My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 733

Chapter 733

I hadn’t come here to wear expensive clothes and stand beside my father like everything was normal.

I came here for answers.

And somehow, after an entire day, I had even more questions.

When we finally returned to the house, I thought I could at least spend time with Gio and Perla. I wanted to talk to them. I wanted to understand what happened while I was gone. I wanted to know why Gio looked at Dad that way but Dad stopped me before I could even ask.

“They go to bed early,” he said simply.

So I was back here.

Alone.

In the room I had left six years ago.

Missing Jules.

Missing the Capones.

Missing Raphael so badly it felt like there was a hole in my chest.

I opened my closet, expecting to find something familiar. Instead, I found a time capsule. Everything inside belonged to a girl who no longer existed.

Sixteen-year-old Gianna.

Tiny dresses, old sweaters, clothes that fit a body that hadn’t finished changing. I pulled out a shirt and stared at it. It looked ridiculous in my hands. I put it back.

After searching through everything, I finally found something that fit.

A small tank top and underwear.

I put it on and the tank top ended above my waist. I stood in front of the mirror, my eyes moved over my reflection and my fingers moved to the necklace around my neck.

Raphael’s mother’s necklace.

I touched the pendant softly, just thinking about him made something inside me ache.

I knew he was hurt. I knew he was angry and I couldn’t blame him. He had fought for me. He had lost because of me. The thought made my stomach twist.

I looked back at my reflection, tilting my head slightly as I studied myself. Maybe… Maybe if he saw me like this, maybe if I reminded him of the girl he loved instead of the mess I felt like now. Maybe if I made him smile first, distracted him for just a little while.

Maybe he wouldn’t be able to stay angry at me.

A small, guilty smile pulled at my lips. It was a little manipulative. A little unfair but Raphael knew me.

I adjusted my hair, pushed my breast together, pulled at my neckline, making it deeper, fixed the necklace so it sat against my skin, and looked at myself one more time.

I wanted to see the way his expression changed when he looked at me and because I wanted to remind him…

Would she answer?

Was she angry?

Did Claire and Maddie hate me?

Did the Capones think I had betrayed them?

My thumb hovered over his name, then I pressed the video call button. The screen started ringing and suddenly, all the courage I had carried all day disappeared.

Because I could face my father.

I could face the Leone.

I could face Dr. Vance.

I could face anything.

But facing the possibility that Raphael no longer wanted me…

That was the thing I couldn’t handle.