My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 722

Chapter 772

“You said you were starving Lofdered the kitchen make everything you used to love,” he said, holding the glass out to me, ” Orange juice.”

My favorite.

Or at least… it used to be.

Now, my mind went straight to Mom’s strawberry milk. She always blended fresh strawberries with cold milk, a little honey, and just enough vanilla to make it taste like home.

I accepted it automatically. My fingers wrapped around the cold glass without thinking,

Dad sighed softly, “Your little brother was in a car accident six months ago,” his voice stayed even. He glanced briefly toward the wheelchair, “This is what happens when people refuse to listen. He thought he knew better. He didn’t.”

I slowly turned back toward Gio. He still hadn’t looked at Dad, not once. His eyes stayed fixed on the gravel beneath his wheelchair. His breathing was shallow. His shoulders were still shaking.

It wasn’t the wheelchair that made my heart break.

It was him.

The fear, the desperate need to become invisible, to be anywhere else. I knew exactly what that felt like.

Because six years ago…

That had been me.

Sitting at the dinner table, terrified to lift my head, terrified of saying the wrong thing, terrified of disappointing him.

Always chasing one sentence.

Good job, Gianna.

I’m proud of you.

You did well.

I had spent my entire childhood trying to earn words that never came.

But that had only happened because I was me. Gio would’ve never been treated that way. He was perfect. I was the daughter who always needed fixing.

My eyes lifted slowly. Dad wasn’t looking at me anymore. He was looking at Giovanni. There wasn’t anger on his face. That would’ve been easier to understand.

This was worse.

Disappointment and disgust.

Then, just as quickly, Dad smiled again as he turned toward me, “Your stepmother looks worried.”

A hint of amusement crept into his voice. My eyes flicked to Perla. She was staring at Dad, her jaw tight, her glare sharp. Dad never looked at her. His attention stayed on me.

“Do you remember how convinced she always was that I’d choose her son over you?”

Perla’s head snapped toward me, “Giovanni-”

He ignored her completely, cutting her off, “She spent years believing I’d change my mind,” his smile widened just enough to

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make my stomach turn, “Looks like she’s still playing the same game.”

Perla took a slow step forward, “That’s enough”

Dad didn’t even acknowledge she’d spoken.

He kept looking at me, his hand pulling me closer to him, “Stay close to me and stay away from her,” he nodded toward Perla, ” She’s never forgiven you.”

My brows pulled together, “What?”

“She’s never forgiven you for outsmarting her all those years ago,” he laughed quietly, “Running away. I don’t blame you for that. I blame the people who were supposed to be watching you,” his eyes finally settled on Perla, “Incompetence has

consequences.”

I stared at him, then, I looked at Perla. She hadn’t said a word. She simply stood behind Giovanni’s wheelchair, her hands gripping the handles so tightly I thought they might break.

And all at once…

A memory came rushing back.

Perla standing in front of me, her own eyes full of tears. She had fixed my jacket, smoothed my hair, then cupped my face with

both hands.

“You’re stronger than you think, Gianna, so be brave now.”

“I love you too… that’s exactly why I’m doing this.”

That woman…

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