My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 497

Chapter 497

Jules smiled solemnly, “You got that from her.”

Mom let out a watery laugh, “You absolutely did.”

I pulled back just enough to look at her, “So no,” I wiped at my face, “I’m staying.”

“You can’t stop living your life.”

“I’m not stopping it,” I squeezed her hand again, “I’m choosing where I want to spend it.”

Mom stared at me for a long moment then reached up, brushing tears from my cheeks with gentle fingers, “I hate that you’re both hurting because of me.”

The sound of footsteps interrupted us. I looked up. Claire walked toward us first and Madeleine beside her.

Claire’s expression softened immediately when she saw Mom, “There you are,” she said gently.

Madeleine offered a small smile, “We’ve been looking for you.”

Claire and Madeleine lowered themselves onto the bench beside Jules.

The wooden bench wasn’t made for that many people. Jules crawled onto mom’s lap immediately like she wanted to get inside her skin. Madeleine squeezed herself carefully onto the edge while Claire settled beside Mom with the familiarity of someone who had done it a hundred times before.

For a few seconds, nobody spoke.

Jules leaned against Mom’s chest, absentmindedly playing with the bracelet on Mom’s wrist.

I stared ahead at the rose bushes.

Then Claire broke the silence, “Are you still angry with us?” she asked quietly.

I looked at her. Claire wasn’t smiling, neither was Madeleine.

Madeleine twisted her fingers together in her lap, “Because if you are…” she started softly, “I understand why.”

I swallowed, “I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “I just… You both knew.”

Mom sighed beside me, “Gianna. It’s not fair,” she said gently.

I immediately shook my head. “Mom-”

“No,” her voice remained soft, “You don’t get to be upset with them for respecting my decision.”

I frowned.

“I asked them not to tell you,” Mom continued. “I made that choice. Claire and Madeleine honored it because I asked them to.”

“They should’ve told me,” I whispered.

Claire’s expression softened.

“And betrayed Hazel’s trust?” Claire asked quietly, “She made me promise.”

I looked down at my hands.

“I thought I was protecting you,” Mom admitted softly.

“You weren’t protecting me,” I whispered.

“I was,” Mom said, her voice suddenly sharper than before. “Look at yourself now, Gianna. You’ve put your entire life on hold for me. And what’s to say you won’t keep punishing yourself even after I’m gone?”

A small, distressed sound escaped Jules. She immediately shook her head. “Please don’t say that,” she pleaded, her voice wobbling. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify