Trapped With My Best Friend’s Brother

Part 1

Kaden Yates was my stepbrother, and he really disliked me. Whenever he talked to me, it was always with sarcasm, and he never said anything friendly.

His eyes were filled with disdain and mockery when he looked at me, as if I was the dirtiest thing in the world.

The more he acted like this, the more I tried to disgust him that I followed him around, sweetly calling him in a timid voice on purpose.

I could see the negative emotions swirling in his eyes growing more intense. I swallowed calmly and, like a persistent puppy, got closer to him, trying to provoke him.

With my extrovert personality, I refused to believe I couldn't deal with Kaden.

Finally, after days of my efforts, his attitude softened a bit.

When we were alone, he seemed quite gentle, his eyes clear with a smile on his lips, making it hard not to steal a few more glances at him.

I thought we could live in peace until I stumbled upon his diary left on the table.

With Kaden out, I decided to see what he was thinking about every day.

"On August 15th, Melina Yates is even more annoying than her mom. Don't think calling me 'brother' will make me see her as a sister."

Who wanted to call him like that? I was just trying to keep the peace.

"On August 18th, I bought a meat mincer online. Hope it works well."

A meat mincer?

"On August 20th, I wondered if the hair could be flushed down the toilet."

Hair?

"On August 25th, I found it turned out vinegar could remove the smell of blood."

Vinegar?

Blood smell?

Was he planning to kill me?

I burst into tears, trembling with fear.

With only Kaden and me at home, I had to cover my mouth with my hand to stifle my sobs.

"On August 27th, I should take action."

I glanced at the calendar on the wall. Today was just August 27th.

My body stiffened, blood ran cold, and my mind went blank.

Kaden must be planning to harm me!

The sky was overcast and rain began to fall while the wind was blowing in gusts, making the branches of the pear tree outside the window sway.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Kaden was coming downstairs. I had my heart in my mouth, cold sweat pouring down my back.

Paralyzed by fear, I couldn't think and rushed to the door, only to hear a calm voice behind me.

"Where are you going?"

As I reached for the door, Kaden had already placed his hand on the doorknob.

He looked down at me, speaking softly, "If you run about, I'll break your legs, and then..."

My legs were already soar, trembling so much I could barely stand.

He led me to the sofa, his amber eyes glancing at me with a casual indifference, a smile playing on his lips that sent a chill down my spine.

"Even in the afterlife, I won't let you go, monster."

"Monster?"

He emphasized the word, then snorted, "Finally, you spoke out your real thought."

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, so I closed my eyes.

"Braydon, didn't you ask me to eat at your...?"

The door opened, and Roderick Gilbert stood there with his back facing the light.

Seeing Roderick made me feel like seeing a savior, and I rushed into his arms, "Run, run!"

Roderick stiffened, then he patted my hand and comforted, "Don't be afraid, your brother won't eat you."

I frowned, my lips trembling and the rims of my eyes turning red, clutching his sleeve, unable to form a complete sentence.

Roderick gently soothed me, then shouted at Kaden, "What did you do to scare your sister like this?"

Kaden scoffed, not answering.

Instead, he casually walked to the fridge, taking out slices of pork and tossing them into the meat mincer.

He smiled lightly, "Make pizza."

I stared in shock as his meticulously clean hands kneaded the dough. Noticing my gaze, Kaden lifted his eyelids and gave me a slight smile.

A tide of rage surged through me as I questioned, feeling wronged, "Why did you eveen write about making pizza in your diary?

You did it on purpose!"

Kaden lazily replied, "You peeked at my diary?"

He snorted, "I didn't blame you for violating my privacy, and you're accusing me, huh?"

"You!"

I glared at him. And he raised an eyebrow with a playful smile on his face, looking at me with smug satisfaction.

I lowered my head, realizing it was my fault for reading his diary and jumping to conclusions, making myself a laughingstock.

In my first confrontation with Kaden, I lost completely.

Roderick handed me a tissue to wipe my tears, but I hesitated and thought I couldn't take it.

Instead, I walked over to Kaden, taking his arm, whining, "Oh, Kaden, how could I misunderstand you?

I've gone too much."

As I wiped my tears and snot on Kaden's clothes as I wished, I felt like I hadn't lost since I knew he was obsessional about cleanliness.

Kaden tilted his chin, his eyes darkening, "Let go of me."

I quickly loosened my grip on his arm, turning round with my back to him, rolling my eyes unhappily.

Kaden had really behaved appallingly and anyone who liked him must be blind.

