My Arrogant Stepbrother

10: Almost Exposed

The morning after Jason slipped out of my room, I couldn’t focus on anything. Not my homework, not the teacher’s lectures, not even Maya’s endless chatter about an upcoming dance.

All I could think about was the way Jason had looked at me—the raw intensity in his eyes, the way the space between us had felt too small, too dangerous.

And the way I hadn’t wanted to step back.

⸻

By lunchtime, the rumors were worse than ever. Chelsea, apparently fueled by humiliation, had doubled down on making my life miserable.

“I swear, they were alone together at the party,” she whispered loudly to her friends, making sure I heard. “Who knows what happened when the lights went down?”

Her voice carried across the cafeteria, and the ripple of laughter that followed made my stomach twist. I tried to ignore it, but my hands clenched so tightly around my tray my knuckles turned white.

I had just taken my seat when the worst happened. Chelsea strutted toward me, her eyes glinting with malice, and plopped herself at my table.

“So, Olivia,” she purred, her voice dripping venom, “does Jason call you Princess at home too? Or does he have… other names for you?”

Gasps spread around us. My chest burned with anger and shame, and I opened my mouth to snap back—but before I could, Jason appeared.

“Chelsea.”

The way he said her name froze her in place. His jaw was clenched, his hazel eyes sharp as glass.

“Get up,” he ordered.

Chelsea tried to mask her surprise with a coy smile. “Jason, I was just—”

“I said get up.” His voice left no room for argument.

For once, Chelsea obeyed. She stood, face flushing under the weight of everyone’s stares, and stalked off without another word.

Jason turned his gaze on me, and for a second, the world seemed to fade. His expression softened—just a flicker—but it was enough to make my heart stutter.

Then he did something reckless. Something that made my pulse roar in my ears.

He sat down beside me.

The cafeteria fell silent. Whispers buzzed like static electricity, but nobody dared speak above a murmur. Jason Cole never sat anywhere except at the center of his own crowd. And now, he was sitting with me.

I stared at him, wide-eyed. “What are you doing?” I hissed under my breath.

He smirked faintly, but there was something guarded in his eyes. “Making a point.”

“To who?” I demanded.

“To everyone,” he said simply.

The weight of his words hit me hard. He wasn’t just defending me anymore—he was claiming me, in front of everyone. And judging by the gasps, the entire school noticed.

Maya sat down across from us, her eyes wide as saucers. She leaned in, whispering, “Do you have any idea what you just started?”

I didn’t. Not really. But I knew one thing: Jason had just crossed a line neither of us could ever step back from.

And if anyone else had doubts before, they were gone now.

Because in that moment, it didn’t look like Jason Cole was protecting his stepsister.

It looked like he was choosing her.