Todos los capítulos de My Stepbrother My Ruin: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

Brianna got home. She lay in the room, restless, staring at the ceiling, running through everything. Giovanni's betrayal. Declan's payments. Eric's messages. The way Dawson had dismissed her at first, then come back hours later with quiet respect in his voice.She'd proven herself.Now she needed to use that.Morning came gray and cold.She dressed carefully. Simple clothes. Hair pulled back. No makeup. She wanted to look serious. Professional. Like someone who deserved to be taken seriously.Dawson was in the kitchen when she got there. Coffee in hand. Reading something on his phone. He looked up when she walked in."You're up early.""So are you.""Never sleep much." He set down his phone. "What's on your mind?"Brianna poured herself coffee. Took a breath. Then sat across from him."I want to negotiate."Dawson's eyebrows rose. Just a little. "Negotiate what?""My position here.""You have a position. Shadow Assistant. Good salary. My protection.""I want more."He studied her. "W

Brianna got back to the estate around nine.The house was quiet. Too quiet. She walked through the foyer, past the empty living room, toward the stairs. All she wanted was a shower and sleep."Dinner's at eight tomorrow."She turned.Declan stood in the doorway of his study, glass of whiskey in hand."What?""Family dinner. Tomorrow night. Eloise will be there. Dawson will be there. I expect you there too."Brianna's stomach tightened. "Is this mandatory?"Declan smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "Everything in this family is mandatory."He walked back into his study and closed the door.Brianna stood in the hallway, heart pounding, and wondered what fresh nightmare waited tomorrow.She found Eloise in the guest room.Her mother sat by the window, staring out at the dark gardens. She looked better than she had at the safe house. Cleaner. Rested. But still thin. Still scared."Mom?"Eloise turned. "Brianna.""You heard about dinner tomorrow?""I heard." Eloise's voice was flat. "Declan

Brianna stood in Dawson's doorway, the letter burning in her hands.Twenty-five years of secrets. Twenty-five years of lies. All contained in a single envelope.Dawson gently took it from her. Turned it over. Looked at the sealed flap."Have you read it?""No. My mother just gave it to me. I haven't had time."He handed it back. "Then read it. Know what you're protecting."Brianna looked at the envelope. At her name written in her mother's handwriting on the outside. For Brianna. When I'm gone."I can't. Not yet.""Why?""Because once I know, I can't unknow. And right now, I need to focus on surviving today."Dawson nodded. "Smart. Hide it somewhere safe. Somewhere no one will find it."She slipped the letter into her pocket. Pressed close to her chest."I need to get back to my room.""I'll walk you."They moved through the hallway together. Quiet. Careful. Listening for sounds that didn't belong.At her door, Dawson stopped."Keep this locked. Don't open for anyone but me.""Even my

Morning came too fast.Brianna woke with the letter still on her mind. Her father's words. His offer. His love, waiting all these years for a daughter who never knew he existed.She pushed it aside. Focus on today. Focus on survival.At the office, she went straight to her desk. Marco had left a stack of new files overnight. Older records. Fifteen years back. She dove in.The numbers were messier the further back she went.Handwritten entries. Faded ink. Inconsistent formats. Someone had tried to hide the trail by making it hard to follow.But Brianna was patient.She worked through each file methodically. One by one. Looking for patterns. Looking for anything that matched what she'd already found.By noon, she had something.Another payment. Large amount. Destination listed only as "Offshore Account 447B." No client name. No contract number.She checked the date. Three days before a B series shipment. Same as always.She kept digging.More payments. Same account number. Same timing.

The morning after the agent's visit, Brianna woke to chaos.Voices in the hallway. Running footsteps. Someone shouting orders. She pulled on a robe and cracked her door open.Staff rushed past with garment bags and shoeboxes. A woman carried an armload of silk dresses. Another balanced a tray of champagne flutes."What's happening?" Brianna asked a passing maid."The charity gala, signorina. Madame Raven's annual event. The whole house is preparing."Brianna closed the door and leaned against it.A gala. With Raven. This couldn't be good.She found Dawson in the kitchen, coffee in hand, looking annoyed."Raven's event?""Unfortunately.""Do I have to go?"He looked at her. "You want to stay here alone while half the staff is at the venue?""Good point."He almost smiled. "Just survive the night. Ignore her. Dance with someone nice. Eat the expensive food.""That's your advice? Eat the food?""It's good food."Despite everything, Brianna laughed. Just a little.Dawson's eyes softened.