Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 124

Chapter 124

KASMINE.

I didn't want to be down here.

God, I really didn't..

Every fiber in me screamed to stay tucked away in the safety of my room, buried under the warmth of silence and solitude. But I threw that choice away the moment I glanced at my phone and saw his name lighting up my screen again.

Jaden.

I'd been ignoring his calls for days-pressing decline like a reflex, almost like breathing. He must've finally gotten the message because he stopped calling and started texting instead.

Persistent bastard.

And maybe whatever deity decided to touch him with a bit of remorse didn't quite finish the job - because despite the fact that he was trying to apologize for how our first date went, he still had that sprinkle of arrogance like a perfume he refused to wash off..

It was... irritating.

And oddly entertaining

But it was a good distraction reading his texts - a stupid, oddly timed, mildly amusing distraction in a world where everything else felt like it was rotting around me - because they made me laugh, even though his texts weren't the kind that made a girl's heart flutter or brought beat to her cheeks.

More like that dry, unimpressed laugh you let slip when someone's trying too hard and failing spectacularly.

Jaden:

> "Okay, I might've been a bit of an ass. Maybe just a teaspoon. Definitely not a cup."

"If we go out again, I promise not to interrogate you like you're applying to be my next suitor."

> "P.S. I wore something decent tonight. No cape. No crown. I promise. See you at dinner."

With the last text, an idea popped up in my head. Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to show Kester that I was moving on pretty well? At least, judging from the fact that things between us had turned this sour and he was finally getting engaged to June, soon to have a perfect fairytale ending I would never be a part of, it was the best time to move on with my life.

Things between us had rotted past the point of repair, and even if they hadn't, this silence and distance between us was enough to bury anything that had once lived.

But may Selene forbid it that I move on with Jaden. He was nothing more than a means to an end tonight. A temporary distraction dressed in bad apologies and worse arrogance.

Jake fit more into the future I could settle for. Even though he wasn't everything I wanted, I could settle for him. And 1 think I love him, too. Plus, he was now my boyfriend, wasn't he? And who knows? He could turn out to be my mate in a few days.

Jake and I share a good connection... No fireworks, no wild storms, but something close to calm waters. That to count for something. So, being mated to him wouldn't come as a surprise to me.

-25 BONUT

Chapter 124

stomach to flutter, even though it seemed like they were fast asleep or in a coma. They had to learn to flutter whenever

in two days, so the best I could do for myself would be to gradually take my mind off him and whatever these

tasteless, Karina's presence disturbing but nothing was as nauseating as watching June and Kester sit so close together lile it was the most natural

attempt at showing he cared aliout my health earlier with June's hands wrapped around his made nausea rise to my throat, but I gulped it down with the glass

I checked the time.

8:04 PM.

Jaden.

door swung open, and I saw him stride

his usual arrogance, which seemed to always demand

"Hello, everyone!"

forced and almost theatrical. It grated like lemon juice on

expecting you. What a

you here. Please have a seat," Mum let out a very warm smile as she gestured to the chair right

"Alpha Jaden, welcome..."

"Alpha Jaden..."

"Jaden..."

chant coming from everyone around the

my eyes so hard I was genuinely scared

next? Build an altar and sacrifice a goat in his honor while we worship at Jaden's feet? Because

a switch. Every single face around the table lit up-as if he were the crown

tension in his jaw was a thing of beauty. I was scared for the poor glass he held in his hands. It was one heartbeat away from shattering. "What the fuck are you doing here, Jaden?" Kester asked, and even though he

Kester. Almost didn't

that jab. Because who in this damn world wouldn't notice Kester Hamilton

I wondered how he managed to drink this much without getting drunk. "Have you become so less busy that

Chapter 124

family' dinners?"

met him. It was a short chuckle, though, but

Hmm. Interesting

ladder of my emotional priorities, Jaden could've been a strong contender to replace Kester. He had that ability to pull a reaction out of anyone, especially the one man

sliding into the

rehearsed his hand slid over mine where rested on the table. His palm

me, "My fiancée here

fast that I almost choked on my juice, nearly spitting it out right across the

Fiancée?

Baby?!

Brother-in-law?

head toward him, blinking in disbelief. My heart jumped

prepared to put on a show

but this time, I didn't look away. I held his gaze for a moment before I spoke, "Ah. Yes. He told me. Sorry, I forgot to mention it to everyone," I

Kasmine," Mum chimed in with a delighted smile, her eyes darting between me and Jaden like she was mentally designing wedding invitations. "Jaden is family. We don't

even know I was on. He kept whispering little nothings to me every now and then- The kind of performance meant for an audience of one,

happy with whatever it was they thought was happening between me and

had withered into a