Semua Bab My Step Mom: Bab 81 - Bab 89

They moved together into the living room, leaving the tea mugs on the low wooden coffee table. Allyna sat on the deep plush sofa, and Elle followed, curling her legs up and resting her head directly against Allyna’s chest. The soft fabric of Allyna’s casual shirt felt infinitely safer than the formal blazers she wore at the university. Allyna’s fingers unhurriedly ran through Elle’s hair, keeping a steady, comforting rhythm. "We need to think about what comes next, Mcki," Allyna murmured, her voice vibrating softly against Elle’s cheek. "Once Oli processes everything, she will stay quiet out of love for you. But we cannot live in hiding forever. The more time we spend under your father's roof, the higher the risk." Elle looked up, meeting Allyna's gaze in the dimming afternoon light. "What are you thinking, Celeste?" Allyna's fingers stilled in Elle's hair, her gaze drifting toward the panoramic windows as her mind calculated the moves of a very dangerous chess game

Allyna nodded slowly, a touch of melancholy softening her sharp eyes as she brought up one final, undeniable truth. "Besides, aside from me, Queen knew how important you were to Oli," Allyna murmured, her fingers gently sweeping a stray lock of hair behind Elle's ear. "She saw how much Oli treasured your friendship, how central you were to her life. Queen would never do anything to intentionally hurt the girl she loves—and that meant protecting you, too, because she knew your pain would ultimately break Oli's heart." The full weight of the situation finally settled over Elle, replacing her residual jealousy with a profound, sobering clarity. Queen’s willingness to act as a shield wasn’t just a tactical move out of spite for Ronan; it was a silent, incredibly selfless sacrifice born from her devotion to Oli. The soft, domestic bubble they had managed to build inside the penthouse suddenly began to deflate, replaced once more by the heavy, suffocating pressure of reality.

Before Ronan could press the matter or question the sudden familiarity, the heavy brass door knocker echoed sharply through the foyer, cutting the tense conversation short. The sound broke the momentary spell, and Ronan’s attention instantly snapped away from Allyna. The faint line of confusion on his brow cleared as he smoothed down the front of his tailored vest, stepping toward the entrance to open the door. "Ah, that must be Osmund," Ronan murmured, his authoritative composure returning in full force as the large double doors swung open once more. As Osmund stepped fully into the light, the cold, rigid demeanor Ronan usually wore like armor completely melted away. A genuine, unforced warmth flashed across her father's face—a stark contrast to the calculated, business-like affection he had shown his own wife and daughter just moments prior. He didn't just shake Osmund's hand; he clapped him on the shoulder with an ease and fondness that Elle had never once witnessed from h

The moment dinner concluded, the fragile illusion of family dinner dissolved instantly. Ronan wiped his mouth with a linen napkin, his authoritative mask sliding seamlessly back into place as he stood up from the head of the table. "Osmund, let's move to the study," Ronan commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "We have the quarterly merger files to review before tomorrow morning." Osmund offered a polite, practiced nod to Allyna and Elle, playing the part of the diligent business partner to perfection. "Of course. Lead the way." As the two men exited the dining room, the heavy oak doors of the study clicked shut behind them, instantly cutting off the rest of the house. The room was draped in dark leather and mahogany, smelling faintly of expensive scotch and old paper. The moment the lock turned, the professional distance between them vanished, replaced by years of built-up frustration. "How much longer, Ronan?" Osmund demanded, not even waiting for Ron

Allyna’s hands stilled on Elle's back, her posture turning slightly rigid as she absorbed the weight of those words. She pulled back just enough to look down, framing Elle’s tear-stained face with both of her hands. Her dark eyes searched Elle's dazed expression with an intense, quiet gravity. "Mcki, look at me," Allyna murmured, her voice dropping into a gentle but incredibly cautious whisper. "What do you mean by that? How exactly did you see your dad and Osmund looking at each other?" Elle swallowed hard, her breath hitching as she looked up into the intense gaze of Allyna. The safety of the locked bedroom gave her the courage to finally voice the dizzying thought that had been taking root in her mind all evening. "It wasn't just a business greeting, Celeste," Elle whispered, her voice trembling as she clutched Allyna’s wrists. "In the foyer, when Osmund arrived... my dad's entire face changed. The cold armor he always wears around us just completely melted away. And then