My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 578

Chapter 578

For the first time since he’d entered the room… I stood, not to challenge him, simply because I wanted him to hear me as an equal, “I respect you, Vince, I always will but you’re wrong.”

His face didn’t change.

“You think this started because Gianna was vulnerable?”

He tilted his head, “Didn’t it?”

I held his stare, “I fought it for months. I ended it. I pushed her away. I stayed away. I convinced myself she deserved someone with a simpler life. It didn’t work. You think she’s leaning on me because she’s grieving. No, I’m leaning on her.”

That finally made him pause.

I shook my head once, “She isn’t dependent on me. If anything… I’ve become dependent on her. You once told me to go fix my head. I did,” I released a breath, “Her.”

One word.

Nothing more.

My voice never rose.

I looked him straight in the eyes, “So deal with that however you think you need to but I’m not taking that necklace back.”

Vincenzo never looked away. His expression didn’t shift in the slightest. I knew that look. I wasn’t changing his mind today, maybe not tomorrow either. He had already made his decision, and once my oldest brother decided something, he held onto it with both hands.

“And I won’t pretend she means less to me than she does simply because the timing is inconvenient.”

Vincenzo exhaled slowly through his nose, “So, you’ve made your decision.”

“I have.”

Vincenzo made a mocking face, “And you expect my blessing.”

“The day she stops choosing me…” I swallowed, “…is the day I stop asking.”

He stepped closer until we were almost shoulder to shoulder.

When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, “I believe that you love her. I even believe you think you’ll never hurt her but belief doesn’t change consequences,” he looked directly into my eyes, “I promised Hazel that I’d look after her daughters. I gave my word. And until the day I die…” his jaw locked, “…that promise comes before your feelings.”

He took a slow step back and rubbed a hand over his face, shaking his head as though he still couldn’t believe we were having this conversation.

“So no. I will not allow this, not because I doubt you but because if this goes wrong…” he looked toward the window for only a second before facing me once more, “She’ll be the one who bleeds and as long as I’m responsible for her well-being… I won’t stand aside and watch that happen.”

The roads were almost empty by the time I drove back through the gates of the estate.

3:02 a.m.

The headlights swept across the long driveway before disappearing as the engine fell silent.

For a few seconds, I stayed where I was, both hands resting on the steering wheel. Vincenzo’s words refused to leave my head. He wasn’t wrong.