CLAIM ME, STEP-BROTHER. のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 61 - チャプター 70

Matteo’s POV“Fuck!”The word ripped out of me before I could even stop it.My hand came down hard against the desk, the impact sending a sharp crack through the office as the glass tumbler beside it tipped over and shattered on the floor.No one moved, no one breathed. Because if anyone had said the wrong thing at that moment, I would’ve buried them where they stood.I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing once before turning sharply toward the television mounted across the wall in my office. Muted, but it didn’t matter because I could still see it.That damn headline, burning across the screen like a personal attack.BREAKING: SHOOTING INCIDENT REPORTED NEAR PRIVATE DOCK—FERRARO HOLDINGS UNDER INVESTIGATIONAnd at the sight of that, my jaw tightened as a humorless scoff left me. I stepped closer, eyes locked on the screen.“Investigation?” I muttered.Behind me, the room staye

Zara's POVI should have moved, that exact thought came first. And yet, I still didn’t. Not when his hand tightened slightly at my waist, not when his fingers curled just enough to hold me there, or even when the air between us shifted into something heavier.Something that didn’t feel like a mistake anymore.My breath came out unevenly as I hovered over him, my hands still pressed against his chest, feeling the steady breeze rise and fall beneath my palms.We were too close. Everything was too close.“Matteo…” I whispered.His name didn’t sound like a warning and it didn’t even sound like resistance. And for some damn reason, his eyes didn’t leave mine and this time he was completely awake now.And there was something in them that made my chest tighten. Something I can tell, had been building long before this moment.His hand moved, slowly brushing along my side, not in a forceful manner… just there.

Zara’s POVMy fingers tightened around the edge of one of his hanging shirts as I stared at the door in front of me, mentally debating whether I could somehow disappear through the wall instead.“This is so humiliating,” I muttered under my breath.Outside, I heard movement. The rustle of sheets, a drawer opening. Then his voice came again, calmer this time.“Zara.”I closed my eyes and grumbled to myself. ‘Right, I was going to have to face him eventually.’Slowly, my hand hesitated on the door handle for a second before I pushed it open as light flooded in.The first thing I noticed was him standing near the edge of the bed, one hand dragging lazily through his messy dark hair like he was still waking up properly.The second thing I noticed unfortunately was the fact that he had only pulled on a pair of dark sweatpants.Nothing else. My breath caught before I could stop it.His ches

Zara’s POVBy the time I got back from school, my brain felt completely fried from all the lectures, noise, and whispers.People constantly stare at me because I arrive every morning in Matteo Ferraro’s car like some unwilling mafia princess.At this point, I honestly wanted to disappear into a hole.I dropped my bag onto the couch in my bedroom with a dramatic groan before falling backward onto the bed as I stared at the ceiling for a moment, exhaling slowly.Then my stomach growled and I blinked.“Oh right. Food.”I rolled over lazily and checked the time on my phone, realizing it was almost evening already. And strangely enough, the mansion felt quieter today.No Matteo, no Mr. Ferraro. No arguing and even better, heavy footsteps echoing down hallways. Just peace.I pushed myself off the bed eventually and headed downstairs barefoot, tying my hair into a messy bun halfway through the hallway.The moment I entered the kitchen, one of the maids looked up immediately.“Miss Zara,” she

Zara’s POVIn seconds, my phone beeped ruining the moment. I looked down at my screen seeing the notification box glaring back at me.“FROM MOM: Elena’s wedding is in a couple of weeks, you have to be there. Everybody is going to be there!”I froze staring down at my screen, my eyes suddenly watery from the damn news staring back at me.‘Everybody is going to be there.” Those words clung to my skin like thorns on flesh.“Zara, are you good?” Sofia’s voice came through and my mind was cut off.I looked up, trying to hold back a tear.“Can we—go,” I managed to say. She frowned staring at me definitely wondering why I had suddenly changed my mind.“Is everything okay,” she pressed on“Y—yes, let’s go,” I added standing up to my feet, without any more words to her.********************************************The ride back from town felt longer than it should have, that even Sofia not