My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 760

Chapter 760

Raphael

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Raphael,

This is Hazel.

You are probably wondering why, out of everyone in this world, I chose to leave a letter for you.

Truthfully…

I’m wondering the same thing.

You are your father’s son, and I was only his wife for a short part of my life. I don’t have the right to ask anything of you. I haven’t earned that right, and I know it.

So what I’m about to ask may feel unfair.

It may even make you angry. If it does… I’m sorry. But I don’t know who else to trust.

Over the last few months, I’ve watched this family more closely than any of you realize. I saw things people don’t notice when they’ve lived together their whole lives.

I saw six young men who would walk through fire without thinking twice if it meant protecting someone they loved. You stand between them and the world without asking whether it’s worth the cost.

I saw loyalty that couldn’t be bought.

And I saw a home that never stayed quiet for very long.

When we first arrived, I was frightened. Because I didn’t know what kind of life we were walking into.

At first, some of those fears weren’t completely wrong, none of us knew each other. Trust doesn’t appear overnight. It grows slowly.

One day at a time.

Somewhere along the way, without any of us noticing, that changed. The walls between us disappeared. You boys stopped treating us like guests. You made room for us at your table.

You laughed with Gianna and Jules. You argued with them. You protected them without even realizing you were doing it.

And before I knew it…

You had made us part of your family.

It was the first place in a very long time where I could go to sleep without wondering what tomorrow would bring.

The first place where I believed, my daughters might finally be safe.

So, there are a few things I need to admit, something I noticed long before I think you did. I want you to know why I’m writing your name instead of anyone else’s, and it’s not because I believe you’re the easiest person to ask.

Quite the opposite.

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I’ve watched you long enough to know that your trust isn’t given freely, neither is your loyalty both have to be earned

But I’ve also noticed the way your eyes always find Glanna, even when you think no one is paying attention

You rarely speak more than necessary, but you never stop watching Whenever she walks into a room, your attention follows her before the rest of you does,

When she laughs… your expression softens, even if only for a heartbeat. It’s such a small change that most people

would never notice it.

A mother does.

Mothers notice everything when it comes to the people who stand near their children.

I don’t know what the future holds for the two of you. Maybe I’m seeing something that will never become/ anything

Maybe whatever is growing between you will disappear before either of you finds the courage to give it a name.

Life has a way of changing even the plans we are certain of

I’m not writing this letter because I expect you to love my daughter.

Love cannot be asked for.

It cannot be demanded.

And it certainly cannot be forced.

If your heart leads you somewhere else one day, then I hope that person treasures you the way you deserve to be treasured.

What I want…

What every mother wants….

Is simply for her child to be safe,

To be loved honestly, to be seen for who she is, nothing more, nothing less but I would be lying if I said I haven’t noticed something

Gianna has never been very good at hiding her feelings. She likes to believe she is. She convinces herself that if she keeps her face straight enough, no one will notice what’s happening inside her head.

She’s wrong

She’s as easy to read as clear water.

Every feeling reaches her eyes before she has the chance to hide it. Especially when she’s looking at you. I’ve seen her cheeks grow warm for no reason at all.

I’ve watched her lose her train of thought halfway through a sentence because you walked into the room.

I’ve caught her looking for you without realizing she was doing it. Then pretending she wasn’t, the moment she found you looking back.

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P

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