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หน้าหลัก / Romance / CLAIM ME, STEP-BROTHER. / บทที่ 41 - บทที่ 50

บททั้งหมดของ CLAIM ME, STEP-BROTHER. : บทที่ 41 - บทที่ 50

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Chapter 41

Zara’s POVBy the time I got to school, I had already decided something. I was not going to let it ruin my week. Not even his silence or Giovanni Russo’s voice from earlier today.Apparently I had learnt his name from Matteo’s lips earlier today and had also discovered that he’s Rosa’s father. “Rosa will be around more often.” I had heard it and I had heard the silence that followed. But I refused to let that silence dictate my mood for the day.The campus looked brighter than usual when Marco dropped me off. Or maybe I was just choosing to see it that way.Students clustered around the entrance, laughing, arguing, scrolling through their phones. It felt normal. Steady. A world untouched by negotiations and alliances and men who think in contracts.For the first time that week, I felt… grounded. As usual Sofia spotted me near the fountain and she ran towards me in seconds.“Well, look who doesn’t look murderous today.”I arched a brow. “I never look murderous.”By the time Marco dro
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Chapter 42

Matteo’s POVThe pen felt heavier than it should have, just a simple signature was all that mattered.Black ink on white paper, with years of leverage and pride and planned out strategy reduced to a single stroke of my name.Across from me, Luca watched carefully, like I might change my mind at the last second.But I didn’t, I signed.The deal that had been bleeding us for weeks. The deal that had nearly cost me my face, one deal I swore I would fix without outside interference.And yet, here we were. I slid the contract across the desk.“Send a copy to legal,” I said flatly.Luca nodded, but he didn’t look relieved.He looked… cautious.“You made the right call,” he offered.I gave him an instant harsh look, one that was enough to cut through his skin.“Don’t.”“I’m just saying—”“I know exactly what you’re saying.”He raised both hands in surrender as Silence settled between us.Outside my office, the floor buzzed with movement, assistants, phones ringing, heels clicking against the
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Chapter 43

Zara’s POVThe world didn’t stop, it tilted and that’s what it felt like when I saw him. And of all the people in Italy, of all the faces in this crowded mall he had to show up.Matteo.Standing there like he owned the air and my breath stalled, not even because I was afraid but because I hadn’t expected him.And at that point, his eyes were already on me.“Isn’t that—-,” she whispered under her breath.But he didn’t look at her, didn’t look at anyone and walked toward me like the crowd didn’t exist.He stopped in front of me, and his presence swallowed the space.“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked.“Walking.”His jaw tightened staring at me.“Don’t be smart.”“I’m not.”Sofia tugged at my sleeve lightly. “Maybe we should—”“Go home?” I finished calmly.“I wasn’t going to say that.”Matteo’s hand closed around my wrist in
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Chapter 44

Zara’s POVI told myself I wouldn’t think about it, about the way he had hovered over me and about the way he had almost kissed me.I rolled onto my side and shoved my face into my pillow. Sleep didn’t come easily and when it did, it wasn’t restful.By morning, the house felt heavier.I stepped into the hallway cautiously, half-expecting to see him leaning against the wall like some dark shadow waiting to continue last night’s unfinished war.But it was empty and the silence felt deliberate and almost punishing, yet fine. If he wanted distance, I would give it to him.I headed downstairs for water, the marble floors cool beneath my bare feet. The staff moved around with their usual efficiency, but there was something off in the air.I slowed near the corridor that led toward his study seeing that the door was slightly ajar. Voices echoing from inside.I mean I shouldn’t have stopped, but Zara never lea
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Chapter 45

Zara’s POV DAYS LATER I know something I shouldn’t know. That’s the problem. The words I overheard the day before won’t leave my head. Deals. Numbers. A name spoken in a low voice that made the room go quiet. Matteo’s voice was calm, controlled, and terrifyingly steady in such a situation. And the way his men went silent when he made a decision. I mean, I wasn’t meant even to see or hear it, but I did. A few days later, I sat at the kitchen island pretending to scroll through my phone, pretending I didn’t hear words like shipment and leverage, and loyalty the other day. And then I heard his footsteps before I even saw him, and there came his voice cutting me off from my train of thought. A dark suit cut close to his figure, cold and demure. “You’re coming with me next week,” he says. No good morning, no explanation but I don’t look up either. “No, I’m not!” I snapped ignoring the fact that we can bo
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Chapter 46

