My Heartless Stepbrother

Prologue

Summer of 2020

Adrian Reed stared at Meghan parker as she dipped her toes in the water. He tried to focus on his friends as they chattered among themselves, but his gaze kept sliding to her, following her as she enjoyed the summer day. He fought against everything inside of him, but there was no escape.

"Did you hear what I just said?" his friend Tiffany asked. She said something else, but he stopped listening again. "Adrian!"

"Huh, what?" he answered immediately this time.

"Why are you staring at that girl? Who is she?" Tiffany demanded to know.

"She is kinda cute." Luke grinned while staring at Meghan.

"She is Natasha's daughter, Meghan," Adrian said grimly. The fact that she was his stepsister pissed him off, and it was getting harder and harder for him to hide his true feelings.

Adrian couldn't care less when his dad married Meghan's mother, Natasha. His mother passed away when he was four, and he and his dad weren't close, so the new woman in his dad's life felt like a nuisance to him.

But his feelings changed when he met Meghan for the first time.

She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, even though she didn't seem to know it herself. She was sweet, charming, and free-spirited. His heart hammered against his chest whenever she was close and before he knew it, he realized what had happened to him.

He had fallen in love with his stepsister.

Adrian tried his best to hide his feelings, but he was at his limit. He couldn't stand it when he saw another guy talking to her, but there was nothing he could do to stop them.

"Well? Are you gonna introduce her to us or not?" Luke pushed him.

"Alright, alright, just wait a sec," Adrian said irritably and walked toward Megan.

Meghan looked up and smiled when she saw her stepbrother striding toward her. "Hey Adrian." She glanced at Luke and Tiffany and raised her brows.

Adrian scratched his head. He had always been comfortable around other girls, but Meghan made him feel nervous for some reason. "My friends wanted to meet you. This is Luke and Tiffany."

"Nice to meet you," she said and smiled shyly.

"Likewise. Hey, why don't you guys come over at my house tonight? My parents are out of town, so I'm having a get-together with friends," Luke smirked.

Adrian narrowed his eyes. He could tell Luke was trying to flirt with Meghan. Fucking douchebag...

"We can't come. Our parents expect us to come home for dinner tonight, isn't that right, Maggie?" Adrian looked into her eyes, daring her to oppose him.

Confusion flickered in her eyes, but she smiled without saying anything else.

Adrian grabbed Meghan's hand. "Let's go home."

"Why did you lie to your friends? Your dad and my mom are out of town!" Meghan asked after he brought her home.

"I just thought you would feel uncomfortable at the party and I didn't want to leave you alone at home," Adrian said.

Meghan looked down. "You didn't have to do that. I would've been fine. It's not the first time I stayed home alone."

"I'd rather be here with you," Adrian blurted out.

Shit, he didn't mean to make it so obvious. "I...mean, dad wouldn't like it if I abandoned you for some party."

Nice one, Adrian. Blame it on your dad.