Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 68

Chapter 68

KASMINE

1 stormed past him. My fists clenched at my sides in an attempt to shake off the fury burning beneath my skin. Did Kester think the world revolved around him alone? He was a control freak, and it was freaking me out already. I barged into my room, the image of June's tear-streaked face plaguing my thoughts.

Kester's heavy footsteps followed behind me, and before I could slam the door shut, his strong hand caught it.

With an effortless push, he forced his way inside, closing the door behind him with an annoying calmness. He stood there, hands tucked into his pockets, completely unaffected by my rage.

His calmness was grating on my nerves.

"What the hell, Kester!" I spun around to face him, my voice barely restrained. “June could have heard what you said to me out there!"

His silence was infuriating

"I was out there consoling her, trying to ease the pain I was putting her through! And you-"My breath hitched, frustration swelling in my chest. "You had no right to speak to me like that!"

He still said nothing. He just watched me lose my control.

His eyes stayed locked on me, his face betraying nothing. But the longer I looked at him, the more I realized-this wasn't indifference. This was restraint.

His anger, which was usually lethal, actually simmered beneath the surface, and I know I should have stopped. I should have picked my words more carefully. But I was too frustrated and too exhausted to care.

"What actually is your problem, Kasmine?” His voice was eerily calm as if he were forcing himself to stay in control. Like he was holding something dangerous back.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You are my problem, Kester."

His jaw twitched.

It was a warning.

"I don't think I can do this anymore," I continued, my voice faltering. "This...

whatever this is between us. I can't keep pretending that it's okay. I'm hurting too many people." My chest tightened. "I'm hurting myself."

His expression didn't change. He just stood there, watching me.

Then, slowly, he smiled.

Not the kind that meant he was amused. Not even the kind that meant he was angry. It was something else- something dark and unreadable. The kind that made my stomach tighten

He took a step forward.

"Kester-"

Another step.

He reached out, his fingers brushing the side of my face. His touch was light and almost tender.

Chapter 65

my heart

you ready for the surprise I told you about?" His voice was soft, almost as

just told him that I

had meant

was when something inside me

the chest. "Stop!" My voice cracked. "Just stop and

moved from my push, but he took a slow step back, tilting his

I felt my throat tightening. "People

because of us. Because of this. We need to

face was blank

he took another

pulse skittered. "Don't.

ignored me and reached

I acted out of impulse and the frustration

as my

harsh, panicked gasps, My hands trembled

vision. My

terrified of what he'd do

turned slightly from the impact of the slap and the way

body went rigid.

nothing. No

terrifying silence settled

wiped at my tears with the back of my hand, but they kept coming. "You never listen," I whispered in a breaking

my chest rising and falling with shaky breaths. My throat felt so raw,

where my skin had met

Claire is hurting." I clenched my fists, forcing myself not to say 'his' name. Not to drag Jake into this. "This is already bad

shouldn't. That wasn't the plan, Kester. It was never

swear I saw a reaction in his eyes when I mentioned that I was feeling things 1 shouldn't feel. But he masked it immediately. My

Chapter 68

was killing

to make sense of the war raging inside me, but it was all useless. The moment I dropped my hands, another sob wrenched its

throat.

to speak through the mess of tears. "If-If Dad ever found out..." My lungs seized painfully. "If

a bitter laugh between my sobs, shaking my head. "We have to

in front of him, quickly unraveling at the seams. And still-he

Drained. I felt like I had just

closed the distance

his arms were around me, pulling

his warmth engulfed me, his

No

against him, my lists pressing against his

But he didn't.

against the top of my head, one hand cradling the back of it while the other

murmured, "It's going

wracked

his breath warm against my hair.

first thing I registered was warmth. A slow, consuming kind of warmth that made me hesitate