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

heart slam

you about?" His voice was soft, almost as

hadn't just told him

had meant absolutely nothing

was when something inside me

shoved him hard in the chest. "Stop!" My voice cracked. "Just stop

he took a slow step back, tilting his head

whispered as I felt my throat tightening. "People

us. Because of this. We need to

face was blank

took another step

skittered. "Don't.

and reached for

I acted out of impulse and the frustration

hard as my small

harsh, panicked gasps, My hands trembled at

blurred my vision. My stomach

terrified of what

the way his head turned slightly from

body went rigid.

nothing. No

slow, terrifying silence settled between

back of my hand, but they kept coming. "You never listen," I whispered in a breaking voice. "You never fucking

with shaky breaths. My

in my palm, the burn where my skin had met his, but Kester-he hadn't moved. Hadn't flinched. Hadn't even fucking

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

my body trembling. "And worst of all... I'm starting to feel things I shouldn't. That wasn't the plan, Kester.

that I was feeling

Chapter 68

silence was killing

sense of the war raging inside me, but

throat.

Dad ever found out..." My

bitter laugh between my sobs, shaking my head. "We

apart in front of him, quickly unraveling at the seams. And still-he didn't say a

I felt like I had just ripped my heart out and handed it to him, only for him to stare at

walk away when he closed the distance between us.

react before his arms were around

engulfed me, his broad chest pressing against my

No

him, my lists pressing against

But he didn't.

cradling the back of it while the other rubbing slow, soothing circles

"It's going

wracked through

against my hair. "It's going to

that