Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Obsession Of My Stepbrother: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

It was almost lunch, and the office seemed quieter than usual. Bryan had suggested we grab a bite at a restaurant nearby, but I’d refused. I wasn’t in the mood for his brand of company. As I worked through a report Charlotte had handed me, I noticed the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. The rhythm was slower than Bryan's hurried pace, more measured, familiar. I didn’t have to look up to know who it was. “Why are you still working? It’s lunch time,” Dino’s voice broke through, smooth and casual. I glanced at him, not bothering to hide my frustration. “Because I have work to do. Some of us take our jobs seriously.” Dino chuckled softly, leaning against the doorframe. “You know, you’re in the office, and yet you seem so far away. Always running away from me, Eloise.” I bit b

The lady sneered, crossing her arms. “Maybe next time you’ll watch where you’re going.” “What’s going on here?” a deep voice demanded. I looked up to see Dino standing in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. His gaze shifted to me on the floor, my bleeding hand, and then to the lady standing above me. “She wasn’t paying attention,” the lady said, her tone suddenly defensive. “She ran into me.” Dino’s jaw tightened, his eyes dark with anger. “Is that why she’s bleeding? Because she ran into you?” The lady opened her mouth to argue, but Dino raised a hand to stop her. “Enough. Just leave. Now.” She hesitated, her eyes darting between Dino and me, before huffing and storming off. Dino knelt beside me, his expression softening. “Let me see,” he said gently. I reluctantly held out my hand, wincing as he inspected the cut. “This looks deep,” he said, his voice tight. “We need to get you to the nurse’s office.” “I’m fine,” I said, trying to push myself

When I got home, the familiar scent of lavender-scented candles greeted me. I kicked off my shoes by the door, feeling the exhaustion of the day settling deep in my bones. The bandage on my hand tugged slightly as I adjusted my bag, a sharp reminder of the chaos I’d been trying to forget. Mom’s voice floated from the kitchen, light and cheerful. "Eloise, you’re home! Just in time." I forced a smile as I stepped into the kitchen, where she was stirring something in a pot, her face glowing with excitement. "Hey, Mom." "How was work?" she asked, glancing at my hand with a brief frown before I could tuck it behind my back. "Fine. Just busy," I replied quickly, not in the mood to relive the office drama. She didn’t press, thank God. Instead, she wiped her hands on a dish towel and turned to me, her eyes sparkling with the kind of excitement that instantly put

Sandra’s voice was sharp and dripping with condescension. “Is that Eloise Carter? Well, well, well… we meet again.” I froze, my fingers stiff over the keyboard. Slowly, I turned my head, locking eyes with her smug, flawless face. The same face I’d hated seeing back in high school, now standing here like she owned the place. She shifted slightly, her hand sliding casually onto Dino’s arm as if claiming territory. “You hired her?” she asked, her laugh light but filled with venom. “Come on, babe, it’s Eloise, the Locker Girl.” The words hit harder than I expected, like a slap wrapped in silk. Dino’s jaw clenched, his patience clearly thinning. “Enough, Sandra.” His voice was low but sharp, the kind that left no room for argument. But Sandra wasn’t one to back down easily. She gave me another once over, her lips curled into a sly smirk. “Relax, Dino. I’m just surprised. Guess some th

On the day of the trip.... The morning air was thick with that weird mix of anticipation and dread the kind you get when you know you’re walking straight into the lion’s den, but the lion has better hair and an expensive watch. My suitcase stood by the door, packed with everything I’d need for the trip… and absolutely nothing to help with the emotional baggage I was hauling along. Jess sprawled across my couch like she owned it, lazily flipping through TV channels, her oversized hoodie swallowing her whole. A bag of chips balanced precariously on her stomach. “I still can’t believe you’re leaving me,” she whined, stuffing another handful of chips into her mouth. “You’re abandoning me to deal with adulthood alone. You know I don’t even water plants properly, how am I supposed to take care of an entire house?” I smirked, adjusting the strap on my carry-on. “It’s not that serious. Just lock the doors, don’t burn the kitchen down, and maybe don’t invite any random strangers over.”