My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 704

Chapter 704

I opened my mouth, then closed it again, “I… don’t think I understand.”

Viviane let out a laugh, “The men who’d negotiate with the devil before admitting they’re in love.”

A small smile found its way onto my face. I remembered how impossible Raphael had been in the beginning. How he’d insisted he didn’t want me while looking at me like I was driving him insane.

The man had fought his feelings with the same determination he fought everyone else. Looking back now, it was almost funny.

“When a man like that spends an entire evening looking at one woman instead of everything else…” she said with a knowing smile, “…trust me, every woman in the room notices.”

My brows slowly pulled together.

I had always thought…

I had been so sure…

He’d been watching her.

Viviane tilted her head, studying me for a moment, “What?”

I looked down at my hands, “It’s just…” I hesitated before forcing the words out, “He’s… remarkable.”

She waited.

“He’s one of those people who seems good at everything,” a small smile touched my lips despite the ache in my chest, “He’s smart. Disciplined. He notices things no one else does.”

I swallowed.

“Sometimes I think…” My fingers tightened together. “Sometimes I think a man like him deserves someone who can keep up with him.”

Viviane’s brows lifted.

“…Someone like you,” I finished.

For one long second, she simply stared at me. Then she reached over and gently squeezed my forearm,” Is that what you’ve been thinking?”

That earned another laugh from me, the sound faded almost as quickly as it came, “I always thought…” I admitted quietly, “He… admired you.”

Viviane stared at me for a second before letting out an incredulous laugh, “Admired me?” she looked genuinely horrified by the idea, “Gianna, that man has one life goal whenever we’re in the same room… to prove he’s smarter than I am. Every time I win one of his imaginary cybersecurity battles, he looks at me like he’s rewriting the laws of physics just so he can prove me wrong.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. That’s the reason I wanted to know you. You seemed like his weak link,” she leaned in as if she were about to share a state secret. “I’ve been hoping we’d become friends.”

I blinked, “Me?”

She nodded, “Yeah, because if we’re seen whispering together often enough, he’ll eventually convince himself I’ve recruited you.”

I stared at her.

She was serious… or at least serious enough to commit to the joke.

“Imagine his face,” she continued, trying not to laugh. “He’ll spend weeks wondering if you’ve secretly become my undercover agent. We’ll nod at each other across rooms for absolutely no reason. Maybe exchange mysterious envelopes. Obviously, the envelopes will be empty and he will find nothing. He’ll lose sleep trying to figure out what was inside.”