บททั้งหมดของ My Boss, My Step-Brother: The Devil From My Past: บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

The next morning, sunlight streamed through Elena’s apartment window, pulling her from an uneasy sleep. She had dreamt of the office party—Elliot’s confession, Claire’s cruel words, and the dance that felt far too intimate. The memories were still vivid as she sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. There was no denying it: Elliot was becoming a significant part of her life. Not just as her stepbrother or boss but as someone she was beginning to see in a different light. It terrified her. Work that day was quieter than usual. Elliot hadn’t sought her out, giving her the space she needed after everything that had transpired. She appreciated the gesture but found herself glancing toward his office more often than she cared to admit. By lunch, her thoughts were a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. It wasn’t just his actions at the party—it was the accumulation of moments leading up to it. The way he had stood up for her against Claire, the sincerity in his voice when he said he wan

The following days at work passed with a strange sense of normalcy that Elena couldn’t quite get used to. Elliot maintained a professional demeanor, interacting with her only when necessary and keeping a polite distance otherwise. While part of her appreciated the space, another part—one she wasn’t ready to admit existed—missed the subtle attentions he had been giving her before. Still, the air between them wasn’t tense. It felt... balanced. Tentative, but not strained. And Elena found herself catching small glimpses of the Elliot she was starting to believe in: the one who apologized, who seemed genuinely interested in repairing their relationship. Midweek, Elena returned to her desk after a meeting to find a small box sitting on her chair. Frowning, she picked it up and inspected it. It was wrapped neatly in simple brown paper, with her name written in bold, confident handwriting she immediately recognized. Her first instinct was suspicion. She glanced around, but her colleagues

Over the next few days, Elena replayed Elliot’s words in her mind. His steady belief in her had been an anchor during the chaos, and it sparked something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a long time: confidence. For so long, she had defined herself by the lens through which others viewed her—first as the timid girl bullied in high school, then as the insecure woman navigating office politics. But now, something had shifted. She was starting to see herself as capable, deserving, and more than the sum of her past experiences. At the office, Elena continued to rise above the lingering whispers. She implemented creative ideas during a new project pitch, earning the attention and respect of senior management. Even her toughest critics couldn’t argue against the brilliance of her contributions. With each success, the rumors faded further, replaced by a growing acknowledgment of her abilities. Elliot, true to his word, stayed in the background but subtly facilitated her growth. He pro

The thought stayed with Elena as she went to bed that evening. Forgiveness wasn’t about absolving Elliot entirely or pretending the past hadn’t happened. It was about reclaiming her own sense of peace. She had spent years carrying the burden of his actions, and she was finally beginning to understand that holding on to that anger only kept her tethered to a version of herself she no longer wanted to be. In the days that followed, Elena found herself noticing more moments where Elliot’s efforts seemed genuine. He continued to treat her with respect, and his actions showed a quiet consistency that reassured her. He didn’t press her for more than she was ready to give, but his patience spoke volumes. Slowly, she started to open up more during their interactions, letting some of her guardedness slip away. One afternoon, during a lull in their workload, Elliot approached her with a tentative smile. “There’s a new café down the street. Want to check it out? My treat.” Elena hesitated, he

The office had long since emptied, the silence broken only by the faint hum of fluorescent lights. Elena glanced at the clock on the wall—it was nearly midnight. The client pitch deadline loomed, and though most of the work was done, she wanted to double-check every detail. Across the room, Elliot was still at his desk, his shirt sleeves rolled up, his brow furrowed in concentration. She admired his focus for a moment before shaking her head. Focus, Elena. This is about work. But as much as she tried to ignore it, the growing sense of ease between them had begun to chip away at the barriers she’d carefully constructed. "Still here?" Elliot’s voice broke the quiet. Elena looked up to find him leaning back in his chair, watching her with a small, tired smile. "You’re still here too," she shot back, her lips quirking into a faint grin. "Touché." He stood, stretching, and gestured toward the break room. "Want some coffee? It’s probably terrible, but it’s all we’ve got." She hesitat