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All Chapters of WITH MY STEPSON: Chapter 41 - Chapter 47

47 Chapters

What Guilt Sounds Like

Hunter.“So,” Asher began, eyes locked on the road behind the steering, his voice casual but still intense. “You want to tell me why you look like you’ve been carrying the weight of the world since sunrise, or should I pretend that’s just your new face?”I leaned my head back against the seat. “Lucia's very worried.”Asher glanced at me, then back at the road. “That bad?”“Worse,” I said. “It’s like, she came to a deeper understanding when she finally said everything out loud.”“That’s usually when it hits hardest.”“It did,” I replied. “Christian made sure of it.”Asher slowed slightly at a turn. “Talk to me.”“He took her to the prison yesterday,” I said. “Went to visit her father with her.”Asher’s jaw tightened. “He's never visited before."“Exactly.”“That wasn’t a visit,” Asher stated flatly. “That was a performance.”“I know," I agreed, " For James and for Lucia.”“What did he say?” Asher asked.“Nothing straight,” I replied. “Which is how he always does it.”Asher scoffed qui

Hard Copies

Hunter.“What do you mean, murderer?” I asked, even though the word was still echoing in my head. It wasn't no grand shock, but still, hearing it made me feel some type of way.Asher didn’t say anything yet. He just stared at Mr. Brown like he was trying to decide whether to brace for impact or lean in closer.Mr. Brown slumped his shoulders, letting out a breath like saying it out loud had taken something out of him. “I mean exactly what it sounds like.”“But that’s not enough,” I interjected immediately. “You can’t just drop something like that and expect us to run with it.”“I’m not asking you to run with it, or whatever ” he replied quietly. “I’m telling you what I know.”Asher finally spoke. “Knowing and proving are two very different things.”Mr. Brown nodded. “I’m painfully aware.”I stepped forward, my patience running thin. “Then tell us what you have. Not what you feel or what you suspect. What can you prove, Mr Brown?”He rubbed his palms together nervously. “That’s the pr

Uninvited

Lucia.“Are you planning to eat all of that?”Rose’s voice flowed in sharply from the entrance of the dining room, like she’d been waiting for the exact second to speak.I didn’t look up immediately. I took another bite of the omelet in my plate, chewed slowly and swallowed. Then I lifted my eyes to her.“Good morning, Rose.”She sat across from me without returning the greeting, her eyes scanning my plate with a look of disgust, like it was against all she stood for.“I asked you a question.”“Yes,” I replied calmly. “I’m planning to eat breakfast.”She sniffed. “That’s not breakfast. That’s indulgence.”I glanced down. “Eggs, toast and tea hardly counts as indulgence.”Her gaze zeroed in. “Butter.”I met her stare. “Yes. Butter.”Rose leaned back, tightening her lips.“You’re far too comfortable for a woman who hasn’t produced a child.”Here we go again. I rolled my eyes, letting the words settle heavily between us.I placed my fork down carefully. “We’re not doing this today.”Her e

No Room Left

Lucia.The moment Christian’s voice filled the room, Juliana stiffened.She didn’t turn to look at him immediately, instead she curled her fingers together in front of her like she needed something to hold on to.“Juliana,” Christian repeated, his tone slower and sharper now. “What are you doing here?”She took a deep breath, flicking her eyes briefly to Rose before turning to face him. Her voice was quiet was she spoke.“I didn’t plan for this to happen like this."Rose straightened, instantly alert with raised eyebrows. “What is she talking about, Christian?”Juliana shook her head. “I shouldn’t say anything in front of her.”I rolled my eyes, seeing right through her pretense and cunning act. This was exactly what she'd planned.Rose scoffed. “In front of me? I’m his mother.”Juliana looked torn, her eyes darting between Christian and Rose. “I just don’t want to cause… unnecessary stress.”Christian exhaled impatiently. “Juliana, you barged into my house uninvited.”I crossed my ar

Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed

Hunter.I walked into the dining room already irritated. I’d been summonedbagain which usually meant my father wanted control, information, or observation; preferably all three.What I didn’t expect was to see a stranger I immediately realized was her.Juliana.She was standing too close to Lucia than I'd have preferred. She looked too confident, too familiar, and the room felt wrong instantly.My eyes moved from Juliana to Rose, then to my father, and finally to Lucia... and that’s when everything in me cracked.Lucia looked like she’d been standing in the middle of a storm with no shelter. Her face was calm in the way people get when they’re trying not to fall apart.Then she saw me. For half a second, her composure slipped as a flicker of relief passed through her eyes.“Hunter,” my father said casually, like this was a normal family breakfast. “You’re here.”I ignored him.“What’s going on?” I asked, my eyes never leaving Lucia.No one answered immediately. Juliana smiled, a small

Can A Son Forget His Father?

Hunter.Christian walked ahead like he always did, with long strides and squared shoulders. The office door was open when he reached it, and he stepped inside without looking back.I followed, shutting the door behind us with a heavy, deliberate click.I crossed my arms. “You want to tell me what the hell that was back there?”Christian didn’t turn around immediately. He moved toward his desk, straightened a folder that didn’t need straightening, then finally looked at me like I was an inconvenience.“I don’t owe you explanations, Hunter.”I let out a humorless laugh. “Funny. You summoned me, humiliated your wife in front of everyone, your mistress included, and now you’re suddenly allergic to conversation?”“Need I remind you that this is my house,” he snapped. “And I can do whatever the hell I want in it.”I stepped closer. “Including forcing your wife to cohabit with your pregnant mistress?”His jaw flexed. “Watch yourself.”“I’m watching you,” I shot back. “That woman... Juliana,

Timing Is Key

Lucia.“Plans?” Hunter asked the moment we were far enough from the house. “Since when did we have plans?”I rolled my eyes, ignoring his question.He glanced at me sideways, a slow grin tugging at his mouth. “Wow. And here I was thinking I’d missed something important.”I stopped walking and turned to him fully. “You’re not funny.”He stopped too, hands raised slightly. “Okay, but maybe a little funny.”I crossed my arms. “You were standing very close to her.”“Ah,” he blurted out softly. “There it is.”“There is what?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes“That tone,” he replied. “The one you use when you’re pretending you don’t care.”“I don’t care,” I retorted immediately, too immediately.He smirked. “You’re jealous.”“Pfff, jealous? No. What's there to be jealous of?”He took a step closer. “You’re jealous.”“I am not,” I repeated. “I just don’t like her.”“Fair,” he nodded. “I don’t either.”I narrowed my eyes. “Then why were you talking to her, standing pretty close at that?”“Because

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