Hey," Said Helen. "Now, Adrien is suspended from school... don’t you think now’s the time to put our plan in motion?"

Keith glanced at Helen in response and with a small grin, "I think I married a genius."

Noah’s Pov

By the time the house was quiet again, I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and tracing invisible shapes in the shadows. My arm still ached faintly beneath the bandage, but it wasn’t the pain keeping me awake—it was the memory of Ethan’s voice echoing in my mind.

"I love you."

Those words replayed like a soft whisper I couldn’t shake. It felt too soon, too big, like something out of a dream I wasn’t sure I was ready for. Did people really fall in love that easily? Just a month ago, I could never have imagined that Ethan would like me that way, and now here he was saying things that made my chest tighten and my thoughts spiral in ways I couldn’t quite grasp.

I turned over, burying my face in my pillow. Maybe I was just overthinking it. I liked him—there was no denying that. The way he smiled at me, the way he always made sure I felt safe even when everything around us was falling apart, those meant something. But love? That was new ground, and it both scared and excited me.

My phone buzzed beside me, lighting up the dim room. Ethan’s name flashed on the screen.

Ethan💙💖: Meet me at Shellie’s in an hour? I really want to see you.

A sigh escaped my lips before I could stop it, a mix of exasperation and nervous excitement. Classic Ethan—he couldn’t go a single day without wanting to see me. My stomach fluttered as I quickly texted back, "Okay, I’ll be there."

Sliding off the bed, I checked the time—it was almost sunset. The sky outside was painted in fading streaks of orange and pink, the kind that made everything feel softer and quieter. I changed into a light sweater and jeans, brushing my hair with my fingers into a presentable style before catching my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were already flushed, though I told myself it was just from the warmth of the room and not the thought of seeing him.

As I slipped on my shoes, a thought crept in, one that wouldn’t leave me alone no matter how hard I tried to push it away. I should tell him. Ethan had been upfront with me about his feelings, and here I was, still keeping something from him. He didn’t even know Adrien was my stepbrother. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

My heart thudded uncomfortably at the thought of how he’d react. Would he be angry? Hurt? Maybe he’d think I’d been lying to him all along. But if we were going to make this work, whatever this was—I couldn’t keep that kind of secret forever.

"I’ll tell him tonight," I murmured under my breath, the words sounding braver than I felt.

The mansion was quiet as I crept downstairs. Mom and Keith were probably in the study talking or pretending not to worry about Adrien anymore. I didn’t want to explain where I was going, not tonight. I needed some space to think, to breathe, and Ethan had a way of making everything feel a little lighter.

I slipped through the front door; the evening air was cool against my skin as I stepped into the fading light. Somewhere beyond the trees, I could already picture Shellie’s Diner glowing in the distance...its neon sign flickering, the hum of chatter and music spilling into the night.

As I started down the path toward Ridge Street, I promised myself that tonight, I’d finally be honest with him. Whether it went perfectly or horribly wrong, I owed Ethan that much.