My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 481

Chapter 481

Every few steps it would hit me again.

Mom is dying.

Mom is dying.

Mom is dying.

By the time I reached my door, my chest felt hollow. I pushed it open and then froze. Someone was sitting in the chair by the window.

For one stupid second, my heart jumped.

Raphael.

The room was dim. The last light of evening stretched across the floor, catching the sharp edges of his face. He looked like he’d been there for a while, waiting.

The moment he saw me, he stood, “Gianna.”

Something inside me immediately hardened, not because of him but because of everything, because I was exhausted, because I was angry, because I couldn’t survive another thing breaking tonight.

I stayed where I was, “What are you doing here?”

His jaw shifted slightly, “I wanted to talk to you.”

I stared at him, I didn’t have any more emotions to waste on him, “Really?”

His gaze stayed on mine, “Yes.”

I nodded slowly, “That’s interesting,” I pushed the door shut behind me, “You wanted to talk.”

Raphael looked at me for a moment, then he said carefully, “I know you’re upset.”

The laugh that came out of me this time sounded almost hysterical, “Upset?”

When I opened my eyes again, I glared directly into his face, “You always told me you were different from the rest of your family. You always acted like honesty was the only thing that mattered to you. You said things straight. You didn’t play games with me. You didn’t hide things from me.”

“Gianna-”

“No,” I cut him off immediately, “Do you know how many times I trusted you because of that? You made me believe I could ask you anything. And every single time I did, you answered. So don’t stand here and pretend this is the same thing.”

Raphael’s eyes never left my face, “It wasn’t my information to share.”

I let out another dry, mocking laugh, rubbing my palms over my face. God, I was so incredibly tired of him. “So that’s the line this time? That’s the logical justification your brain came up with?”

He didn’t answer immediately and for some reason that made me even angrier because Raphael always had answers.

Always for everything but not this.

“I don’t want your pity, Raphael. I don’t want your concern, and I sure as hell don’t want your excuses,” I said, as I stepped toward the door to open it, “I told you before, and I am making it entirely clear now, I don’t want any version of you. Stop meddling in my life. Stop talking to me. Stop looking at me. I won’t be stepping foot in your office ever again, and I won’t be sharing a single part of my existence with you. Not even as family. So do me one last goddamn favor, and leave me the fuck alone.”

He took three steps, then stopped. I stood there breathing hard, my hand still wrapped around the doorknob as he stared at the floor.