Matteo’s POVApparently I should have sent someone else. That was my first mistake.The boutique was closed to the public for now, as requested by me. Private fitting, discreet staff. No interruptions.It was supposed to be efficient. In; Select something appropriate for the gala. And then leave.Instead, I found myself sitting on a velvet chair, arms crossed, watching the fitting room curtain like it had personally offended me.I was already irritated. Not at Zara. At myself. This was unnecessary. I didn’t need to be here. And yet, when the curtain finally shifted and she stepped out— I understood exactly why I came.Green. Deep emerald silk that clung to her waist before falling in a fluid line to the floor. The fabric caught the light softly, outlining curves that were impossible to ignore.My body reacted before my mind did and I didn’t move, didn’t even speak when our eyes met. I just looked.She turned slowly toward the mirror, unaware of what she was doing to the oxygen in the
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Chapter 47

Zara’s POVThe car door opened and the first thing I felt wasn’t the cold air. It was the weight of expectation and scrutiny, being watched before I had even stepped out of the car.Matteo exited first, as always. One smooth movement, one quiet adjustment of his suit. One sweeping glance at the marble steps ahead of us.He didn’t look impressed with all the flashes and yelling from the crowd around. And then he turned and extended his hand toward me. For the second time, just like it was in the first Gala.“Don’t get distracted,” he murmured, snapping me out of my thoughts.“I’m not,” I replied, even though my pulse disagreed seeing this much crowd for the second time.In seconds my heel touched the stone. The red carpet beneath it was almost blinding under the chandeliers hanging from the hall entrance. And gold light spilled down the staircase as photographers stood behind velvet ropes.“Second gala.” I muttered to myself. Second time stepping into a world that felt like it could sw
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Chapter 48

Danielle’s POVI watched the man retreat, he didn’t even rush, didn’t stumble like he should. But I saw it in his shoulders the stiffness of humiliation. And I liked that. Only that, Zara walked away from me seconds later after he left.Men like him only understood correction when it came wrapped in quiet threat. Still, my jaw remained tight because it wasn’t him I was thinking about.It was her.Dante had walked away without looking back. Spine straight, chin lifted. Fury disguised as composure.“She’s doing great blending in,” my father’s voice came from behind me, but I didn’t turn immediately.“Yes, she is,” I replied instead.“What’s the status of the man in your custody,” he asked.And before I could respond, Rosa’s father approached with two unfamiliar men in tailored suits.“Matteo,” he greeted smoothly cutting us off. “Allow me to introduce Signor Bianchi and Signor Valenti.”
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Chapter 49

Zara’s POVI woke up to silence the next morning, not even the peaceful kind. But the kind that lingers after something important has already happened.For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling. The curtains were still half-drawn from last night, thin streaks of pale morning light slipping into the room.My head felt slow for some damn reason and my body heavier than usual and then it came back to me.The gala, the orchestra. Rosa’s smile which I found annoying days later.Matteo stepped in — again when I spoke to Dante. And Matteo left hours later, disappearing into thin air and that part settled in my chest like an unfinished business.At some point during the night, I realized I hadn’t seen him again. I had waited longer than I even meant to. Stood near the terrace doors pretending I was just enjoying the view.But he hadn’t returned, not before I left. Not before the drivers escorted me home, n
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Chapter 50

Matteo’s POVThe minute I stepped into the house, the first thing I noticed was the silence that lingered in the air.It wasn’t the usual disciplined silence that came with a well-trained household but this was different.I handed my coat to one of the staff without looking at him. “Coffee.”“Yes, sir.”My shoes echoed across the marble floors as I walked deeper into the house. The chandelier lights were dimmed, and the morning sun was filtering in through the tall windows.I hadn’t even been home properly since the gala. I left halfway through, I chose business first. Always.But something about the air this morning felt unsettled and then I stopped briefly near the staircase staring at her bedroom door upstairs.“Where is she?” I asked sharply and the maid stiffened. “Miss Zara has not left her room, sir.”“Since when?”“Since yesterday evening, sir.”Yesterday evening? That mea
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