My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 475

Chapter 475

Mom lowered her head, “Gianna…”

“No,” my chest hurt, “I don’t understand.”

Claire pushed her chair back, and came towards me, “Hey, come here, your mom is attached to you.”

I laughed weakly, “Attached?”

“Yes.”

“Claire, I’m going to live ten minutes away.”

“I know.”

“Then why is everyone acting like I’m moving to another country?”

Maddie came over and squeezed my hand, “Did something happen?”

I frowned, “What?”

“Did somebody say something to you?”

“No.”

“Are you unhappy here?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again because the answer was complicated.

No, I wasn’t unhappy, that was the problem. I loved this family, I have grown to love this house. I loved breakfast at this table. I loved movie nights. I loved Claire. I loved Maddie.

I loved all of them.

And that was exactly why I needed to leave.

My eyes drifted across the table, straight to Raphael. He was already watching me. My heart immediately betrayed me again.

God.

I was so tired, so tired of seeing him every day, so tired of hearing his voice, so tired of wanting things I could never have.

I needed distance, I needed space, I needed a chance to forget because staying here meant watching him become my brother, watching him become family, watching him belong to me in every way except the one that mattered.

I couldn’t do it.

“Gianna,” Maddie’s voice pulled me back, “What is it?”

I shook my head, “Nothing.”

I looked away. Claire exchanged a look with Maddie, then back at me.

“Honey,” Claire’s voice softened even more, “People don’t suddenly decide to move out overnight.”

I swallowed, “Maybe they do.”

Then Mom spoke, very quietly, “Gianna.”

I looked at her immediately. She wasn’t crying anymore. She held her hands together in her lap so tightly her knuckles had turned white.

“Do you really want to know why?”

I nodded.

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