My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 703

Chapter 703

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Every pair of eyes landed on me, none of them looked judgmental, only concerned.

Claire wrapped an arm around my shoulders, “She’s family. Our family,” and then she glanced across the room toward my Dad before looking back at them, “Unfortunately, her father doesn’t seem to agree.”

Evangeline turned to me, “So you’re the woman turning this entire mob network upside down.”

Heat rushed into my cheeks, “I wasn’t exactly trying to.”

“I know,” she reached over and gently squeezed my hand, “You look terrified.”

“I think I am.”

She nodded as though that made perfect sense, then a mischievous smile spread across her face, “If it helps…” she leaned in slightly, “I can always influence tomorrow’s vote.”

She waved a hand like it was the easiest thing in the world.

“Nikolai’s been trying to get back into my good graces all week after he pissed me off.”

I blinked.

She leaned closer, lowering her voice, “Trust me. If I smile at that man for more than three seconds, he’ll start looking at me like he’d gladly get down on his knees just to make me happy.”

Allegra let out a laugh. “She’s not exaggerating either.”

Bianca rolled her eyes, still smiling, “He’ll deny it later, of course.”

“He always does,” Delilah added with a quiet laugh, “Then he’ll spend the next week proving everyone wrong by doing exactly what she said he would.”

Lilianna folded her arms. “Last month he canceled three meetings because Evangeline had a headache.”

Evangeline sighed with exaggerated disappointment, “It’s exhausting being this adored.”

“You poor thing,” Allegra said with a completely serious face.

“I suffer daily.”

Delilah patted her shoulder, “We’re praying for your recovery.”

Claire smiled, her eyes moving over the women before she shook her head, “I see some things never change.”

Allegra’s smile softened as she looked at me, “Claire told us enough to know something serious is happening.”

“Not everything,” Claire added quietly. “The details stay inside the family.”

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Evangeline nodded, “I respect that.”

Allegra glanced around the crowded hall before lowering her voice. “If anyone gives you trouble tomorrow… just point them out.”

Delilah smiled sweetly. “People always underestimate the wives.”

“They see the dresses,” Viviane added, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips, “and forget we’re the women our husbands come home to.”

Evangeline folded her arms, “Which means we know exactly how to ruin their week.”

Lilianna nodded with complete seriousness, “Or their month.”

Allegra sighed dramatically, “We’ve got years of practice.”

A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “I don’t think this is something five women can solve.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Evangeline said, grinning. “You’d be surprised what five stubborn women can accomplish.”

“And husbands who panic the second we’re upset,” Delilah added.

Lilianna smiled, “That’s our greatest weapon.”

Viviane gave a lazy shrug. “You don’t win every battle by pulling a trigger.”

“You just make the right man miserable,” Allegra finished.

Evangeline beamed. “Works every single time.”

Without meaning to, my eyes searched the crowded hall until they found him.

Raphael.

As though he could feel me watching, his head turned. Our eyes met across the room. My heart stumbled. I gave him the smallest smile I could manage. A quiet, hopeful smile that asked for nothing… except for him to remember us.

Viviane stepped closer, “You know, I’ve been hoping we’d meet again. You caught my attention last time.”

For reasons I couldn’t explain, my stomach tightened. She was beautiful, confident and brilliant. Everything I sometimes feared Raphael deserved and being in her presence made me feel… strange.

I stared at her for a second before quietly answering, “I… really?”

“Of course,” she frowned like the answer should have been obvious, “Do you have any idea how rare it is to see men like ours forget the rest of the room?”

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