Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 45

KASMINE

Why the hell was I letting this get to me?

I had no right to feel this way-no right to feel... jealous. Offended. Hurt.

Gods, I was being so stupid.

I clenched my fists, pressing my nails into my palins, anything to ground myself before my emotions spiraled into something I couldn't control. I wasn't supposed to care. Not about Kester. Not about what or who he did behind closed doors.

And yet, the image of him of her was burned into my mind, playing in an endless, torturous loop.

I hadn't seen Kester all day. Hell, he hadn't even stepped out of his damn room this morning. He'd told the driver and his guards to take me to the office.

I never meant to knock on his door. I swear I didn't.

But anger was a reckless thing. It had a way of moving my body before my mind could catch up. I was too angry, too shaken, too in need of something close to an explanation that I didn't even know when my knuckles were rapping against the heavy wood of his door, pretending so fucking badly that I only wanted to check if we were leaving for the office together.

Lies.

But, to my utter dismay, June was the one who answered the door. She was in a different nightie from the one I had seen her in last night.

I didn't need to be told what that meant.

Kester had ruined the other one. Torn it apart. Probably while he was deep inside her.

My stomach twisted violently, but I swallowed it down, forcing my expression into something indifferent. Unbothered. But all I could see was the image of her on her knees, her lips wrapped around his cock while he....

Stop.

I forced myself to breathe. Forced my lips into a polite, meaningless smile.

“Is Kester inside?" I asked, my voice perfectly even as if I wasn't seconds away from breaking my own damm neck just to make the agony stop.

And what did she say? "Oh, Kasmine, Kester is a bit too tired this morning. He says you should go ahead of him."

My heart almost stopped at her words. My knees nearly buckled. I barely held my balance, biting the inside of my cheek so hard I swore I tasted blood.

Too tired.

Too tired to even get out of bed?

Kester never missed work. Never. Not for anything. Not for anyone.

-But today?

Today, he was "too tired."

Chapter 45

Because of her.

Because he'd spent the entire night fucking her senseless.

The bastard. The shameless bastardl

It was past 2 pm already, and he was still not here. Still probably fucking June. Asshole.

Yet He had the audacity to pretend with me, spin his pretty little lies, and act as if I meant something to him. Only a fool would take Kester's words seriously. And maybe just maybe I was the biggest fool of all.

"Kasmine!"

Jake's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and for the first time, I hated that he was here.

have a different office? Better yet, why did

he just let

snapped, harsher than I intended, and when he flinched, looking so damn innocent, a

voice was softer when he spoke again. "Is everything okay, babe? You

cut him off, forcing my voice into something controlled, something not reflective

of his, he said, "I'm sorry. It's just... it's hard seeing you upset and not wanting to make you feel

Oh, poor Jake.

me like I was something precious, when all I could

was all

mood was all over

"I'm sorry,

asked you to bring the Jon

that, my

Sylvia.

I had the chance to avoid her for the rest of my time here, I'd gladly take it. But how could

I could respond, another

"Hey, bestie!"

vibrant voice rang from the doorway, her head peeking in

urge to roll my eyes. One disturbance was more than

Chapter 45

had neither the patience nor the mergy to fake

dam

face Sylvia than pretend to

or laugh with

started as she stepped inside, but I cut her

know, I'm on

her arms. "Wow. That was harsh." But instead of taking offense, she smirked. "This is about Sylvia, isn't it? I told you to

Kester.

name I wanted to

breath, forcing myself to let it

I had stored away in the drawer. "She's his

was one of his favorites. Who knows

huffed. "I can tell him

I nearly laughed.

she was offering but because I knew exactly what

Kester was a welcome idea for her. And wasn't

pathetic?

bother responding. Didn't spare her or Jake

up the files, turned on my heel, and walked the hell

grip on the files so tight my

I hated this.

much power over me. Hated that I was stuck in this godforsaken office, forced to answer to people who thrived on making

was tight, and my breaths were shallow. I had intentionally used the stairs instead of the elevator just to punish myself a bit for letting Kester

polished floor as I made my way toward Sylvia, who stood near the center of the hall, surrounded by a few

the moment she saw me, her eyes narrowing

barely had a second to prepare myself before I heard her voice, "Finally," she drawled, folding her arms. "I was beginning to think you got lost on your way here. Do you always take

clenched my teeth, but I refused to

without bothering to look at me. “Let's see if you at least

people turned to watch as she flipped through the documents. My stomach twisted. I already

Chapter 45

she clicked her tongue, her expression shifting from mere

She flicked the papers at me, a sneer curling her lips. "Tell me you're

exactly how you asked me to," I said,

voice steady even though my insides felt like they were crumbling Sylvia's laugh was cruel. Loud.

exactly how I asked?" she mocked, "Oh, honey, that's adorable. But if

muffled chuckles rose from the people nearby. My chest burned. I

the humiliation sinking deep