My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 51

Raphael

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She didn’t look at Vincenzo when she said it.

She looked straight at me. Her chin lifted just enough to make the point clear.

“I’m not a charity case.”

For a second nobody spoke.

Gianna stood there barefoot in the middle of Vincenzo’s study and every inch of her posture screamed the same thing.

I don’t need any of you.

Interesting.

Vincenzo let out a slow breath, the sound somewhere between tired and amused.

“We never said you were,” he replied calmly.

His tone stayed even, patient in that way men get when they’re explaining something obvious to a stubborn child.

“If it makes you feel any better,” he continued, “every woman in this house has the same arrangements,” he gestured lazily toward the sitting area, “My wife Claire. My sister-in-law Madeleine. Every woman under my roof. It is my responsibility to take care of the women and children in my family,” he said. “You’re not some special exception, Gianna.”

Her jaw tightened.

Vincenzo continued like the matter was already settled.

“Your mother’s accounts are already arranged,” he added, “Jules as well.”

That finally made Gianna blink in surprise.

“A trust has been set aside for her,” he said. “She’ll be leaving that public school soon and transferring to a proper private one. It’s the least I can do after your mother married my father.”

To anyone with sense, the conversation would have ended there.

But Gianna wasn’t anyone with sense.

I could see it in the way her fingers curled tighter at her sides. In the stubborn set of her shoulders. In the way her spine straightened instead of bending.

She didn’t look grateful.

She looked angry like someone had just insulted her.

The pride on that girl was unbelievable.

Which, unfortunately for her…

…only made the process more entertaining.

Gianna’s reaction came fast. The moment Vincenzo mentioned Jewel, something sharp flashed across her face. The anger that had been simmering in her eyes hardened into something colder.

Her head turned toward him immediately, “No.”

Vincenzo’s brows lifted slightly. Gianna took a step forward.

“You don’t need to do anything for Jules,” she added, “She’s my little sister, not yours. You can set up whatever accounts you want for my mother,” she added, her eyes flashing to her mother now, glaring at her, “She married into this family. She has the Capone name now. But Jules and I don’t. She’s not a Capone and neither am I.”

My jaw tightened slightly where I leaned against the desk. Most people in this city would have killed for that name. She was pushing it away like it was something dirty.

“So don’t make plans for her,” she said. “Don’t move her school. Don’t set up a trust fund. That’s my responsibility.”

For a second Vincenzo studied her quietly, his fingers resting on the desk as he considered her words.

Dad rubbed his temple again like this entire conversation was giving him a migraine.

Adriano let out a slow, annoyed breath through his nose but I couldn’t stop watching Gianna. She was ridiculous, irritating and strangely fascinating all at once.