Semua Bab OWNED BY MY EX-HUSBAND’S STEPBROTHER : Bab 11 - Bab 20

The HR interviewer frowned as she read the résumé in her hand. “Thirty years old?” she said, looking up from the paper.Her eyes moved from the document to the woman sitting quietly across from her.Gloria sat straight in the chair, her hands folded on her lap. She looked calm on the outside, but inside she was nervous. The interviewer looked at her again, clearly surprised.“Well… I have to admit,” she said slowly, “you look younger than thirty.”For a brief moment, Gloria felt hopeful. But the interviewer suddenly sighed and placed the résumé on the desk.“But unfortunately, I’m sorry, I can’t hire you.”The hope in Gloria’s chest disappeared instantly. She forced herself to smile politely.“That’s alright,” Gloria said quickly. “I can do anything. I’m willing to learn. Even if it’s a small job.”The interviewer shook her head. “No. There’s only one opening here, and it’s for a receptionist. The age limit is twenty two.” She pushed the résumé back toward Gloria.“You’re already pas

Gloria froze when she heard a voice behind her.“I thought my secretary told you to sit down and wait, sister-in-law.”Her heart skipped a beat. Slowly, she turned around.Standing at the door was Lukas Anderson. For a moment, Gloria couldn’t move. He stood there with one hand resting casually on the doorframe. His tall figure filled the doorway, and the sharp lines of his expensive suit made him look even more imposing.“I- I’m sorry,” Gloria said quickly, feeling embarrassed. “I was just… I was just looking around.” Her words came out awkwardly. She felt like a child who had been caught doing something she shouldn’t.Lukas watched her quietly. He was smiling. But there was something dangerous in his eyes. His gaze locked onto her as if warning her not to move another step toward that door.“Sit down,” he said calmly. “Then we can talk.”“Yes!” The answer came out before Gloria even realized it.She hurried back to the couch and sat down. A few seconds later, she heard Lukas’s steady

Gloria’s breath caught in her throat. She lowered her head immediately, almost curling into herself as Lukas leaned closer. His voice had been so close to her ear that she could still feel the warmth of his breath. For a moment, she wondered if she had heard him wrong.Personal assistant… taking care of his sexual needs in bed. Her mind raced. He can’t mean that… Gloria quickly forced the thought away. No. That’s ridiculous. He must have been joking. Even if their relationship was distant, they were still technically family. She was still married to Victor, after all. Even if she planned to divorce him, it was still strange for Lukas to say something like that. Maybe she had misunderstood. Or maybe the joke was simply too crude for her.Trying to ease the awkward tension, Gloria forced out a laugh.“Brother-in-law, that's funny,” she said awkwardly. “You really scared me for a second.” Her laugh sounded stiff even to her own ears. “I thought you were serious for a moment.”Lukas didn’

Gloria’s hand trembled as she stared at the email on her phone. Her vision blurred, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. She had believed this interview would be her last chance. Her final opportunity to get back on her feet and provide a stable life for herself and her daughter. But now that hope has been crushed. A certain man had ruined it.Again. Gloria clenched her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white as anger and heartbreak twisted inside her chest.“That piece of shit,” she muttered bitterly.Her fingers moved quickly across the screen as she searched for Victor’s contact. The moment she found it, she pressed the call button. The phone rang.“Fucking jerk!” Gloria cursed under her breath. “How could he do this to me? I know he’s a cheating bastard, but how could he do this to his own daughter?” Her voice trembled with rage.“Does he not realize that hurting me also hurts Annabel?!”Gloria was certain Victor was behind everything. Victor had the power to do something li

Gloria sat on the toilet long after the call ended.She didn’t move. It felt like all the strength in her body had been drained away, leaving her empty and cold and hopeless. That was the only word that echoed in her mind. Victor had completely blocked her path. No job. No money. No way forward. Even if she took him to court, she knew how it would end. He hadn’t outright refused to support Annabel. He had only set a condition, meet him, and he would pay. To anyone else, it would look like a normal marital dispute. A broken couple that needed counseling.But Gloria knew better. Going back to Victor wouldn’t fix anything. It would ruin her completely.She didn’t know what he would do this time, but she knew one thing for sure, she would not come out of it the same.Her fingers slowly curled into fists. “I can’t go back…” she whispered. But if she didn’t…Then what? Her gaze dropped to the floor, her thoughts spiraling until one option forced its way into her mind. The only option left.