My Stepbrothers’ Plus-sized Obsession のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

MELANIEEvangeline practically drops her champagne glass onto a passing waiter’s tray. I watch her paste a tight, apologetic smile onto her face for Mr. Whitlock, murmuring an excuse before she starts marching directly toward me.She is definitely going to kill me now. But before she can cross the marble floor, a manicured hand lands lightly on her shoulder.Tessa Whitlock steps directly into her path.“Don't worry, Mum,” Tessa says, loud enough for me to hear over the string quartet. “I can handle it.”My heart slowly and painfully shrinks in my chest.It’s painful, and the pain is unexpected.Tessa called her Mum, and Evangeline didn't flinch.She didn’t scrunch her nose or pull away like she did when Penelope tried to hug her. ‘Instead, Eva gives me one last, intensely sour look of warning, pats Tessa’s hand, and walks away to rejoin the high-society crowd.I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth and scan the packed ballroom.The sea of tailored tuxedos and pastel gowns is overwhel

MELANIE What am I doing? Why did I take this strange man’s hand and let him lead me to the dance floor while Tessa screamed her lungs out? Hurling every and any profanity she could at me…no doubt hoping to get some kind of response from me. To distract myself perhaps. A lot has happened just this evening. I am entitled to wanting a break from the melodrama that has become my life, aren’t I?Besides, I am freshly separated, and it wouldn’t hurt having someone to talk to that isn’t a member of the Alistair family. Which—believe it or not—I desperately need right now. So, when Tyler asks me if I would like to go on a walk outside, just to get away from a screaming Tessa and the stunned crowd, I say yes with a bold and bright smile on my face. It doesn’t matter that I can see and feel Cassian’s stare burn holes into my back. Xavier and Val had spent almost fifteen minutes just staring at me. I had caught them exchanging glances and leaned into each other to whisper words only they c

MELANIE If talking to Tyler taught me anything, it is that I cannot afford the complications that come with my stepbrothers. The Alistairs are a luxury I simply do not have the currency for, and between Tessa's viciousness and my mother's relentless cruelty, Penelope is the one who’ll always end up paying the price. This is my final thought as I leave the banquet hall and head to my bedroom upstairs where my daughter is sleeping safely. The key is at the foot of the door. Evangeline must have returned it after realizing that the only thing that could truly stop me…is me.I sit on the edge of the mattress, watching my beautiful daughter sleep. Her chest rises and falls in a soft, peaceful rhythm, oblivious to the chaos of this massive house. Tomorrow has to be a fresh start. I have to look out for myself now and be the mother I couldn't be when I was trapped with Brandon. I am not letting men get in the middle of what is happening to my life ever again.I wake up with this new an

MELANIE The sleek, minimalist acrylic chair in the boutique manager’s office is entirely too narrow for my hips.I sit rigidly, feeling the hard plastic digging into the sides of my thighs, acutely aware of how much space my body takes up in this pristine, sterile room. My fingers subtly tug at the hem of my faded navy blouse, desperately trying to stretch the fabric over the soft, prominent swell of my stomach. It doesn’t work. The fabric just pulls tighter across my heavy breasts, making me feel incredibly exposed and clumsy.The boutique manager sits across from me, an extremely slender woman with radiant skin. Even in corporate clothing, she looks like a runway model.Must be nice. She doesn't even glance at the resume resting on her glass desk. Her cold, severe eyes do a slow, deliberate scan of my body, starting from my scuffed flats, moving up the thick curves of my legs, and stopping dead at my waistline.Her perfectly contoured nose literally crinkles in distaste.Here i

MELANIE Do not hire. DO NOT HIRE?!I don’t understand. What does this mean? “It was sent to us not long ago. I entered your name and sent it to the higher ups, and this picture came in the mail. Seems like it was sent out yesterday. I was the one who did not take note of it.”He says the words like they’re supposed to answer the questions in my mind or rid me of my confusion. “I am so sorry for wasting your time, but we cannot offer you a job in this establishment,” he continues. “Not now, not until this—whatever it is—has been…taken care of.” I can almost see…feel myself boiling. Why the fuck would they do this to me?I’ve done nothing wrong. Is it the brothers? Did they do this? This has to be the work of the brothers, no one else would want to torment me like this. All that bullshit they gave me about standing up for myself, growing my own wings, taking a chance on myself, standing on my own…Fuck!I was so fucking stupid to believe they want the best for me. How would t