登入分享
Chapter 25: Secrets, secrets
publish date:
2026-09-19 16:24:59
最新章節
Caught Kissing My Stepbrother. CHAPTER 76
The roaring hum of LAX blurred into static. The bustling crowd, the announcements echoing over the loudspeakers, the luggage wheels scraping against polished linoleum—it all vanished, leaving only the agonizingly loud thud of my heart slamming against my ribs.I couldn't move. My feet were rooted to the floor, my fingers paralyzed around the handle of my rolling suitcase.The man in the dark trench coat stood just two feet behind Jace, his graying temples and sharp jawline cutting a terrifying figure against the warm airport lighting. But it was his eyes that made my stomach turn upside down. They were a vivid, piercing hazel—the exact shade of my mother’s eyes in the old film photos she kept locked in her jewelry box.Jace didn't notice him yet. He was still grinning, stepping over the retractable barrier strap, his broad shoulders expanding as he opened his arms to pull me into a hug."Iz?" Jace’s voice broke through the haze, his dark eyebrows pulling together in sudden concern as
Caught Kissing My Stepbrother. chapter 75
IZEL'S POV"If you drop that cap one more time, Jace Carter, I am walking across the commencement stage without you.""It's not my fault my hair has too much volume for cheap polyester, Iz," I teased, reaching up to adjust the stiff navy mortarboard sitting tilted on my head.We were standing in the crowded staging area behind the Pacific Coast University stadium, surrounded by a sea of black and navy gowns, flying confetti, and the deafening roar of hundreds of excited families packing the bleachers. The morning sun was bright and hot overhead, reflecting off the ocean just beyond the campus gates.Izel stepped up to me, looking breathlessly gorgeous in her dark blue gown, her golden fellowship honor cords draped over her shoulders. She reached up, her cool fingers smoothing down my collar before sliding the black cap back into place and securing it with two bobby pins she pulled straight from her hair."There," she murmured, her dark eyes sparkling up at me as her hands rested flat
Caught Kissing My Stepbrother. CHAPTER 74
JACE'S POV"If this is another late-night legal summons from Arthur Ashford, I’m throwing it straight into the fireplace."Izel crossed her arms, watching me closely from across the marble island. Her dark eyes were fixed on the heavy brass key resting in my hand, its worn leather fob catching the warm overhead light."It’s not from Arthur," I said softly, my thumb tracing the red wax seal on the cream envelope. "That’s my dad’s handwriting."I slid my index finger under the seal, popping it open with a quiet tear. I pulled out a single sheet of heavy parchment paper and unfolded it.Jason,If you’re reading this, it means you’ve successfully delivered your speech at the summit, and you’ve officially stepped into the life you were always meant to live. I couldn’t be prouder of the man you’ve become.The key in your hand doesn’t belong to a safe deposit box or a corporate office. It belongs to a small timber-and-stone cabin tucked away on the cliffs of Carmel-by-the-Sea. I bought the l
Caught Kissing My Stepbrother. CHAPTER 73
JACE'S POVThe grand ballroom of the Beverly Hills Convention Center smelled like expensive floral arrangements, fresh roasted coffee, and crisp silk ties. Hundreds of collegiate athletic directors, cardiologists, and sports medicine representatives filled the round tables, the murmur of high-profile networking humming beneath the crystal chandeliers.I stood in the wings offstage, adjusting the collar of my dark grey suit jacket. My palm pressed flat against my chest, feeling the steady, rhythmic thump beneath my ribs. Sixty-eight beats per minute. Calm. Perfect.Izel reached out, her cool fingers wrapping around my trembling hand and giving it a gentle, grounding squeeze. She looked stunning in a deep emerald wrap dress, her dark hair pinned back softly. Beside her stood Richard, dressed in a tailored navy suit, watching the stage with that quiet, commanding presence he carried everywhere."You're going to crush this, Jace," Izel whispered, leaning up on her tiptoes to press a warm,
Caught Kissing My Stepbrother. Chapter 72
IZEL'S POVThe thick, gold-embossed letter felt like a paper weight in my hands.L'Académie des Beaux-Arts — Paris, France.Every single time my eyes drifted back to those words, my stomach did a violent, nauseating flip. Six months in Europe. A private studio in the 4th Arrondissement. Full gallery representation before I even turned twenty-two. It was the exact kind of once-in-a-lifetime dream opportunity I used to pray for when I was scrubbing paint palettes in the basement of the fine arts building.And now that it was actually sitting right in front of me, all I wanted to do was hide it.I couldn't tell Jace. Not now. He was finally sleeping through the night without waking up in a cold sweat over his heart. His catheter ablation scars were healed, his medical team had given him a clean bill of health, and he was thriving on the pool deck as an assistant coach. For the first time since I met him, Jace Carter was happy, grounded, and completely stress-free.If I told him I was mov
Caught Kissing My Stepbrother. Chapter 71
JACE'S POVThe morning air at Pacific Coast University had that crisp, late-September chill that usually signaled the start of a grueling training block. The campus was absolutely buzzing with fresh energy, tour groups of prospective students wandered the quad, the coffee shops on University Avenue had lines stretching out the door, and the fallen leaves rustled against the brick walkways.For four years, walking through the glass double doors of the aquatic center meant my stomach immediately tied itself into a tight, agonizing knot. It meant checking my pulse every five minutes, hiding my symptoms from Coach Miller, and bracing myself for two hours of brutal interval sets.Today, stepping onto the pool deck felt completely different.The humid smell of chlorine hit my nose, but my chest stayed loose. My heart beat in a calm, steady rhythm a reminder of the successful ablation procedure sitting just a few weeks behind me. I wasn't wearing my competition jammer or holding a stopwatch
你可能也喜歡
The Divorced Billionaire Heiress
I Wanna Eat Meat16.3M 閱讀量The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins
Artemis Z.Y.794.5K 閱讀量One Night Stand
Favor V April1.0M 閱讀量Wanted: Billionaire's Wife And Their Genius Twin Babies
Pamela981.1K 閱讀量Dumped Wife Becomes the Tyrant's Beloved
Jennison111 閱讀量THE BILLIONAIRE'S BROKEN TRUST
Happiness ikebuaku 26 閱讀量My Moody Romance: I met my match
Kiki73 閱讀量Pursuing His Substitute Wife
Zammie 169 閱讀量
