บททั้งหมดของ My Boss, My Step-Brother: The Devil From My Past: บทที่ 71 - บทที่ 80

Elliot had always been protective of Elena, but as the gossip and rumors in the office escalated, his instincts to shield her grew even stronger. He couldn’t stand the way her name was dragged into petty conversations, nor could he ignore the subtle hostility from certain coworkers who seemed determined to undermine her. For Elliot, it wasn’t just about defending Elena—it was about preserving her dignity and ensuring she didn’t have to face these challenges alone. But Elena wasn’t the type to hide behind someone else, not anymore. She had worked hard to carve out her own identity and didn’t want to be seen as someone who needed saving, even by Elliot. The tension came to a head during a team meeting. A particularly hostile coworker, Mark, who had been a consistent source of snide comments and backhanded remarks, crossed a line. “Of course, Elena’s proposal gets approved,” Mark said, not bothering to conceal his sarcasm. “It must be nice to have the boss’s ear for everything.” The

The warmth of the family dinners had shifted subtly. What once felt like a gathering of distinct individuals trying to build a family now carried an undercurrent of tension. Elena sat across from Elliot, their interactions careful yet unable to fully mask the connection growing between them. It wasn’t the obvious kind of affection that drew attention, but rather the small things: the way their glances lingered a second too long, the slight shift in Elliot’s demeanor when Elena spoke, or how she seemed more attuned to his presence than anyone else at the table. Elena’s mother, Susan, was the first to notice. She had always been highly intuitive, especially when it came to her daughter. Over the years, she had developed an uncanny ability to pick up on Elena's moods, even when Elena tried to hide them. Now, as Susan passed a dish of roasted vegetables to Elena, she caught the briefest flicker of a smile exchanged between her daughter and Elliot. It was innocent enough on the surface,

The inevitable confrontation came during a Sunday afternoon family gathering. Everyone had gathered at the family home for a casual lunch, but the warm atmosphere was undercut by an air of tension. The subtle glances, the lingering silences—it was clear to both Elliot and Elena that their parents were no longer willing to ignore the elephant in the room. As the meal wound down, Susan and Richard exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Elena noticed it immediately, her stomach twisting in dread. She glanced at Elliot, who returned her gaze with a calm but knowing expression. “Elena, Elliot,” Susan began, her tone gentle but firm, “can we have a word with you in the living room?” The request wasn’t a question, and the two had no choice but to follow. Once seated, the air in the room felt heavy, the tension palpable. Susan sat with an expectant yet encouraging expression, while Richard’s crossed arms and furrowed brow spoke of barely restrained disapproval. “We need to address what’s b

Elena thought she had turned a corner in her relationship with Elliot, but the echoes of the past proved harder to silence than she anticipated. Memories of his bullying lingered, unbidden and intrusive, often creeping in at the most inconvenient moments. She would catch herself overthinking his motives, questioning whether his gestures were genuine or another veiled manipulation. The high school years had been a battlefield for Elena. Elliot, in his former guise as a cocky and cruel teenager, had been at the center of her torment. Even though she now saw a vastly different man, the scars from those years of humiliation and pain had not fully healed. They whispered doubts into her mind, making her second-guess every smile, every kind word, every lingering glance. Elliot’s gestures were consistent, thoughtful, and undeniably kind. On the surface, it seemed like he was doing everything right. He brought her coffee when she was buried in work, remembered her favorite songs, and even s

The apartment was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside. Elena sat on the couch, her legs curled beneath her, clutching a mug of tea. The day had been exhausting, not just physically but emotionally. Work had been draining, rumors had resurfaced, and every glance from a colleague felt like a judgment. Elliot sat across from her, his posture unusually tense. He had noticed her distant demeanor all evening, her responses clipped, her smile strained. He hated seeing her like this, knowing that part of her burden stemmed from their complicated relationship. “Elena,” he began softly, breaking the silence. She looked up, her eyes heavy with fatigue but sharp with clarity. “What is it, Elliot?” He hesitated, unsure how to phrase the question that had been gnawing at him. “Are you... okay? You’ve seemed off all day.” She sighed, placing her mug on the coffee table. “I’m just tired. It’s been a lot lately—work, family, us. Sometimes it feels like everything’s happening all