IN LOVE WITH MY STEPSON のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

CLAIREThe door creaked as I stepped in.I paused in the doorway, breathing heavily. My chest rose and fell as I looked around the living room. There was silence for a moment-until two voices rose in stunned unison:"Claire?"Sasha's voice came first, followed closely by Emily's.I froze, caught in the flood of their eyes.Sasha dropped her purse on the couch and rushed toward me, pulling me into a hug so tight it nearly knocked the air out of my lungs."I can't believe it's you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "You're the one who's been sending me money?"I nodded slowly. "Yes... that was me."She pulled back, holding my arms. "Why didn't you ever show yourself?"I looked at her, then glanced around the room. Emily was sitting in her wheelchair, looking stunned. Williams stood in a far corner, his eyes locked on me. Donald was by Emily's side, protective and still. Sasha's little boy and Emily's son were playing together on the floor.So much pain, so many pieces of th

HARRIETThe moment I heard the click of Julius's door lock behind me, I tiptoed silently down the corridor, careful not to make a sound. My heart pounded as if it wanted to jump out of my chest. The tiny voice recorder in my apron pocket felt like a brick with dangerous secrets.I couldn't believe what I had just heard.That monster wasn't Williams biological father yet he was planning to kill Sasha, Williams... and even little Jayden.My knees almost gave way, but I clenched my fists and kept moving. I needed to get out of this house-fast. I needed to warn them before it was too late. I pulled out my phone with trembling fingers and dialed Emily."Emily, it's me. Call Sasha, Claire, Williams, and Donald. Tell them to meet in our house right now. I'll be there in one hour. Please. Don't ask questions. Just do it. This is urgent."I didn't wait for a reply. I ended the call and rushed toward the gate, my slippers barely touching the ground as I moved like a shadow. The house was quiet,

JULIUSThe morning started with a familiar scent of and the quiet rustling of papers on my desk. The sunlight slipped in through the window blinds and sliced the room into golden stripes, and I felt oddly, at peace. My empire, my name, my legacy... everything was intact.Claire walked in, dressed smartly as always, holding a white envelope. "Sir, this just came in for you."I raised an eyebrow, setting down my pen. "Is it from the board?"She smiled softly. "No, It's from the National Business Federation."I took the envelope and tore it open. My eyes scanned the first line and then widened."You have been nominated for the 40th Lifetime Achievement Award in Business Leadership"'"A dry chuckle escaped my throat as I smirked "My fortieth," I muttered under my breath. "You'd think by now they'd run out of trophies to throw at me."Claire gave a short laugh. "You deserve every one of them, sir."I smirked again, placing the letter on my desk. "Isn't it obvious, Claire? I'm still making

JULIUSThe room was dim and cold, a quiet warehouse on the edge of Chicago, abandoned for years and the air smelled like rust and dust, heavy with the weight of what was about to happen.Donald stood next to me with his arms folded and face hard. In front of us, tied tightly to a metal chair with rope digging into his wrists, was Julius-my father by circumstances, my enemy by fate. His lips were bruised, and blood trickled slowly from the corner of his mouth from the first few slaps we had already given him. But this wasn't about revenge. Not entirely. It was about truth."Speak!" I exclaimed, my voice cold, eyes fixed on him. "Tell me why you did it. Why you killed them."He smirked, his jaw stiff, his pride still intact. That was when Donald stepped forward and slammed his fist into Julius's jaw. A painful grunt escaped his throat, and his head snapped to the side."I said speak!" I yelled, gripping his collar.Julius coughed, blood dripping down his chin. He spat to the side and ga

CLAIREThe hallway was quiet, with only the soft echo of my heels tapping the polished floor as I stepped out of Mr. Julius's office. I was exhausted-mentally and emotionally drained-but I still had one last file to drop off at the legal department before heading home.As I walked toward the elevator, my phone buzzed in my hand. I picked it up quickly, praying it wasn't another fire to put out."Hello?" I answered."Claire, it's done. Williams and Donald have just been released. Bail came through and they are free," the voice said, a little breathless. It was one of Donald's allies- I recognized the voice instantly."Oh, thank God," I whispered with deep relief. My chest loosened for the first time all day. "Thank you so much. I'll see you soon."I ended the call and was about to enter the elevator when I felt a hand on my shoulder.I froze.Slowly, I turned and there he was.Mr. Julius!Damn it!His eyes were cold, unreadable, like storm clouds before lightning strikes. His hand drop