My Steprother's Secret Obsession のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 171 - チャプター 180

We crossed paths again during a conference meeting on my first day back from a business trip to Australia. I had been counting on that moment. After all, I was the one who called for the meeting, and I made sure to tell Mr. Lopez to have her attend.Two weeks ago, while I was still in Australia, Dad called to inform me that Elyssa had officially started as the company's new CHRO. The news caught me off guard. I had to cut my trip short to deal with urgent matters, but the truth was, I did not hesitate. I made it my priority to get back as soon as possible.I wrapped everything up in record time, pushing myself harder than usual. I did not want to waste a single second before seeing her again.And then I saw her. The moment she came into view inside that conference room, something inside my chest burst open. The rush of emotion hit so hard it stole the air from my lungs. It had been almost a month since that dinner, and not a single day had passed without her on my mind. Seeing her ag

The next time we saw each other was at the company's quarterly appreciation day. This time, I came prepared.I brought Tiffany with me and made it obvious. I let it look like she was my date for the evening, knowing exactly how it would appear to everyone watching. The rumors around the office had already been circulating for months, people whispering that we were together.I did nothing to correct them. In fact, I leaned into it. If it meant getting under Elyssa's skin, then all the better.Tiffany and I, we were on good terms now. Friends, in a way that made sense for us.I still remembered the day she found out about Elyssa and I broke up. She knew exactly how it ended and why Elyssa left the country.Not long after that, she came to me asking for a chance. I gave it to her but never seriously. I made damn sure she knew right from the start that whatever we had would never turn into something real. She was just there to fill the void and keep my dick wet, nothing more.There was a t

Frustrated, I didn't help her get to her door, even though she was limping.Her words kept replaying in my mind as I drove back toward the Springfield Hotel. I couldn't shake them, couldn't stop questioning whether I had been going about this all wrong.Finally, in a surge of anger and determination, I made a sharp U-turn and drove back to my old condo. I hadn't stayed there in almost two years, not since she left the country, but I had been keeping it clean, paid a cleaner regularly to maintain the penthouse in pristine condition.When I arrived at the building, I spotted her just as she stepped into the elevator. I couldn't help but smile. She had lied about having somewhere to go. She had come straight home, just a couple of hours after we left her at the bus stop.Her eyes widened when she saw me step in, and for a moment, we simply stared at each other. Then, almost reluctantly, she looked away. I kept my gaze locked on her, refusing to blink as she avoided mine.She pressed the b

Why does he even care anyway?“I really do have somewhere to go. And besides, I don’t want to bother you,” I answered, keeping my tone as formal as I could.“You’re just making excuses. Just admit you’re avoiding me. Do you think I haven’t noticed? The meetings you skip whenever I’m there. The way you keep your distance.” There was no mistaking the anger in his voice now. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm even as my nerves tightened.“Liar. You’re not even subtle about it.” His voice dropped, quieter but heavier. “And do you think I don’t know you haven’t been going back to your old condo? I asked the cleaning helper. She said you haven’t been there for two weeks. Now tell me you’re not avoiding me.” His words hit harder than I expected.I didn’t understand why he was acting like this, why he sounded like I owed him an explanation. The assumption in his tone irritated me, slowly pushing past my restraint.“What does it matter to you if I a

It was the weekend and Mommy, in her sweet and familiar way, had been asking me to come home to the mansion. Her voice over the phone had carried that gentle pleading I could never refuse. So, of course, I gave in. I decided to go that Friday, right after work. I did not want to delay it any longer or make another excuse. By the time I left the office and rode the bus, the sky had already darkened. Night had fully settled in by the time I reached the mansion. IIt was around 7:30 in the evening when I arrived.The house was alive in its usual warm, quiet way. The maids were already preparing for dinner, moving efficiently through the halls. The soft clinking of dishes and the faint aroma of food welcomed me the moment I stepped inside.I walked into the living room, expecting the usual scene . And then my world tilted. Mama was there, seated comfortably, chatting with Uncle Greg. That alone was not surprising but the moment my eyes shifted slightly to the side, my breath caught in my t