My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 569

Chapter 569

Gianna

I smiled before I even looked.

Raphael: Don’t worry about breakfast.

Another message appeared almost immediately.

Raphael: I’ll handle Vincenzo.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds before a quiet laugh escaped me.

Of course he would.

He always did, and not because he thought I was incapable but because somewhere along the way, protecting my peace had quietly become one of his favorite jobs.

My smile refused to disappear.

Everything around me felt… lighter.

Even though every muscle in my body reminded me that I had barely slept, I couldn’t stop smiling. My legs still felt tired, my lower back ached whenever I moved too quickly, and I knew I was walking just a little slower than usual.

I didn’t mind, not even a little because in what felt like forever… My heart was quiet.

Another vibration pulled me from my thoughts and I opened the conversation.

Bri: Still coming tonight?

My fingers moved before I could think.

Me: Absolutely.

Me: I’ll probably be a little late though.

Me: I have to sneak past about a hundred bodyguards first.

The back gardens were almost empty. The fountain spilled clear water into the stone basin, the sound soft enough to cover everything else.

Mom sat beside it in her wheelchair with her face turned toward the flowers. The breeze gently lifted a few loose strands of her hair.

I walked over, sat beside her and we simply listened to the fountain. She reached over and rested her hand on mine. Her fingers had grown thinner over the past year.

I hated noticing it.

She looked up at me, her lips taking a moment to form the words. Every syllable came slowly, quietly, as though simply speaking demanded more strength than she had left.

“…You…” She paused to catch her breath, swallowing with visible effort. “…look… happy… today.”

I looked away, suddenly finding the fountain incredibly interesting, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh?”

Her eyes lingered on my face, warm and full of love.

I leaned closer without thinking, lowering myself until my cheek rested lightly against the back of her weak hand where it lay in her lap.

Her fingers couldn’t lift to brush my hair anymore, but I felt the faintest twitch beneath my skin, the small movement she still had left.

It was enough.

I smiled and turned my face into her hand a little more, letting her know I understood exactly what she had been trying to do.

Then one eyebrow lifted, “That’s… interesting.”

My stomach dropped, “…What?”

Her eyes drifted to the side of my neck. She studied it for a second before looking back at me.

“…Your makeup…” She paused to gather another breath. “…missed… a spot.”

Instinctively, my hand flew to the side of my neck. Heat rushed into my face so fast it almost hurt, “Oh my God.”