Falling for my Enemy's Brother-Chapter 29: The Prince and the Pauper

Not even the cool breeze sweeping across Belford’s open field could calm Craig Lesnar’s nerves.

He stood with his hands shoved deep in his pockets. His teeth locked together, sharp with restrained frustration, the gravel beneath his sneakers crunching as he shifted weight from one foot to the other.

He wasn’t just out here wandering, he was waiting for Adriana. At least, that had been the plan. But ever since Merlina’s voice clung to his thoughts, it was like nothing else could register.

’Especially if they live off your pockets.’

’Get in the middle, defend your brother, back him up? Is that your entire existence?’

The words cut deep, too sharp, too specific to be hers alone. Louis had to be behind it. How else would she have the nerve to throw around accusations with no proof?

His eyes stayed fixed on the grass in front of him, like it might swallow his frustration if he stared long enough. He scoffed. "She must’ve watched too much Scooby-Doo," he muttered.

"Talking to yourself now, Craig?"

The voice was sugary sweet. Too sweet.

He looked up to see one of the girls from his business ethics class... Tina or Tiana or something. Always hovering too close. Always trying a little too hard.

She smiled like she thought she was being cute, tugging at her cropped jacket. "I mean, if you need someone to talk to..."

Craig barely glanced at her. "I’m good."

That should’ve been the end of it, but she lingered, biting her lip and shifting weight on her hip. "You sure? You look kinda...tense."

He didn’t answer.

She got the message eventually, blinking fast and laughing awkwardly. "Okay, okay... Mr. Taken." Then she turned and walked off, her disappointment almost comical.

But Craig had already locked onto something else.

Across the field.

Louis O’Connor.

Of course he was here.

Craig’s lips twitched. His body moved before the decision even registered. Long strides, sharp edges. All muscle and irritation.

Students noticed. They always did. Some slowed down. Some straight-up stopped walking. A couple of freshmen subtly pulled out their phones, whispering with that giddy, nosy energy Belford thrived on.

Belford’s golden boy didn’t move like that unless something was about to go down.

Craig stopped in front of him, cold and ready. "You."

Louis turned like this was the most boring interruption of his day. He popped his gum. Smirked. "Hmm. If it isn’t the Prince of Belford."

Craig didn’t hesitate. "If it isn’t the Pauper."

Louis laughed instantly—mocking, over the top, full of that O’Connor-brand cockiness. It echoed across the field, calling the attention of more college students.

Craig’s fists stayed clenched in his pockets.

"I see you’ve got your girlfriend doing your dirty work now," he snapped, eyes hard.

Louis’s laugh faltered. His eyes flickered, barely. Girlfriend?

He didn’t say it, but the confusion flashed for just a beat before his face reset.

"Well," he said coolly, "if getting Justice is dirty work now, then sure. She’s filthy."

Craig stepped in, just enough to test him. "Why don’t you come to us direct, like a real man. Let’s see if you still stand after we knock you down again."

Louis tilted his head, amused. "There it is. Always the defender, always the middle man. Big bro throws the punch, baby bro wipes the blood. Family goals."

Craig scoffed. "Exactly what Merlina said."

Louis’s face tensed slightly at the mention of her name.

"Keep feeding her lies, O’Connor," Craig said, his tone dark. "Let’s see how far she goes before it blows up in her face."

Louis didn’t flinch. His voice was low and level now. "If Conor’s so clean," he said, "why are you so scared of a grieving daughter who just wants answers?"

Craig didn’t respond.

He didn’t need to.

Around them, the buzz had grown louder. A full-blown audience had formed, some pretending to scroll their phones, some blatantly recording, others just living for the chaos.

Craig glanced past Louis.

Adriana still hadn’t shown.

Typical.

He exhaled, a frustrated huff escaping his lips. This wasn’t over.

He stepped back, eyes sharp. "You better hope you’re right," he muttered. "For her sake."

Then he turned and walked off, heat in his chest, tension riding his spine like armor.

Merlina sat across from Louis, but her mind was miles away. Stay away from the Lesnars. This is your only warning. The message burned behind her eyes, impossible to shake.

She turned to him, jaw clenched. "Who the hell is sending me these messages?" Her voice was sharp. "Someone trying to protect them? Threaten me? I don’t even know anymore."

Louis leaned back, calm but watchful. She couldn’t help but notice how grounded he looked, how safe it made her feel.

"If they wanted to hurt you, they would’ve," he said evenly. "This is head-game stuff. They want you rattled."

"Then why bring up the Lesnars at all?" she pressed. "Why not just go after me directly?"

He shrugged. "There’s a motive. We just haven’t cracked it yet."

Merlina crossed her arms, mind racing. "It feels personal. Like they’ve been watching me. They know too much."

Louis’s brow lifted. "Could it be Craig Lesnar?"

"No," she said instantly. "Craig’s too direct. He wouldn’t hide behind a message."

Louis nodded slowly. "So... Conor?"

That hit different.

She looked away. "I don’t know. But the messages started before I even knew Conor’s name. First week of school. Back when I thought they were random."

Could Conor Lesnar have known who she was the second she stepped foot on campus? Was that why Craig had been so cold to her, even from the start? Wasn’t it weird that Conor hadn’t even been in school since she arrived?

She blinked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe he knew. Maybe both of them knew."

Louis gave her a sideways glance. "Knew what?"

"About me, who my mom was..." Merlina’s voice trailed off. Her gaze dropped to her hands, fingers twisting around each other. "But if he knew, he wouldn’t have accused me."

Louis leaned in slightly. "Accused you?" His voice was quiet now, measured, but not without weight.

Merlina hesitated. The memory still stung more than she wanted to admit. "Yeah. He said I was calculating. Like I’d planned it all....talking to him, asking questions, borrowing that stupid handbook. He thinks I was playing some long game."

She looked up then, her eyes sharp with frustration, but there was something vulnerable behind them too, like the accusation had gotten under her skin deeper than she wanted it to.

Louis’s jaw tensed, but he didn’t interrupt.

"I wasn’t," she added, softer this time. "I didn’t even know who he was. Not at first. But now...now I’m starting to wonder if he knew exactly who I was. He was so cold to me at first, suddenly there was this..." she trails off and stops herself mid-sentence.

"What?" Louis asked.

She sighs. "I don’t know."

A heavy silence followed, thick and uncomfortable. Merlina didn’t want to explain. She couldn’t. Not without unraveling everything between her and Craig. Not without admitting how much it had affected her.

Louis broke the silence, his voice cutting through the tension. "What exactly were you talking about with Craig Lesnar before the message came in?"

Merlina glanced up, hesitation flickering in her eyes. "Um...nothing. Just my visit to the guesthouse," she said quickly, trying to brush it off.

Louis raised an eyebrow. "Well, whatever it was, it wasn’t nothing. He just came at me like he was itching for a fight."

"Wait... Craig came at you?" Her eyes widened, disbelief clear on her face. Louis nodded. ƒreewebɳovel.com

"And all this time, you let me ramble about a faceless stalker?" Merlina gasped, incredulous.

Louis chuckled low, the sound teasing but also kind of amused.

"What did he want?" Merlina asked, still watching him closely, though her curiosity was wrapped in a guarded tone.

Louis’s lips curved into a sly grin, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "He called you my girlfriend."

Merlina froze. "Oh..."