Semua Bab Stepbrother, I Have A Secret: Bab 41 - Bab 50

What is he doing here?He was standing firmly on my side with wine flute in his large veiny hand. He eyed me then, his brow shot up. I bit the inside of my cheek and cleared my throat.“I don’t actually care.” I gulped the remaining champagne in my glass, gaze shifted back to where Duke was.“So… you’re playing the role of a martyr wife, huh?” Atlas concluded. My grip against the glass tightened a bit.“How can you say so, brother?” I countered with a forceful smile. “Guess you don’t love him that much.” Instead, he concluded once again. It stiffened me in a blink. Now that I returned my eyes to him, I couldn’t seem to take them off his majestic face anymore.“Bro, you’re just too good at guessing, aren’t you?” I put the glass down, turned completely to face him, rested my elbow on the table and stared at him shamelessly.For a moment, something flickered in those mesmerizing pair of his. I’d like to think I’ve really seen a glint of irritation in them and how his expression shifted

In the midst of an endless darkness, I suddenly heard indistinct voices from afar. Slowly, my senses crawled back to me and the first thing I did was to open my eyes. The intensity of light given by the all-white ceiling made me close my eyes again. I winced but somehow… couldn’t completely feel my body as if they’ve gone numb.“Waaah! Mom’s awake! Mommy!” Although I could barely hear the voices properly, I was certain whose voice was that.I blinked and tried to stretch my lips for a smile despite the sting on its side that I could seriously feel. In a snap, Ria was already hugging me while her face buried on my stomach. It was tight, like she’s afraid if she ever holds back, she would lose me all of a sudden. Heart warmed, I reached for her back to give it a gentle rub.“You came back! Thank you! Thanks for coming back, mom. I thought… I-I thought we’ll lose you. I thought I’m gonna lose you!” Ria lifted her small face just for me to see her overflowing tears, her nose and cheeks we

Ashanti often visits the villa because of Atlas, that’s what it seems to me. In the first place, why is he so dedicated to stay here when he could just spend his time in his penthouse? So that I won’t be seeing him together with his fiancé all around the corner!It reminds me of his words way back years ago. The penthouse that he bought and its future purpose as he told me. They all make sense now. His plan, everything’s going in their right places, huh. That’s all he ever wanted, anyway. A family of his own. Someone who’s willing to fight for him, be with him through thick and thin. Someone as brave as him who’d gladly take his hand against all odds, as daring as him to break even the toughest rule.He found her. Good for him.“Uh, Bev?” “Hmm?” I only hummed as a response to Lancer without putting an effort to look at him as a funny clip on the internet distracted me a bit.“You sure he doesn’t remember?” Lancer asked. It easily pulled my attention back to him and Hailee.“Yes. Why?

"Howard family were set to face multiple serious cases involving each of the family members. Duke for aggravated assault, Sarah for child abuse, Daniel as part of an underground group involving drug trafficking and money laundering..." "That classless witch! How dare she lay a finger on my precious baby Ria! I'll make sure to taint her reputation in the motherhood community by any means possible!" Train had to pause from completing his sentence to give way to mom's aggressive reaction."Barbara, calm down..." She was only silenced when Trevor caressed her with comfort."Err, what about the other two Howard siblings?" I asked Train, more like urging him to continue.He cleared his throat and reclaimed seriousness. "Cambridge both expelled Dustin and Pauline Howard. Dustin, for allegedly cheating on major exam and Pauline for cyber bullying and harassing her classmate." The information made me blink for a second. Whoa. That's one hell of a problematic family."They're worse than what

"Well, then..." I took a sharp breath and forced a smile.Locked in Atlas's arms was Ashanti smirking victoriously. I had to control myself from giving her a slap regardless of everyone's watch and just walked out of that space without leaving any more word. If they felt disappointed then, they disappointed me too. What can I still do? They won't believe a single word I spout! Instead, she got them in her hands, effortless."Beverly? Where are you—hey!" I saw Train together with Rainer and their other cousins but I was too determined to get away from everyone at this hour.They called out my name once more but my self control was strong enough not to look back. I knew they've seen the tears cascading my face. It's fine. What's the point of yapping the matter? As if they'd believe any word I'd say. Just like the rest, they won't think bad of her. That's how she brainwashed everybody. Fucking successfully! I just couldn't accept Ria's included, too...Now, my daughter hates me because