Semua Bab The Obsession Of My Stepbrother: Bab 51 - Bab 60

The night air was cool against Eloise’s skin when she stirred awake, tangled in the sheets. Her room was dim, moonlight slicing through the curtains. But sleep felt impossible. Her heart still felt tight from the conversation with Jess, the memory of Dino’s lips pressing gently against hers replaying over and over like a record she couldn’t stop. She swallowed, realizing the taste of him still lingered faintly on her lips. Restless, she threw on a thin sweater over her tank top and quietly padded out of the room, careful not to wake Jess. The villa was quiet, only the sound of the waves crashing outside. She didn’t have a plan. She just needed air. But the moment she stepped into the hallway, she froze. Dino was there, leaning casually against the wall at the end of the hall, his head resting back as if he’d been waiting… or maybe trying to shake off his own demons. His hair was tousled, dark eyes shadowed in the low light, and his sharp jaw flexed when he noticed her. For a sec

Just then... The door slid open. “Oh, shit!” Jess’s voice rang out, eyes wide like saucers as she froze at the doorway. Eloise jolted, heart hammering, but Dino didn’t even flinch. Cool as ever, he simply looked over his shoulder, one hand still firmly on Eloise’s waist. “Jess,” he greeted casually, voice like he hadn’t just been seconds away from devouring Eloise whole. Jess blinked, mouth opening and closing like she couldn’t form words fast enough. “I... I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything,” she sputtered, slamming the door shut so fast the walls shook. Eloise buried her face against Dino’s chest, mortified. “Oh my god.” He laughed softly, lips brushing the top of her head. “Guess that wasn't bad at all.” Her face burned, but his arms only tightened around her. “I don't really care,” he murmured against her hair. “I don't think I'm letting you go.” Later that night, after everything had quieted down, Jess cornered Eloise in their room, arms folded, one brow raised

The wedding reception slowly shifted into a more relaxed, intimate after party. Guests who remained were family and friends, laughter mingling with the soft hum of music as the night stretched on. Eloise found herself seated with Jess and Matteo, nursing a drink while conversation ebbed around her. Across the terrace, Dino stood in a quiet circle with Luca and Alessandro, but every so often, his gaze flicked toward her always brief, always unreadable. Matteo leaned back in his chair, glancing between the two of them knowingly but saying nothing. Instead, he stretched his arms lazily, flashing her an easy grin. "Enjoy tonight while you can, Eloise. Once we’re back in New York, it’s back to chaos." She laughed softly, but her heart tightened at the mention of returning. As the night wound down, Alessandro and Anne made their rounds, thanking guests one last time. When they stopped b

Not really who she expected. It wasn’t Dino. Just a colleague standing by her desk, offering a small nod. “Boss wants to see you in his office. Right now.” Eloise exhaled slowly, nodding as she set down her pen. Of course, he did. Pushing back her chair, she straightened her blouse and grabbed her notepad... an unnecessary prop, but she needed something to keep her hands busy. The walk to Dino’s office felt both too long and too short. Every step tightened the coil of tension in her stomach. She knocked once, firm and professional. “Come in,” his voice came from inside. She turned the handle, stepping in to find him sitting behind his desk, eyes already on her. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. “You wanted to see me?” she asked, keeping her tone businesslike. He gestured to the chair across from him. “Close the door, Eloise.” A flicker of heat crawled up her spine at the way he said her name, but she masked it, shutting the door before moving to sit.

"Everyone will eventually know you're my stepbrother," Eloise said, arms crossed. "I think it's best we keep things down." Dino tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Of course," he said smoothly. "Plus, Jess already knows." Eloise exhaled, about to respond, when the door suddenly burst open. Sandra. Eloise’s stomach twisted at the sight of her. Sandra, who had made her life miserable in high school. The same Sandra who used to sneer at her, belittle her every chance she got. And worse Dino’s ex. Before Eloise could react, Sandra let out an excited squeal and practically threw herself into Dino’s arms. "I’ve missed you so much, Dino!" Dino tensed slightly but let her cling to him, his reaction controlled. "Hey, Sandra." Sandra finally turned her attention to Eloise, her gaze flicking over her like she was assessing her worth just like old times. Then, with a forced smile, she said, "Oh. Eloise, you're here too!" Eloise kept her expression blank. "Yeah,