My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 707

Chapter 707

I could hear his heart beating beneath my ear.

My lips parted, “Raphael. Do you want me to lie? My dad never touched me.”

I felt him go completely still.

“The only times he ever did… were when he hugged me or when he knelt to tie my shoes because I kept doing them wrong.”

A sad smile touched my lips before disappearing.

“When we’d go out… he’d hold my hand so I wouldn’t wander off. He’d kiss my forehead before school. He never hit me, no matter how mad he was, he never hit me.”

I lifted my head to look at him, confusion spread across Raphael’s face. His brows pulled together. He searched my eyes as though trying to find the lie.

“But…”

“I know what everyone thinks. I know what it sounds like but he never raised a hand to me, not once.”

Raphael stared at me for so long that my chest began to ache, “I don’t understand,” he whispered.

“Neither do I,” my eyes burned, “I wish I did.”

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration flashing across his face.

His jaw clenched, “If you don’t tell the Council the truth-whatever that truth is-they’re going to make a decision based on whatever story they believe.”

“I know,” I whispered.

His expression didn’t soften. If anything, it hardened, “And if you walk into that chamber tomorrow and choose him over us… If you protect the man whose name alone had Hazel slapping you across the face… instead of protecting the people who’ve bled for you without asking for anything in return…”

He took a slow step back, putting space between us.

“Then we’re done, Gianna.”

My heart stopped.

“I mean it. There won’t be another conversation after that. No second chances. No fixing it later. You will lose me.”

I stared at him, my vision beginning to blur.

“Raphael…”

The color drained from my face. It felt as though every drop of blood had turned to ice inside my veins.

I searched his face, desperate to find even the smallest sign that he didn’t mean it. There was nothing. He was serious. He really meant every word.

I wanted to be better.

Better for him.

Better for Jules.

I wanted to become someone worthy of the family that had loved me when I hadn’t even known how to love myself.

I didn’t want to lose them.

I couldn’t.

“If…” I whispered, my voice shaking so badly I barely recognized it, “… if that’s what you need from me. If you truly believe that’s the only way we’ll still have a future after tomorrow…”

My fingers tightened against his face.

“I’ll do it. I’ll stand in front of every person in that chamber… and I’ll say whatever you need me to say…”