My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 518

Chapter 518

He stood there looking at me like he had handed me the answer to a question I’d been asking for months.

Then, slowly, he took my hand. Not lifting it, not drawing me closer, just threading his fingers through mine between us atid holding on, his thumb brushing softly against my skin as though that small touch meant everything.

And suddenly I wasn’t sure how to breathe anymore. I couldn’t even process what had just happened because he hadn’t looked confused. He hadn’t laughed, he hadn’t said it was an accident.

He hadn’t explained it away.

He had simply looked at me… And answered.

It says I love you.

The words hit me all over again, harder this time. My pulse thundered in my ears. I stared at the calm expression on his face. At the man who had just casually destroyed every functioning thought in my brain.

“Gianna!” I jumped.

My instructor appeared beside me, “When I say your name, I expect you to move.”

I blinked, “What?”

“Your entrance.”

My entrance? Right. Ballet. New York. The performance. I had completely forgotten where I was.

The instructor grabbed my shoulders immediately, “Listen to me.”

I nodded automatically as he started talking, something about timing, breathing, posture, stage position, confidence.

I knew he was speaking. I could see his mouth moving but none of the words reached me because all I could hear

was-

It says I love you.

My eyes drifted past him. Raphael was still standing there, watching me.

It says I love you.

My heart slammed against my ribs. The instructor kept talking but I heard absolutely none of it.

Because Raphael was still there, standing a few feet away, looking at me and every time I blinked, I heard his voice again.

It says I love you.

The instructor snapped his fingers in front of my face, “Focus.”

I nodded immediately, “I am.”

I wasn’t, not even a little.

“Gianna,” My instructor pointed toward the stage entrance, “It’s time.”

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My stomach dropped, the curtain was opening. The audience beyond it disappeared into darkness, thousands of people waiting, months of preparation, everything had led to this moment.

And somewhere out there, my mother was waiting to watch me dance… maybe for the last time.

I should have been terrified, instead I looked over my shoulder one last time. Raphael hadn’t moved, his hands were in his pockets.

The necklace was still in my hand. I looked down at it then at him, then back at the pendant.

It didn’t match my costume. My instructor would probably have a heart attack. I wasn’t supposed to wear jewelry during a performance.

I knew all of it.

But my fingers moved anyway, before I could talk myself out of it, I fastened the chain around my neck. The tiny diamond rested just above my collarbone.

Wrong for the costume.

Wrong for the performance.

Wrong for every rule I had spent years learning.

I didn’t care.

For some reason, stepping onto that stage without it suddenly felt impossible. My hand rose and closed around the pendant for a second then I looked back at Raphael.

His eyes dropped briefly to the necklace, a small, surprised look crossed his face. I caught it and something warm spread through my chest.

My name was called.

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