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.

Better yet, why did

just

looking so damn innocent, a pang of guilt hit me

was softer when he spoke

I cut him off, forcing my voice into something controlled, something not reflective of the chaos

in that gentle, maddeningly considerate tone of his, he said, "I'm sorry. It's just... it's hard

Oh, poor Jake.

like I was something precious, when all I

was all Kester's

all over the place. His fault that I couldn't even

sighed. "I'm

alright.” He gave me a small, reassuring smile before adding, "Sylvia asked you to bring the

that,

Sylvia.

I'd gladly take it. But how could I when she always found a way to make my life miserable?

could respond, another unwelcome

"Hey, bestie!"

voice rang from the doorway, her head peeking

urge to roll 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

than pretend to

laugh

stepped inside, but I cut her off before

know, I'm

offense, she smirked. "This is about Sylvia, isn't it? I told you to tell Kester

Kester.

last name I wanted

slow breath, forcing myself to

tell Kester," I muttered, reaching for the files I had stored away in the drawer. "She's his favorite staff. If I complain, it'll only

was one of his favorites. Who knows if he

can tell him if

I nearly laughed.

offering but because

to be around Kester was a welcome idea for

pathetic?

responding. Didn't spare her or Jake

files, turned on my heel, and walked

my grip on the

I hated this.

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

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

was busy-workers moving about, voices blending into a dull, meaningless hum. My heels clicked against the polished floor as I made my way toward Sylvia, who stood near the center of the hall, surrounded

she saw me, her eyes narrowing

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

to let my temper show,

from my hand without bothering to look at me. “Let's see if

few people turned to watch as she flipped through the documents. My

Chapter 45

only took a few seconds before she clicked her tongue, her expression shifting from mere irritation to full-blown

sneer curling her lips. "Tell me you're not actually

"I did everything exactly how

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

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

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

up my neck, the humiliation sinking deep into