Part 2

Besides being my so-called brother, Kaden was also my schoolmate. By a strange twist of fate, our two classes actually received physical education together.

Half the girls in my class were his fans, chattering around me during gym, "Kaden is so handsome, his smile is so charming and he could totally be a star."

I couldn't help but want to laugh with disdain, "With such a bad personality, what the use of his charming smile?"

"Melina, are you close with Kaden?

How do you know he's awful?"

"Not close!"

I immediately denied, "They say the face reflects the character. From his devilish look, you can tell his personality is bad."

"Maybe you're just blind.

Who do you think is good-looking then?"

"Roderick."

I blurted out.

His elegance was unmatched and unique.

I rested my chin on my hand, a smile spreading on my lips, my ears slightly turning red.

My desk mate gasped, "K-Kaden?"

"Don't mention him in front of me, it's really unlucky to hear his name." I said unhappily.

"Oh?

Really?"

A shiver of fear ran through me as a cold breeze blew from behind, giving me goosebumps.

Hearing that man's voice, I was shocked. Could it be...

I swallowed, my knees going weak.

Even if I knelt now, Kaden wouldn't spare me.

Numb with fear, I hid my nervousness and spoke calmly, "Is it wrong to call Kaden a devil?

Isn't he a fugitive seducer of young women?

Constantly exuding charm, he's truly awful. His smile must be the gift given by God."

As I finished speaking, a chuckle came from behind.

I slowly turned, seeing Kaden holding a basketball, watching me with a faint smile.

My eyes were attracted by the defined muscles on his arms, which was obviously enough to knock me out with one punch.

Before he could lose his temper, I wisely stepped back, giving him my most sincere smile.

Kaden lazily beckoned to me with a finger, "Come here."

I got closer, trembling, and he suddenly lifted his eyes, giving me a disdainful smile, "Don't pretend to be smart.

Don't think flattering me outside will make me accept you."

"Who's flattering you!"

I glared at him, feeling upset in my chest.

He was truly awful, not likable at all.

Kaden raised his eyes indifferently, the curve of his lips showing undisguised mockery.

Just then, Roderick approached with two bottles of water, glancing at Kaden, "Who upset you?"

Before Kaden could answer, he handed me a bottle, ruffling my hair, "Was your brother horrid to you again?"

I sneaked a glance at Kaden, seeing his darkened face, and quickly denied, "Brother never is horrid to me."

But brother wanted to kill me.

"Don't be afraid of him, I'll protect you."

Roderick's voice was gentle, like a warm breeze in my ear.

I stared at Roderick, seeing my reflection in his eyes, and my mind went blank.

The other bottle in Kaden's hand creaked as he gripped it tightly. He glanced at Roderick, "Aren't you leaving?"

"Weren't you the one who came over first?

Hey, why are you walking so fast?

Wait for me."

Kaden was really a weird, who was even nasty to Roderick.

As they left, a group of girls surrounded me excitedly.

"Melina, how do you know Kaden and Roderick?

You seem really close."

Kaden had warned me not to let rumors spread at school about him having a sister, or else I'd be in trouble.

Given his reputation for being abrasive, he must have made plenty of enemies, and I was worried they might retaliate against me when knowing I was his sister.

"I'm not close to them, just ordinary neighbors. We hardly ever see each other."

"Then could you help me give this love letter to Kaden?"

No, he'd look down on me.

"I'll pay for your breakfast for a month."

"It's not impossible, but..."

"And I'll buy the ticket to the concert of Justin for you."

"Deal!"

For a moment, I hesitated, but it was Justin's concert, after all.

Part 3

Giving Kaden the love letter openly would surely be rejected, so I had to be sneaky.

From my observations, he and Roderick always headed to the nearby basketball court at six in the evening.

He must have left home by now.

Feeling smug, I entered his room, but before I could place the letter down, he emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel.

Standing under the light, Kaden looked at me with surprise, quickly masked by sarcasm, "Looking sly and furtive, what are you up to?"

He flicked a switch on the wall, and the bright room turned dim.

I couldn't help but mutter, "Why don't you go to play basketball?"

Kaden's towel hung low as he walked toward me, and it seemed to fall with each step.

I quickly turned round, my heart pounding wildly.

He spoke lazily, "Explain."

Burying my face in my arms, I held up the letter embarrassedly, "Read this, and you'll understand."

Kaden came closer, "Look up."

With his misty and teasing his eyes, he had droplets of water tracing from his hair down his cheek to his collarbone.

