All Chapters of My Steprother's Secret Obsession: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

It was a Friday night when Theo came home, prompting Uncle Greg to gather the whole family for dinner. He hadn't been back in several weeks, likely tied up with school projects and activities that demanded his attention.The moment I took my seat, I noticed Theo staring at me intently. His eyes seemed to be fixed on my body, and when our gazes met, he quickly looked away as if startled. I was dressed in my usual loungewear - a thin spaghetti strap top and shorts and while I'm aware my curvy figure and long legs can draw notice, I couldn't help but wonder, had I really just caught him checking me out?I quickly shook my head, pushing that thought away. We're on good terms now, aren't we? There was no reason to let suspicion creep in. Still, those occasional secret glances left me wondering.I reached for the serving spoon to get some mashed potatoes, only to find Theo reaching for it at the same time. Our hands brushed against each other, and we both froze, exchanging surprised looks

When we pulled up, I stopped mid-scroll, the place was stunning. The two-story home sat right at the edge of gentle wooded slopes that dipped down to a calm lake, balancing perfect seclusion with the warm charm of waterfront living.The house features two striking pitched-roof sections, one clad in warm natural wood that blends seamlessly with the surrounding pines, the other finished in sleek black with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that frame the forest and glittering lake beyond. Its base is built from rough local stone, giving the home a solid, grounded feel against the sloping terrain.Lost in awe, I wandered inside while Theo stayed outside to unload our things. The ground floor opens straight onto a paved patio and garden that lead down to the water, and inside, large windows and sliding glass doors flood the space with light, every angle offering a clear view of the trees and lake. My eyes drifted up to the stairs, wondering how many rooms lay on the second floor. I could al

We left the lake house early and headed home in silence. No words passed between us at all, and we didn’t even stay to watch the sunset. The entire drive back, quiet pressed down on us inside the car. I could feel the awkwardness and tension filling every inch of space between us, but I forced myself not to look at him. My mind was already pulled under by thoughts that ran deep and twisted up tight in my chest.I couldn’t stop myself from assuming the worst. Maybe he’d done it just to tease me, to play with my feelings all over again like he always used to when we were fighting.Maybe his whole attempt to make amends was never real at all. Maybe it was all just a plan to get even with me, to find a way to hurt me more than he ever had before.The thought cut so deep that hot tears pricked at my eyes, and I had to bite my lip hard to keep them from spilling over. Could he blame me for feeling this way? It seemed so impossible that he’d want to reconcile now, when not long ago I was th

He didn't look away or try to hide it, instead, he let his eyes move slowly over me, from the shimmer of my gown all the way down to my feet. I don't know what came over me, but I stared right back at him, half-hoping he'd get flustered by how openly he was looking at me. But this time, he didn't look away or hold back. His intense gaze stayed fixed on me, taking in every single detail."Oh, Theo, you're here already," my mom said, greeting him warmly."Look at Elyssa, she looks so beautiful in her gown, doesn't she?" I wished Mom hadn't said that, hadn't asked for his opinion. My hands tightened slightly on the railing."She is," he said, his voice serious and steady. He didn't take his eyes off me for a second.It was like the rest of the room had faded away, leaving only his gaze on me. I don't know if anyone else noticed how focused he was, but I could barely breathe, my heart was racing so fast I was sure it would burst through my chest.

"You do know that, so why keep pushing me? Why aren't you staying away from me too?" My voice cracked at the end, and I hated how small I sounded."What happened between us is wrong. You should be keeping your distance from me. Or was that all part of your plan? To play with my feelings, to say you were sorry just to mess with me like you always do-" The words died in my throat as he moved so fast I barely had time to register it. His hands pinned mine against the wall on either side of my head. His body pressed close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him."That's not true!" he said, his voice sharp and fierce. His eyes were dark with emotion. For a second, I could see something else beneath the anger, something raw and hurt that made my chest ache."Then what is it? What's this confrontation even about?" "Listen. The kiss-""The kiss was a mistake! It never should have happened at all!" I cut him off sharply, hot t