Sinful Obsession: My Billionaire Stepbrother

Breaking Point

~Isabel~

I stood outside William’s study doors waiting a bit to gather myself.

My face felt tight from crying, and my heart was still thumping from the blowout with my mom. I didn't have the energy for politeness, so I just pushed the door open.

The study was dark, just one desk lamp lit up his face. He sat behind the desk, he didn’t look up immediately, just kept flipping through a file, his pen scratching against paper as he wrote.

"You've been scarce, and you're minutes late," he said in a dark quiet voice. "I don't remember giving you permission to ignore me just because its not work hours."

"It’s eleven o'clock, William. Besides, I came immediately after Mrs. Higgins informed me," I said truthfully.

"What’s so urgent that it couldn't wait for the morning?"

Finally, he looked up.

He stood up slowly and walked around the desk until he was right in front of me, for some seconds he just stared as if looking for something on my face.

I tried to look away, but he reached out, his fingers were surprisingly warm as he caught my chin, tilting my head up so I had to face him.

"Your eyes," he murmured, his thumb brushing just below my lashes tracing the stain of tears on my face. "They’re red. You’ve been crying?”

"I have allergies," I lied.

My voice was trembling. I scoffed internally. 'What does he care if I cry? Isn't that what he'd love to see?'

"Just tell me what you want," I demanded.

He ignored me, his gaze searched mine so intensely it made my skin get goosebumps.

"Where is the fire, Isabel? Usually, those chocolate-colored eyes of yours are practically spitting sparks at me. Now you just look... tired. Dull. Like a candle someone forgot to blow out."

Feeling angry, I said nothing in reply.

He stepped closer. So close I could feel the heat radiating off him. My breath hitched.

He dropped his gaze to my lips, and he leaned in, his face inches from mine.

For one crazy moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. I closed my eyes, waiting for the mistake that would change everything.

But the kiss never came.

Instead, I felt his cool breath against my ear as he whispered, "Are you already tired of the internship, Isabel? Is the work too hard for a girl who’s used to being a waitress? Is that why you haven't shown your face at the office in weeks?"

I shivered.

"I have classes," I managed to choke out. "I’m a student, remember." So that's why he was asking for me. I had actually wanted to speak to him about the internship.

William pulled back just enough to look me in the eye, a cruel smirk on his lips.

"Is that the excuse you’re giving? The damsel in distress hardworking girl? Or were you expecting me to fawn over you? To see those tears and suddenly want to play the hero?" He gave a short, dark laugh that made my blood run cold.

"You were expecting that just now, weren't you? Hoping I’d see the 'damsel' and lean in to kiss the pain away? Was that what you were waiting for?"

"I wasn't—"

"Like mother, like daughter," he hissed.

His grip on my chin tightened a little. "My father might be blind enough to fall for your mother’s act, but I’m not him. I see exactly what you are, Isabel Mayfield. You’re not a victim. You’re a hunter in search of an easy life. If you think a few tears and a pretty face are going to make me go soft on you, you’re wrong."

The words hit me harder than any punch maybe have hit.

The exhaustion, the fight with my mom, the weeks of drowning in books—it all boiled over in a single second of pure fury.

Before I could stop myself, I gave him a slap.

My palm stung like crazy.

William’s head snapped to the side, his dark hair falling over his forehead. The sound echoed through the silent study like a gunshot.

The silence that followed was terrifying. I stood there, my hand numb beside my shaking body, watching the red mark bloom across his pale cheek waiting for whatever reaction he'd show, I expected him to yell, to be aggressive, but instead…