Forbidden Ties

Chapter 23: "Operation Save My Stepbrother."

Sam's P.O.V.

The halls felt different today. There was a weight in the air, a quiet buzz that made my stomach churn. I’d already heard the whispers this morning—soft, sharp, like daggers being thrown behind my back. I tried to ignore them, tried to keep my head down, but it was impossible.

Madison's voice carried clearly down the hall as I walked toward my locker, her words sharp enough to make me freeze in my tracks.

“I swear, I don’t know what I was thinking, wasting my time with him,” she said, her laugh fake and loud. “Jax is a horrible boyfriend. And don't even get me started on... other things.” She lowered her voice, but the girls around her leaned in, eager for the details. “Let’s just say he couldn’t keep up. I’m not that easy, you know.”

A sharp pang hit my chest, though I wasn’t sure if it was the disappointment in hearing her trash him or the anger bubbling up at her audacity. Either way, I could feel the sting of her words deep inside. I didn’t even want to think about how much this would hurt Jax.

I moved quickly to my locker, pretending I hadn’t heard anything, but Madison's voice was like an echo in my head.

“He’s good-looking, sure,” another girl piped up, “but if he can’t even get it right in bed, what’s the point?”

I stopped, momentarily paralyzed. What was she even talking about? This wasn’t just a rumor—it was an attack. I clenched my jaw as I fought the urge to turn around and confront her.

I didn’t, though. I didn’t need to. Because soon enough, the rumors started circulating like wildfire. Everyone knew. And every time I overheard one, the pit in my stomach grew deeper. Some girls were disgusted. Others, I could tell, were curious. Some even laughed at Jax’s expense.

I wanted to tell him, wanted to wrap him in the kind of comfort he’d given me so many times before. But how could I? He didn’t need my pity. And no matter how badly I wanted to defend him, I knew he’d never accept it.

But as I overheard yet another conversation in the hallway, something strange crept into my mind. These girls? They were already moving on. I could see it in the way they were now dismissing Jax. Some were outright saying that they’d never go near him. They were saying they could “teach him a few things”—like he was some kind of project. Like he was beneath them now.

And in that moment, I realized something I hadn’t allowed myself to consider before: I liked it. Not that they were trashing him—of course not—but the fact that their attention was finally off him. That was one less Madison. One less girl who thought she could parade around, throwing herself at him as if he were a conquest.

Jax didn’t deserve any of this, any of the mess Madison had made. But he also didn’t deserve to be the subject of all these cruel rumors, especially when it was all based on lies.

A part of me wanted to confront Madison and make her regret what she’d done, but another part of me knew that doing so would only keep the flames burning. Instead, I’d let the lies die out on their own.

It didn’t take long for me to notice Jax had disappeared from his usual spots around school. He wasn’t at lunch, nor was he by the bleachers or anywhere else where I’d usually spot him. My heart sank as I realized what was going on. The rumors, the lies Madison had been spreading—they were getting to him. I couldn’t just sit by and watch him hide away, especially when I knew he didn’t deserve any of it. If he was retreating because of what people were saying, then I had to step in. I wasn’t going to let Madison win this time.

At lunch, I found Lily sitting at our usual spot in the cafeteria. She was already picking at her food, her expression more serious than usual. When I sat down, I didn't waste any time.

"Lily," I started, lowering my voice so no one else could overhear. "I need your help."

Her eyes narrowed in curiosity. "What’s up?"

I leaned in, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "I’m launching Operation Save My Stepbrother from Madison."

Lily’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she didn’t say anything. I knew I had her attention.

"You know the rumors, right? The ones she’s been spreading about Jax? I want to flip the narrative. Turn the attention away from him. Madison’s trying to make his life hell, and I don’t think she’s going to stop until she’s made him out to be some kind of joke."

Lily nodded slowly, chewing thoughtfully for a moment. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

I leaned back, the wheels in my head already spinning. "We turn the tables on her. We make sure everyone sees Madison for what she really is. Let her take the heat for her own drama. But we need to play it smart, no impulsive moves."

Lily looked at me for a beat, her fingers tapping against the table. Finally, she nodded. "I’m in. You know I’ve got your back."

I smiled. "Good. You’re the best."

Lily and I spent the rest of lunch hashing out the details of our plan. We needed to gather information first, make sure we were armed with the right facts before confronting Madison head-on. But for now, it was all about planting the seeds—subtle things that would make people start questioning Madison’s version of the story.

"I think the best way to start," Lily said, tapping her pen against her notebook, "is to talk to the girls who’ve been spreading the rumors. If we can get them to turn on Madison, the rest will follow."

"Right," I agreed, feeling a spark of determination. "We need to make her the villain here. But we’ve got to be careful. If we come on too strong, she’ll just accuse us of trying to ruin her reputation. I want to show the truth without making it obvious."

Lily grinned, clearly on the same page. "Don’t worry, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. We’ll make sure she gets what's coming to her, without even knowing it."

I felt a weight lift off my shoulders as I realized just how lucky I was to have Lily in my corner. She knew how to handle situations like this, and with her help, I was sure we could turn everything around for Jax. It was time to take control of the narrative—and I was more than ready.

By the end of the school day, the mood had shifted. Word had spread faster than I’d expected, and the ripple effect was unmistakable. Lily and I had worked quickly—planting a few well-placed comments, making sure the rumors turned back on Madison. It wasn’t just about the truth anymore; it was about shifting the focus to her, exposing the way she’d been manipulating people.

As I walked down the hallway toward my locker, I could hear the whispers before I even rounded the corner. A group of girls standing near the water fountain giggled, casting sideways glances at Madison as she passed by. They were laughing, but the moment she looked in their direction, they quickly pretended to be discussing something else. The change in tone was obvious, and it made me feel a rush of satisfaction.

"I heard she’s been spreading some pretty nasty rumors about Jax," one girl muttered loudly enough for the whole hallway to hear. "I mean, if anyone’s the problem here, it’s her."

Another girl snickered. "Yeah, seriously. I’ve never seen someone so desperate for attention. What’s she gonna do next? Make up lies about her ex to make herself look better?"

The group laughed again, and I caught a glimpse of Madison’s face—her eyes flicking around, panic starting to set in. She clearly had no idea what was happening, but it was clear that the tide was turning. Her perfect image was starting to c***k.

"Did you hear she’s been spreading lies about Jax?" another voice piped up. "Honestly, I thought she was better than that."

Some of the guys, too, had begun to make their opinions known. One of them glanced at her and snickered, "Guess she’s just mad she didn’t get what she wanted."

I felt a sense of triumph spread through me as I heard their mocking comments. It wasn’t just one person; it was everyone. Madison was the target now, and I wasn’t about to stop until she had nowhere left to hide.

As I reached the car, I felt a sudden pull on my arm. Before I could process it, Jax had wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. I froze, caught completely off guard. I had expected him to say something, but not like this.

"Lily told me everything," he murmured into my hair, his voice low but full of gratitude. "Thank you."

The warmth of his embrace caught me off guard even more, especially in public, where people could be watching. I pulled back slightly, glancing around nervously. But Jax didn’t seem to care. His grip on me was gentle yet firm, as though he was holding onto something he didn’t want to lose.

For a moment, I just stood there, unsure of what to say. The weight of his words lingered between us, and as we finally broke apart, I caught a glimpse of someone watching us from across the parking lot.

And suddenly, everything I had done—everything that had been set in motion—seemed to be spiraling toward something much bigger.