My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 574

Chapter 574

Jules shook her head fast, “No.”

Mom’s gaze slid toward Jules, “We’ll… talk… later.”

Jules immediately understood, she nodded, “Yeah.”

She leaned down, kissed Mom gently on the forehead, then glanced at me with a smile that looked just a little too innocent.

I turned back to Mom, “Was she telling you something about me?”

Mom’s smile only deepened, “No…”

A hundred questions crowded my mind. Had Jules told her about Raphael? I wanted to ask. I almost did but something inside me stopped.

If Mom wanted me to know, she’d tell me.

If Jules wanted me to know, she’d tell me too.

So I swallowed my curiosity and stepped behind the wheelchair, resting my hands lightly on the handles, “Come on,” I murmured, leaning down to kiss the top of her head, “We’ve got a beautiful day ahead of us.”

I read Raphael’s message one more time.

Raph: Running late. I’ll be home around 3:00 a.m. Don’t wait up if you’re tired.

A small smile found my lips before I could stop it. He knew I would wait anyway. I typed back quickly.

Me: Drive safe.

A second later, the little “Seen” appeared. That was enough. I lowered my phone and glanced at the digital clock on my nightstand.

11:02 p.m.

I still had hours, enough time to visit Mama D, enough time to get back before Raphael returned, enough time for nobody to know I’d ever left.

I stood up from the edge of the bed and walked toward the mirror. For a moment, my eyes drifted to the necklace resting against my collarbone.

I changed quickly, jeans, a black T-shirt and comfortable sneakers. I tied my hair into a low ponytail and slipped my phone, cash, keys, and a small can of pepper spray into the bag.

I quietly opened my bedroom door. The hallway stretched in both directions, lit only by small wall lamps. I closed the door without making a sound.

My heart began beating faster with every step, not because I was scared because getting caught would be impossible to explain after I had already promised my mother that I would never see those “women” again.

I moved down the back staircase instead of the main one, careful to avoid the areas where the night staff usually worked. Outside one of the windows, I could see two guards walking slowly across the gardens. I waited until they disappeared around the corner before slipping through the rear corridor.

I got to the service entrance, pulled the heavy metal rack aside. I crouched down and lifted it. I switched on the flashlight on my phone, the narrow tunnel looked just as miserable as it had the first time.

I smiled to myself.

Silvio’s voice echoed perfectly inside my head, “Don’t take the left turn unless you’re interested in negotiating with raccoons.”

“Right turn,” I whispered.

I lowered myself inside and pulled the hatch shut above me. I crawled forward on my hands and knees. My muscles complained immediately. Every movement reminded me of last night. My thighs, my hips and especially my lower back.