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.

didn't he have a different office? Better yet, why did Kester

he just let me

flinched, looking so damn innocent, a pang

spoke again. "Is everything okay,

fine, Jake," I cut him off, forcing my voice into something controlled, something not reflective of

"I'm sorry. It's just... it's hard seeing you upset

Oh, poor Jake.

like I was something precious, when all I

all

His fault that my mood was all over the place.

sighed. "I'm

"Sylvia asked you to bring the Jon Del Vanero files

just like that, my mood

Sylvia.

the rest of my time here, I'd gladly take it. But how

respond, another unwelcome interruption

"Hey, bestie!"

voice rang from the doorway, her head

my eyes. One disturbance was more than enough for the day, but Claire? She

Chapter 45

And right now, I had neither the patience nor the mergy to fake a

dam

Sylvia than pretend to be in

or laugh with

me to-"Claire started as she stepped inside, but I cut

know, I'm on

arms. "Wow. That was harsh." But instead of taking offense, she smirked. "This is about

Kester.

name I wanted

slow breath, forcing myself

I had stored away in the drawer.

was one of his favorites. Who knows

huffed. "I can tell him if you

I nearly laughed.

because she was offering but because I knew exactly what she

excuse to be around Kester was a welcome idea for

pathetic?

responding. Didn't spare her or Jake

up the files, turned on my

stalked down the hallway, my grip on

I hated this.

Hated that Sylvia bad this much power over me. Hated that I was stuck in this godforsaken office, forced to answer to people

floor, my chest was tight, and my breaths were shallow. I had intentionally used the stairs instead of the elevator

clicked against the polished floor as I made my way toward Sylvia,

moment she saw me, her eyes narrowing in immediate

her voice, "Finally," she drawled, folding her arms. "I was beginning to think you got lost on your way here. Do you always

teeth, but I refused to let my temper show, "I'm

the files from my hand without bothering to look at me. “Let's see if you at least did something right

she flipped through the documents. My stomach twisted. I already knew

Chapter 45

a few seconds before she clicked her tongue, her expression shifting

flicked the papers at me, a sneer curling her lips. "Tell me you're not actually expecting

how you asked

felt like they were

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

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

creeping up my neck, the humiliation sinking deep into my