Oops! I Married My Dangerous Stepbrother

I stir in bed as I feel warm sunlight hitting my face. I blink, staring up at the water-stained ceiling. In my half-asleep haze, I could've sworn I heard floorboards creaking outside my room. Probably just the house settling. Or my imagination. Or maybe the house is haunted, I don't know. Ever since Mom married Adrian, my peaceful life has been disrupted. It isn't just the two of us here anymore and I feel like there are too many people in the house. I sit up with a yawn and run a hand through my tangled bedhead. The antique clock on my nightstand reads 10:23 AM—I overslept again. Mom will be pissed. Not that she will say anything to me. Ever since she remarried, she'd been weirdly distant. I swing my legs off the side of the bed and stand. The old floorboards groan under my feet. This house is enormous but old with a lot of history, and I love living here. Well, I used to love living here more before Adrian and his stupid son decided to live here. My gaze lands on the stack of fashion magazines Adrian gave me last week, a smile too big on his tanned face. "Thought my girl might like something to read." Eww... Right. And I am certain those scratches on his Porsche happened by accident too. Everything about Adrian Jensen screams shady. From his slicked-back hair to his expensive watches to the way his beady eyes follow Mom around the room. He doesn't love her, I can tell. He loves her money. And he also has an accomplice: his jerk of a son, Axel. Since Axel moved in, he did nothing but torment me, his eyes gleaming with a cruelty I didn't understand. I shake my head to clear the troubling thoughts. Maybe I am being paranoid. But I can't escape the feeling that something about the Jensens isn't right. And I am determined to find out what. After I wash up, I sluggishly make my way out of my room. The scent of brewing coffee lingers in the air, enticing me to the kitchen. As I approach, I hear low voices and the clinking of utensils. It's the kind of normal morning sounds, but with the Jensens around, nothing feels quite right. Entering the kitchen, I find Adrian leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in hand. His thin smile appears as he notices me. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he greets, his voice smooth but with an edge that sends a shiver down my spine. "Morning," I mutter, avoiding eye contact. I glance around, half-expecting Axel to jump out and scare me. Paranoia or not, I can't shake the feeling that they're always watching. Adrian sets his cup down and looks at me, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "You should join us for breakfast sometime, sweetheart. We're family now, after all." I suppress an eye roll and muster a polite smile. "Maybe," I say, my tone flat. He chuckles, but there's no warmth in it. I open the fridge, searching for something to eat while keeping an eye on him. "So, any plans for today?" he asks, feigning casual interest. "Just the usual," I reply, trying to keep it vague. The less he knows about my day, the better. As I grab a carton of orange juice, I feel his gaze lingering on me. The tension in the room is palpable. Why is he so creepy!? "Alright then," he says, pushing off the counter. "Don't be a stranger, sweetheart." Ugh, I wish he would stop calling me that. I nod and make a quick escape, retreating to the safety of my room. I got changed and left the house as quickly as possible. I am supposed to meet my best friend Cassie anyway. Thank god for that. ~-~ I find Cassie sitting by her front yard, painting her nails. "You're late," she says without looking up. "I know, I'm sorry." I sat beside her on the steps. "Adrian caught me on the way and tried to talk to me. I barely escaped." Cassie's hand pauses, the brush dripping into her knuckle. Her gaze lifts to meet mine, eyes narrowing. "What now?" "Nothing happened," I say quickly. "I just mean he always acts so creepy. Calling me sweetheart and all that. And he's always snooping around. Asking me questions about Mom and where we keep the valuables." "Ugh. He's the worst." Cassie shakes her head, then goes back to her nails. "So what's the plan for Operation Expose the Gold Diggers? Did you find anything yet?" "Not yet. But I know Axel's hiding something. Yesterday I caught him in the attic, going through a bunch of old boxes. When I asked what he was doing, he said he was looking for 'storage space.' But when I went up there later, everything was put back neatly. If he needed storage, why put it all back?" "Definitely shady," Cassie says. "I never trusted that guy. If only he wasn't so devastatingly handsome!" she purrs. "Cassie! Don't even think about it!" I scold her. "What? Am I wrong?" Cassie pouts. "Yes, you're absolutely wrong. And this is not the time