Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 127

KASMINE.

I hadn't even dropped the cup of coffee when a high-pitched, syrupy giggle broke the silence and nearly startled me into cardiac arrest.

My body jerked so fast in the direction of the sound that the dizziness I'd been ignoring all morning slammed harder into my skull, turning my vision into a funhouse mirror. Fantastic. If the walls spun any harder, I might start levitating. Maybe it was finally time I stopped playing tough and visited the damn hospital. "Look who I get the pleasure of meeting all alone in the kitchen!"

Karina's voice was a little too loud and sweet, like poisoned honey-and her expression? Pure sunshine with a chance of lunacy. Too abnormal to be this cheerful so early in the morning.

God. Was she high or something?

She had that glittery-eyed, overenthusiastic vibe of someone who'd either snorted something very illegal or returned from making a deal with the devil. Or maybe she was the devil. Who could tell with her?

Either way, I didn't have the energy for it.

I said nothing. Just dumped the mug into the sink like it had personally offended me and turned to leave. Since she moved into the house, I'd done a good job of avoiding her.

The only time I'd actually seen her face was during the family dinner last night- and even then, I'd pretended like, her entire existence didn't itch beneath my skin.

My being indoors because of Kester helped me stay away from her. I heard she was trouble, and Mum also told me everything she had done to Kester, including being the reason he was finally sent to the psychiatric hospital.

Everyone believed whatever story she made up back then because Kester already suffered from anger issues. So, it was easy for Karina to pull such a big one on him.

God, the girl was a walking red flag in designer shoes.

I wonder why I never knew about all these. I mean... Yes, I was still a bit too

young, but come on... They should have at least said something to me then.

"That's not a very nice way to greet your stepsister, you know?" she said, pouting dramatically.

Okay. Confirmed. She was high on something.

The playful frown didn't reach her eyes. Nothing ever did. Those eyes were always scanning and observing like a monster dressed in bubblegum pink.

But wasn't it too early for that?

“Hi,” I muttered flatly, already halfway out of the kitchen. My brain had filed her under irrelevant, and I was ready to go back to pretending she didn't exist.

But then her voice caught me mid-step.

"Why the rush, little sis?" she purred, still all sugar and verom. "You got some unfinished business to get back to? Hm?"

Chapter 127

She giggled again in a high, flirty, almost manic voice, and something in my stomach twisted so hard I nearly turned back to throw up in the sink.

in front

I sighed, spinning around with an exhausted eye- roll. My head was already pounding, and now she wanted

against her bottom lip, mock-thoughtful like a child pretending to think during a

grin widened. "Just

time to try and escape through my ribcage. I swear, I could feel it racing toward the door, dragging my composure behind it like

too fast and

wicked twinkle

didn't you?" She giggled again and walked

the smugness of someone

my breath.

Dinner or my room?

'him' she

Kester or Jaden?

Shit!

hear us

couldn't be. The room was soundproof.

my voice steady, though

glass in my throat. Cracked. Brittle. Close to

keep my distance from her? Abandoned. Crumpled

followed her back into the kitchen like a

face me, her lips curling in triumph. "Someone

11

on her face-that smug,

plea for attention. So, here I am. Talk to me." I

one hand on her chest like she was genuinely touched. "How sweet,"

over to the counter, hips swaying like she was on a runway, and reached for the glass jug of

as she poured herself a glass-slowly, like even her movements were a form of psychological torture. "The weather? Your stepbrother's upcoming engagement?" She paused

for a reaction from me? Or it was just my thoughts?

Chapter 127

were you referring to about

the meaning of life was. Then she sighed and set the glass down with an exaggerated clink against the countertop. "Why are you so obsessed with this

nickname dripped

grown into such a curious little woman." She raised her

go to hell," I hissed, pushing off the counter and

iT

in circles and play

and was already walking toward the door when she

what you wish for, little sis. Or your actions will

froze in mid-step. The pulse in my throat slammed so loud I was convinced she could hear it. Hell, the neighbors

She knew.