Page 1 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 3

CHAPTER 111 RYAN AND ANNA'S STORY

Anna's POV

"I love you‚ Ryan."

The words slipped out before I could pull them back‚ before I could even think about how wrong they sounded or how bad the timing was.I was just standing there in the doorway‚ watching him pack his suitcase‚ and suddenly it was out.

He paused with his hands still on his folded shirt‚ not turning around right away.I saw the slight clench in his jaw‚ the tension in his shoulders‚ the way his back stiffened as if my words had hit somewhere deep.He was quiet for a second longer than normal‚ and I stupidly thought maybe he was about to say something‚ anything‚ something that told me he'd been thinking the same.

But when he turned to face me‚ all I saw was the same unreadable face he always wore.

He shook his head once and said in a low voice‚ "Don't say that‚ Anna."

His voice wasn't cold‚ or angry‚ just… calm.The kind of tone someone used when they were trying really hard to keep everything inside from falling apart.And I knew‚ right then‚ that I'd crossed a line.a line he didn't want me to even walk near‚ let alone admit I'd stepped over.

"I'm busy‚" he added‚ not meeting my eyes as he turned back to his suitcase and gently placed another folded shirt on top of the pile."Please don't do this right now."

My chest tightened."But I meant it."

"Anna‚" he said again‚ and it sounded more tired now."You don't know what you're saying.You're just a kid."

"I'm not‚ I'm fourteen!"I said.

"You are still a kid."He turned away‚ bent down to grab his shoes‚ and shoved them into the side of the suitcase."You're still my little sister."

I hated when he said that.My heart twisted at the word sister.I knew I wasn't really.I wasn't blood.My parents died in a car crash when I was barely two.My mom‚ my real mom‚ left me in the care of her best friend.And that best friend was Liana.She took me in‚ weeks before her wedding to Killian.And from that day‚ they became my parents.

Liana never treated me like I wasn't her child.She bathed me‚ dressed me‚ kissed my forehead every night‚ called me her princess.Killian spoiled me like he'd been waiting his whole life for a daughter.Ryan… he was the perfect big brother.The protector.The cool calm big brother who watched everything I did.Who walked me to school even while he was late.Who beat up boys that teased me at school.He once punched someone in the face just because the person called me a spoiled brat.He always made sure I got home safe.always warned me to stay away from boys.

God… the way he hated boys around me.The way he looked at those boys… like he was ready to kill them if they even took a glance my way was terrifying.

But he always kept a distance from me.He never let me too close.Like he was afraid of something.Like I was electricity‚ and one wrong touch would burn him down.

That was what made me sure.That was what told me I wasn't the only one feeling this way.

"Why do you keep pushing me away like I'm something you're scared of?"I asked‚ barely able to keep my voice from shaking.

His jaw clenched.He looked down at the zipper again."You don't understand what you're saying‚ Anna.Just… stop.Please."

I took a step forward‚ my chest tightening as I spoke."But I do understand.I know it's wrong.I know I'm not supposed to feel this way‚ but I can't‚ Ryan‚ I can't stop thinking about you."I swallowed hard."It… it drives me crazy."

He didn't speak.Just stared at me like he was trying not to hear a single word.Like each one was cutting him deeper than he was willing to show.

"Say something‚" I whispered.

He took a breath‚ but it wasn't steady.It was shaky.Like he was holding something back so hard it hurt.

"You're just confused‚ Anna.You'll grow out of it‚" he finally said‚ and I knew‚ God‚ I knew he didn't believe it himself.

He turned‚ grabbed the suitcase‚ and started toward the door.

I panicked.

"Wait—"

"What is it—" He was saying but I didn't let him finish.I closed the distance between us‚ stood on my toes‚ and pressed my lips to his.

My fingers curled around the front of his hoodie‚ holding onto him like it was making everything stop‚ like maybe if I kissed him‚ just once‚ he'd finally see me for what I was really feeling‚ not just the little girl they took in‚ not just his ‘sister‚' but someone who had been drowning in silence for too long.