for your romantic fantasies. We need to focus on figuring out what the Jensens are up to," I retort, trying to steer the conversation back to our investigation. Despite my best efforts, I can't help but agree with her. That smug bastard has the kind of looks that could draw a crowd in any room. His piercing emerald green eyes glint with charm and mischief, his perfectly tousled hair falling just so above his sculpted cheekbones. Yuck...I need to stop thinking about my stepbrother in that way. Cassie rolls her eyes but relents, putting the nail polish away. "Fine, fine. So, what's the next move?" "I think we should keep an eye on Axel. Maybe follow him when he thinks no one is watching," I suggest, feeling a surge of determination. "I just wish I could find some actual evidence that they're up to no good. Before it's too late, you know?" "We'll find something," Cassie says firmly. "And when we do, your mom will realize she made a huge mistake. She'll kick Adrian and his malicious offspring to the curb, and our lives can go back to normal." I smile, grateful as always for Cassie's confidence in me. "So what's the plan?" "Stakeouts, obviously. We'll take shifts keeping an eye on those creeps. And we'll search the house from top to bottom until we find whatever it is Axel's hiding." "Great, and how are we supposed to do that? You don't even live with me." I roll my eyes. Cassie shrugs. "I don't know. Lots of sleepovers?" "We will talk about it later and come up with a better plan," I suggest. That night, I find myself alone in the house. Mom and Adrian are out on a date, and Axel is supposedly at a friend's house. So I decide to go in the kitchen and make popcorn. But as I pour my popcorn into a bowl, I hear the floorboard creak behind me. I whip around, heart pounding—and find myself face to face with Axel. "Jumpy, aren't we?" His lips curl into a smirk as his gaze rake over me, making me acutely aware of my ratty sweatpants and tank top. "What are you doing here?" I demand. "I thought you were with friends." "I forgot something." He shrugs and saunters toward me, backing me up against the counter. I hold my ground, refusing to show that he makes me anxious even as my pulse races when he is near me. Axel leans in close, his breath hot on my neck. I spot the chain around his neck with a small silver wolf pendant. He is always wearing that stupid thing. "Or maybe I wanted to spend time with my favorite sister instead." Gross. I shove him away, disgust churning in my stomach. "Don't touch me! We are not siblings, we are strangers forced to live together. The sooner you and your dear old dad get out of our lives, the better!" Axel's eyes flash with anger. "Oh, you're feisty today," he sneers, taking a step back. "You really think you can make us leave? You're just some girl living in a fantasy world." I clench my fists, determined not to let his words get to me. "I don't know what you and your dad are up to, but I'm going to find out. And when I do, you'll regret ever stepping foot into this house." He chuckles, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "Good luck with that, Babydoll. You're in way over your head." I watch as he turns and walks away, disappearing into the shadows of the dimly lit house. The encounter leaves me uneasy, but it only fuels my determination to uncover the truth. I go back to gathering my snacks and drinks. Tonight, I plan to sit down and relax and do a movie marathon. That will surely help me forget about the pleasant encounter with my stupid stepbrother. As I make my way to the living room, my mind still racing from the unsettling encounter with Axel, a sudden sense of foreboding washes over me. Ugh! I hate him and his father. Just as I step into the dimly lit living room, I hear footsteps behind me. "Axel, what the hell are you still doi-..." I turn around and stop talking as I find myself looking at a masked figure. "Who are you? What do you want?" I manage to stammer, heart pounding in my ears. He masked intruder remains silent and suddenly lunges at me from the shadows. Panic grips my chest, and I let out a startled scream, dropping everything to the floor. I struggle against his hold, desperately trying to break free. In the chaos of the moment, I spot a glint of metal—an object in their hand. Fear courses through me as I realize he is holding a knife. The cold steel presses against my side, and my breath catches in my throat. "What's going on? Why are you doing this!?" I cry out. The stranger raises his knife and plunges it into my chest. As darkness closes in around me, I catch a glimpse of something around his neck—a silver pendant, one I'd seen before. With a tiny wolf pendant. One that could only belong to... No. It can't be.... But in my heart, I know the truth. Axel Jensen had murdered me.