My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 754

Chapter 754

Gianna

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I followed Dad through the long halls of the estate a few minutes later.

He walked with the same measured pace he always had. Hands behind his back. Suit perfectly pressed. Every servant stepped aside before he reached them.

Nothing about him looked unusual but I couldn’t stop hearing Gio’s voice.

We weren’t raised.

We were studied.

My stomach twisted.

Dad pushed open another set of double doors, “This is where financial meetings are held.”

I forced myself to focus. The room was enormous. A long walnut table stretched almost the entire length of it. Maps covered one wall. Another held photographs of politicians, businessmen, judges and foreign officials.

Dad walked toward the head of the table, “When you become Donna, every person sitting in these chairs will expect certainty. They don’t follow kindness. They follow confidence.”

I gave a small nod.

He began explaining how every territory generated money, construction, shipping, luxury hotels, private security, imports, exports.

He spoke without looking at a single note. Numbers rolled off his tongue effortlessly, percentages, routes, profits,

losses.

I tried listening. I really did but another voice kept pushing its way into my head.

Do you want to end up like your brother?

My eyes drifted toward Dad’s hands. Hands that had tucked me into bed when I was little. Hands that had held mine while teaching me how to use a fork properly.

Hands that had praised me…

Hands that had punished me.

The same hands.

“…Gianna.”

I blinked.

Dad was watching me, “What percentage of the eastern ports belong to us?”

I opened my mouth but suddenly everything blanked out, I knew he’d told me less than thirty seconds ago.

I couldn’t remember a single number.

“I’m sorry.”

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C

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His expression barely changed, “You weren’t listening.”

“No.”

“What were you thinking about?”

My heartbeat sped up, “Nothing.”

His eyes stayed on mine for another second before he continued speaking, “If your attention wanders this easily, people will notice.”

I nodded, “I’m sorry.”

Instead, he moved toward a map hanging on the wall, “If federal pressure increases here,” he tapped one location, “Where do we redirect shipments?”

I looked at the map, the words blurred together for half a second before settling again, not because of my dyslexia but because I couldn’t stop thinking.

Studied.

The word wouldn’t leave me alone.

Studied.

Like an experiment.

Like…

No.

That was ridiculous.

Dad had pushed me hard. He’d hurt me. He’d controlled every second of my childhood.

But…

Lab rats?

No.

Surely not.

“Gianna.”

I looked up again. He had stopped talking and looked pretty annoyed now, “Do you have something on your

mind?

“I’m just… tired, didn’t sleep well,” I lied smoothly.

“No,” his voice stayed calm, “You’re distracted.”

I swallowed, “I’m fine.”

“You aren’t,” he stepped closer, “What did Giovanni tell you?”

Every muscle in my body locked. My face stayed still, “Nothing.”

His eyes searched mine. It felt less like a father looking at his daughter and more like someone checking whether

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Chapter 764

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a witness had started talking. The thought hit so suddenly it made my chest tighten.

Where had that come from?

Dad smiled. His thumb brushed an invisible piece of dust from my jacket, “You always touch your fingers together when you’re hiding something.”

Without thinking… I looked down. My fingers were twisting together. I immediately pulled them apart.

His smile widened just enough to unsettle me, “So, what did they say?”

I forced myself to smile back, “We talked about my mom. I just miss her.”

Now that wasn’t a complete lie. I did miss her all the time.

He watched me for another few seconds, long enough that I wondered if he knew, long enough that I wondered if he’d always known every lie I’d ever told him.

Then he stepped away, “We’ll continue.”

He returned to the map as though nothing had happened. He resumed explaining trade routes, supply chains, money laundering, political leverage.

I forced myself to look away from him.

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