Semua Bab The Obsession Of My Stepbrother: Bab 41 - Bab 50

Alessandro cleared his throat, giving them all a pointed look. “Enough bickering at the table.” Eloise sighed, shoving a bite of fruit into her mouth while Dino leaned closer, just enough to make her skin prickle. “You’re unusually quiet this morning, Carter.” She stiffened, refusing to take the bait. “I have nothing to say to you.” “Strange,” he mused, tapping his fork against his plate. “I seem to remember you having a lot to say last night.” Her fingers clenched around her fork, heat rising to her face. She knew exactly what he was doing. That stupid smirk, the teasing lilt in his voice, it was all meant to get under her skin. Before she could retort, Alessandro cleared his throat. “Now that we’re all gathered, I have an update. Anne and I need to handle some legal paperwork regarding the wedding, which means we’ll be spending most of the next few days taking care of that.”

Eloise clenched her fists, breathing heavily. Her emotions had been piling up all this time, buried under layers of denial, frustration, and forced indifference. But now, under the dim light of the motel room, with Dino looking at her like he could actually see through every wall she had built, something inside her snapped. "You messed my life up, Dino!" she burst out, her voice raw with emotion. Dino's smirk faded instantly, replaced by something unreadable. Eloise shook her head, laughing bitterly as tears welled up in her eyes. "You think this is some kind of game? That you can just smirk and flirt your way through everything like nothing ever happened?" Dino sat up fully now, watching her, his body tense. "Eloise—" "No!" she cut him off, pressing her palms to her temples as she paced the room. "You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to act like we’re

The boat rocked gently over the water, the rhythmic hum of the motor filling the silence between them. Eloise kept her gaze locked on the horizon, unwilling to meet Dino’s eyes. Everything about last night still clung to her like a second skin... his words, the way his voice softened when he said her name, the way he looked at her when he asked about the kiss. She hated that it made her heart race. Dino sat beside her, quiet for once. The usual smugness was gone, replaced by something unreadable. He leaned back, staring at the sky as if lost in thought. The air between them felt heavy, charged with the weight of things unsaid. Eloise finally broke the silence. “How long until we get there?” Dino checked his watch. “About an hour.” She nodded, shifting in her seat. The waves lapped against the boat, the salty breeze cooling her skin. It should have been peaceful, but all she could think about was how close Dino was sitting—close enough that if she moved even a little, their

The first light of dawn crept into the room, casting gentle hues over the walls. Eloise lay still, her eyes tracing the patterns on the ceiling, sleep having eluded her throughout the night. The weight of unspoken words and lingering touches pressed heavily on her mind. Across the room, Dino stirred on the couch, the creak of the worn springs breaking the morning silence. Eloise turned her head slightly, watching as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his hair tousled and eyes heavy with fatigue. Their gazes met, and for a moment, the room was filled with an unspoken understanding, a fragile truce amidst the turmoil of their emotions. "Morning," Dino murmured, his voice rough from sleep. "Morning," Eloise replied softly, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket. Dino sat up, stretching his arms above his head before running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I should get us something to eat," he said, breaking the tension that hung between them. Eloise nodded, grateful for

Behind Jess, Matteo and Luca trailed in, looking mildly exhausted but entertained. “Yeah,” Matteo said, smirking. “Luca and I went to pick her up from the mainland.” Jess gave a dramatic sigh, setting her bag down. “Took them long enough. I missed my girl, so here I am.... and a wedding coming up.” Eloise couldn’t help but laugh, the weight in her chest easing slightly as Jess threw her arms around her in a hug. “Though, you could use some company,” Jess murmured close to her ear, pulling back with a knowing look. Eloise smiled, glancing over Jess’s shoulder just in time to catch Dino watching them quietly from across the room. Their eyes met briefly, just enough to send a pulse racing through her. “Looks like dinner’s going to be interesting tonight,” Luca quipped as he shrugged off his jacket. Matteo chuckled under his breath. “More than interesting.” Anne simply shook her head, amused, before excusing herself back to the kitchen. Eloise swallowed, her gaze flickin