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

felt my heart slam against my

told you about?" His

told him that I wanted

my words had meant

something inside

"Stop!" My voice cracked. "Just stop and listen

barely moved from my push, but he took a slow step

I whispered as I felt my

us. Because of this. We need to

was

he took

skittered.

me and reached for

acted out of impulse and the frustration he was

him. As hard as my

in harsh, panicked gasps, My hands

vision. My stomach

of

from the impact of

body went rigid.

No

terrifying silence

my tears with the back of my hand, but they kept coming. "You never listen," I whispered

chest rising and falling with shaky breaths.

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

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

wasn't

but I could 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 words dried

Chapter 68

was

my breathing, trying to make sense of the war raging inside me,

throat.

of tears. "If-If Dad ever found out..." My lungs seized painfully.

head. "We have to stop. We should've stopped a long

him, quickly unraveling at the seams.

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

he closed

arms were

my lips as his warmth engulfed me, his broad chest pressing

No

against him, my lists

But he didn't.

pressed his cheek against the top of my head, one hand cradling the back of it while the other rubbing slow, soothing

he murmured, "It's going to be

sob wracked through

warm against my hair. "It's going

consuming kind of warmth that made me hesitate before fully waking up. It cradled and surrounded