My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 443

Chapter 443

My eyes stayed glued to the screen. Another call appeared as I stepped through the doorway and immediately slammed into something solid.

My phone nearly flew out of my hand, “Oh my God-”

The words died in my throat. Everything stopped because it wasn’t something.

It was him.

Raphael.

For a second neither of us moved, neither of us spoke. I just stared and my stupid heart immediately betrayed me. It hurt. The kind of hurt that settled somewhere behind my ribs and squeezed.

Because this was the first time I’d really looked at him since last night, not across a breakfast table, not through stolen glances, not while pretending he wasn’t looking.

And he looked exactly like Raphael. Perfect, controlled and untouchable. He held a tablet in one hand and the other held his phone.

His hair was still slightly messy like he’d been running his hands through it. For some reason that tiny detail almost broke me because it made him look human. And I wanted him to look like the man who could walk away from this without feeling anything.

Instead he looked… tired.

The morning breeze moved between us before reality came crashing back. I looked away first.

I took a step to the left. At the exact same moment Raphael stepped left too.

We both stopped.

I immediately stepped right. Raphael stepped right too.

I looked up.

He looked down.

For one ridiculous second we just stared at each other.

Then I tried left again and he moved left again. A tiny crease appeared between his eyebrows like he was just as annoyed with himself as I was.

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

A muscle jumped in his jaw, “I’ll try not to make that mistake again.”

Before I could say anything, he stepped backward, creating distance. He gave a brief nod almost like we were strangers. Then he turned and walked back inside without looking at me again.

I stood frozen on the front steps. My throat burned. I hated how calm he sounded. I hated that stupid nod. I hated everything about this.

A sharp vibration buzzed in my hand. Frustrated, I finally unlocked the screen. Ready to mute him. Ready to ignore whatever he’d sent this time.

Then I saw the message.

And all the anger instantly drained out of me.

Leone Caruso: I’ve been patient, Gianna. That patience is running out. I know exactly where you are, and if you keep ignoring me, the next conversation won’t happen over the phone. Open your mouth and talk to me before I decide to show up exactly where you live.

Janedoewritings Author

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