I stepped back helplessly, hearing his lazy voice.

"Did you write this?"

How could I fall in love with him?

"No."

I widened my eyes, utterly serious.

Kaden chuckled coldly, waving the love letter between his fingers.

"I've read it. We're impossible."

I was taken aback, a bit annoyed, "I didn't write it. Can't you see the signature?"

He glanced at him, his gaze icy. "Being rejected by me isn't shameful. Don't be unreasonable."

Unreasonable?

Kaden was really strange. He drove both me out directly with the letter.

Pouting, I thought about how ever since my mom married into the Yates family, I hadn't had a single peaceful day, always living in fear of upsetting Kaden.

After she got remarried, I had the feeling of being an outsider and no one cared about me anymore.

The more I thought about it, the sadder I became, and I ended up crying outside Kaden's room.

At first, I sobbed quietly, but eventually, I started to blubber like a child.

Kaden was heartless; he didn't even come out to see what was happening.

"Why are you wailing in the middle of the night?

Don't disturb your brother's rest."

Mom came up from the first floor, not asking why I was crying, but just reprimanding me.

I clenched my fists, forcing a bitter smile.

Living in others' house, I had no right to feel wronged.

People like me, without a home, could only cry in secret at night.

Back in my room, I weakly unfolded the crumpled love letter.

I couldn't understand which sentence in it made Kaden think it was written by me.

Then I figured it out!

Why didn't that girl sign her name on the love letter?!

The next morning, with the rims of my eyes swollen from crying, I dragged myself downstairs, just in time to hear my mom fawning over Kaden.

"Kaden, did Stephanie's crying outside your room disturb your rest last night?"

I paused and my foot almost slipped.

A burning gaze turned toward me. His expression was indifferent, revealing no emotion, "I had my headphones on.

So I didn't hear it."

I walked past them calmly, but sure enough, I heard mom's curses behind me. "Useless girl, You're really cheeky."

The winter wind was chill, making me feel even colder.

I pursed my lips, pretending not to care, and continued toward school.

Kaden caught up with me, walking silently by my side. "After I rejected you, did you cry outside my room all night?"

"I didn't!"

I'd never choose him, even if he were the last man on earth.

He let out a low chuckle, clearly not believing me.

I was so angry I could faint.

This misunderstanding was getting worse and worse.

Part 4

School was truly a seedbed for gossip. In just a few days, every girl knew Kaden was my...

neighbor.

Suddenly, I became the center of attention, constantly approached by girls asking me to deliver love letters to him.

Braelynn Fuller, feeling guilty about the "unsigned love letter incident," stuck to me like glue in order to make up for it.

After evening classes, I was eager to go home, but Braelynn wouldn't let me leave.

Frustrated, I grabbed her shoulders, "If you have something to say, hurry up. I need to get home."

"Melina, I have a signed photo of Justin. It's your birthday today, right?

It's for you."

As I happily accepted it, I felt a love letter under the photo.

What? After that thing had just happened, she dared to try this again?!

I restrained my anger, gritting my teeth, "It's not negotiable."

Braelynn still grabbed the hand of me, refusing to give up.

Just then, Kaden happened to pass by, giving us a cold glance.

"Melina, why aren't you going home? What are you doing here?"

I pursed my lips, quickly pointing to Braelynn, "She's looking for you."

Braelynn pinched my hand hard, "Melina, h-he's so scary."

Well, I thought she was really bold enough to show her love for him. Just as I was about to comfort her, Kaden walked over.

He eyed the letter in Braelynn's hand, seemingly understanding the situation.

Then he looked at Braelynn seriously, "Melina won't help you deliver love letters."

He raised an eyebrow, adding sternly, "You're her rival in love."

I was dumbfounded.

Ridiculous!

How could I be her rival in love?!

Braelynn, the rims of her eyes red, glanced at me in realization and quickly ran off, leaving me standing there, bewildered.

Kaden saw me standing there, and for some reason, raised his voice, "Aren't you going home?"

I followed him unhappily, glaring at the back of his head, wishing I could make a hole in it.

Unexpectedly, Kaden turned around, leaning close to my ear, speaking softly, "I didn't know you liked me so much."

Did he think I refused to deliver Braelynn's love letter because I liked him?

The thought was ridiculous, and my face flushed with anger.

I was about to explain to him when I looked up and saw him smiling at me, his eyes sparkling as if the stars had gathered in them, adding to his charm.

I couldn't bear that look, like it could suck me in. In that moment, my mind went blank.