I agree, I don't usually like when step siblings or in this step son and mom. I really dislike story then but the way that they written the story is really nice.
Like yea Jeremy does love her romantically but he doesn't want to tell her bc he loves her. He knows how Shuri sees him and don't want her to be sad plus je doesn't want to Shuris good name gets darted bc of his feelings and that's kinda sad.
But from spoilers I saw Jeremy will find someone that makes him happy and he will see Shuri as a idk man a mom,sister,friend or beat friend and I'm absolutely happy for him to get over something so hard. I'm sure it would be hard to get over someone you live with and that is nice like Shuri( ̄∇ ̄")
I love Nora so much as ML but in a way it's tragic that Jeremy never got a slight chance. Even if they aren't related in the slightest and are both just 2 yrs apart and even if Jeremy never saw her as a mom, she fully sees him as a son plus he will forever be titled as 'son'. I absolutely love Jeremy and I'm happy Jeremy has his happy ending too
Also, I understand the wishing for no romance cause I thought the same at first but as I continued to read I realized that this story is a story of love. The different kinds of love to be exact. Familiar, friends, and romance, even if the love is ugly and twisted.
That's how I personally saw it anyways
But I ended up enjoying the romance after that realization.