My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 568

Chapter 568

Claire glanced sideways at me, “You okay?”

I nodded a little too quickly, “Fine.”

Maddie immediately looked at me, “You do look a little stiff.”

I reached for the orange juice before either of them could look at me any longer.

“I think everything finally caught up with me,” I said with a small smile. “The showcase, all the rehearsals, the flight back… I’m definitely feeling it today.”

Which…

Technically wasn’t a lie, just not the whole truth.

Across the table, I caught Raphael lowering his coffee cup. His lips twitched barely. If I hadn’t spent months learning his face, I would’ve missed it.

I narrowed my eyes at him for exactly one second. His expression returned to complete seriousness so quickly it almost made me laugh.

Instead, I picked up my glass of orange juice and took the biggest sip of my life.

Then I felt that strange feeling that told you someone was watching.

I slowly lowered the glass, fully expecting it to be Raphael but across the table, Vincenzo was looking directly at me. His eyes were fixed on me with a level of focus that made my stomach tighten.

I frowned slightly, “Is… everything okay?”

Vincenzo’s gaze never left me, “Where did you get that?”

I blinked, “What?”

He nodded once toward my chest and my hand moved on instinct. My fingertips found the familiar pendant resting against my skin.

My heart stumbled.

Oh.

I wrapped my fingers around it without thinking, The gold felt warm beneath my fingertips. My stomach tightened even more. Of course he recognized it.

It had belonged to his mother.

“A… friend gave it to me. I…” I swallowed, “…she gave it to me.”

Vincenzo’s eyebrows lowered, “A friend?”

The two words were calm but they weren’t calm, if that makes sense. Then without another word, he turned his head and his eyes landed on Raphael.

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