•⋅⊰∙∘☽✼☾∘∙⊱⋅•
As Ethan kept talking, I couldn't help but focus on his lips instead of the actual words. His voice was tense with frustration, and his hands moved sharply as he vented about Adrien, how arrogant, fake, and unbearable he was. Each word hit me like heavy stones sinking into my chest.
I felt a wave of sickness wash over me.
I wanted to say something to stop him, anything, but the words got stuck in my throat. My heart raced, but it wasn't out of fear of him; it was because the truth felt like fire under my tongue, begging to be released.
"Noah, you understand, right?" Ethan said, running his hand through his hair again. "People like Adrien—"
"H–he's my stepbrother," I blurted out before I could think better of it.
Ethan froze, his mouth slightly open. For a second, the only sounds were the faint hum of the diner lights and dishes clattering from the kitchen. He slowly furrowed his brows, as if he couldn't quite believe what he'd just heard.
