All Chapters of MY STEPBROTHERS, MY RUIN : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The mansion was quieter than usual that afternoon.Elena moved through the halls, carrying a tray of tea. Every step echoed off the marble floors. Guards walked past silently, eyes sharp. Servants hurried by, their voices low. Even the walls seemed to hold their breath.Dante had instructed her to serve tea in the lounge while he took a call in his office. “Observe, but do not interrupt,” he had said. Simple enough, she thought, until the first sound of raised voices made her freeze.She glanced toward the office. The door was slightly open. Dante’s voice was calm but sharp.“You’re late. I warned you about this,” another man said.Dante’s reply was quiet, but it carried authority. “I said what I said. You’re not negotiating with me. You follow instructions or leave.”Elena’s pulse quickened. She wasn’t supposed to hear details, but the tone told her everything she needed. Control was absolute. Fear was tangible.She set the tea down carefully on the small table and tried to look invi

Elena woke to the sound of distant footsteps. The sun had not fully risen, but the mansion was already alive. Doors opening. Soft murmurs. Guards moving silently along the halls. Every sound reminded her she was never truly alone here.She dressed quickly, keeping her uniform neat. Today, she was assigned to the east wing—the private rooms Dante used for meetings, the library, and the small lounge. She had been warned to stay out of his office unless summoned.The hallway stretched endlessly before her. Every corner felt familiar now, yet strange. Marble floors reflected her shoes with an almost mocking clarity. She felt the weight of eyes in the shadows. Guards. Staff. Dante himself. Maybe all three.She entered the library first. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Leather-bound volumes, thick and heavy, titles in gold leaf. She ran her fingers lightly along the spines. A man’s voice broke the silence.“Curious, aren’t we?”Elena jumped. Dante stood at the doorway, arms cro

The mansion was darker than usual that evening. Shadows stretched across the polished marble floors, and the flicker of candlelight cast long shapes against the walls. Elena carried a tray of tea, her hands steady but her mind racing.She had learned to move silently, but tonight, the silence felt heavier. Something was wrong.Dante’s office door was closed, yet she could hear low voices from inside. Guards shifted nervously in the hallway. Her stomach tightened.“Elena,” a soft voice called. It was one of the younger guards. “Stay here.”She nodded, trying not to shake.Inside, Dante stood behind his desk, his expression unreadable. Across from him, a man she didn’t recognize was speaking. Words like “weakness,” “threat,” and “target” floated faintly to her ears.Dante’s hand rested lightly on the desk, fingers tapping. Calm. Controlled. Dangerous.The stranger’s voice rose. “You can’t protect her forever. She’s a liability.”Elena’s chest clenched. Her heart raced. He wasn’t talking

Elena woke to the sound of heavy curtains brushing the floor. Sunlight peeked through the windows of her small room. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Then it came rushing back—the gates, the guards, the impossible mansion.Her stomach twisted. Today was her first full day as Dante Moretti’s personal maid. She dressed quickly, choosing simple clothes. Nothing flashy. Nothing that could draw attention. She didn’t want mistakes. Not here.The hallway outside was silent except for the faint click of polished shoes on marble. A tall man in a black suit waited. His eyes didn’t blink as he nodded at her. “Follow me,” he said.Elena followed, gripping her small bag tightly. Every step she took echoed. The mansion felt enormous, even though she had already seen parts of it yesterday. The walls were lined with paintings of men in suits—men whose eyes seemed to follow her. She swallowed hard.They stopped outside a huge wooden door. The older man knocked lightly. “He’s waiting,” he said,

The mansion was quieter than usual that afternoon.Elena moved through the halls, carrying a tray of tea. Every step echoed off the marble floors. Guards walked past silently, eyes sharp. Servants hurried by, their voices low. Even the walls seemed to hold their breath.Dante had instructed her to serve tea in the lounge while he took a call in his office. “Observe, but do not interrupt,” he had said. Simple enough, she thought, until the first sound of raised voices made her freeze.She glanced toward the office. The door was slightly open. Dante’s voice was calm but sharp.“You’re late. I warned you about this,” another man said.Dante’s reply was quiet, but it carried authority. “I said what I said. You’re not negotiating with me. You follow instructions or leave.”Elena’s pulse quickened. She wasn’t supposed to hear details, but the tone told her everything she needed. Control was absolute. Fear was tangible.She set the tea down carefully on the small table and tried to look invi