My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 433

Chapter 433

She tilted her head slightly, “Raphael.”

I hummed.

“You okay?”

Fuck, I should have expected it. I loosened my grip slightly, not enough to let go, just enough to look normal, I’m fine.”

“You’re lying to me?”

I smiled despite myself, “You asked a question.”

“And you gave me a fake answer.”

I rested my chin briefly on her shoulder, “I’m fine.”

Alessia turned slightly in my arms, not enough to fully face me, just enough to study my expression. Her eyes narrowed. I recognized that look immediately. The same look she used before uncovering somebody’s entire life story.

Unfortunately, she was usually right.

She examined my face carefully because of the fact I was hugging her like a man clinging to a life raft.

Nothing escaped her, “You didn’t sleep.”

“I slept.”

She stared and I stared back.

Alessia sighed dramatically, “You know, you’ve been a terrible liar since you were ten.”

“I was excellent at ten.”

“You literally held your breath until your face turned blue because I caught you red-handed at the cookie jar and your brain completely fried trying to think of an excuse.”

“They were my cookies.”

“I baked them.”

“You baked them for me.”

She laughed and then watched me for another few seconds. The smile slowly faded from her face and concern replaced it.

Her hand moved to my cheek, “Raphael.”

“Everything’s fine.”

But she still kept looking at me.

And for one dangerous second I almost told her the truth. That I hadn’t slept, that I couldn’t stop thinking, that everything felt wrong, that I had somehow managed to ruin the best thing that had happened to me in years.

Instead I smiled, the same smile I gave investors, lawyers, politicians, “I’m good.”

Alessia studied me for another long moment then she sighed softly, not because she believed me but because she didn’t. But she also knew I wasn’t going to tell her anything.

So she reached up and kissed my cheek. Exactly like she used to when I was a kid, “Alright,” then she pointed toward the dining room, “Go sit down.”

I didn’t move.

She narrowed her eyes, “Raphael.”

I tightened my arms around her one last time then finally let go. Alessia’s concern deepened immediately because now she definitely knew something was wrong.

And I knew she was going to spend the rest of the day trying to figure out what it was.

I finally left the kitchen when Alessia threatened to hit me with a wooden spoon if I stood in her way any longer.

Adriano was sitting at the table, Madeleine was standing beside him. And Adriano had one hand wrapped around her waist while kissing her like he’d forgotten other people existed. Madeleine was barely five feet tall while Adriano stood at a six-foot-four, so the only way a kiss actually worked without breaking someone’s neck was with him sitting down while she stood over him.

I stopped, stared and shook my head, “Disgusting.”

Neither of them moved.

“Actually fucking revolting.”

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