Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 128

Chapter 128

RASMINE.

Thurried to the front door to get it.

Finally, one normal person who isn't part of the whole drama in my life decided to pay me a visit.

Claire.

It was a Friday morning, and instead of dragging ourselves to school like every other week, Claire and I had made other plans. Shopping. We were lumting for my birthday dress and maybe-if we had time a dress for the engagement party tomorrow.

Anything to take my mind off things. Especially after watching the news clip I found on 1*******m over and over again where June spoke about Kester and their love story. Repeating, again and again, that the deal her father made with him had nothing to do with their engagement. That Kester earned it.

I could hear his voice behind every line.

He had made her say those things. And desperate, infatuated June would gladly walk barefoot across thoms if it meant pleasing him.

Let me grab my phone-uhm, just sit. I'll be right back," Itold Claire after a quick hug. Her smile was soft and tired, but it was the first sign of peace I'd seen all week.

I moved fast. I didn't want to bump into Kester. I didn't want to see him. I hadn't seen him since the night we fucked and let out steam, but I didn't need anyone to tell me that we were only able to let out half the steam. There was still a lot of friction between us.

"Okay, Claire, I'm ready-"I called out, hurrying down the stairs with my eyes glued to my phone.

But when I looked up, I stopped cold.

Claire and Kester were standing inches apart in the living room, staring at each other like they were locked in some silent, electric war.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, and Kester replied even before Claire had the chance to do so.

"Yes, Mine. Everything is fine." His voice was calm. His eyes were unreadable. And then-just like that-he turned and disappeared up the stairs without another word

But Claire didn't move.

there like someone had just cracked

I could see the effort she was putting into hiding the

own to carry, and if Claire was bleeding inside, she'd have to stitch it up herself-for

shopping mall, and our moods lightened

Then, a dress just a little bit ahead of

and we

everything I needed. It was as if the racks had been curated for me. I didn't even feel the urge to

took more than an hour to try out different dresses for the engagement party. But I found the one.

match, couldn't resist a few extra pleces, and picked out a stunning dress for Claire, too, as an appreciation and a way to pull her out of whatever heavy cloud was following

up for a second?" I said to her, trying out

that came from somewhere deep. Her shoulders sagged. "It's not that easy, Kasmine. Especially knowing he's getting engaged

looked away. "I actually thought

almost laughed. "You thought you had a chance?"

offense, Claire, but my brother never gave you

did. He led me on. And I don't think what he did after that is fair," she said. I stared

I thought I hadn't heard her

Kester? My Kester?

Led Claire on?

those words. She looked like she was done hiding whatever had been eating her

beginning to thump weirdly. "What do you mean he led you on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "Like

it wasn't funny. Not even a little. Her arms

she said, not looking at me. "The one where I said the guy was cold... barely looked at me and never called

tell me who the guy was. And she had come back from it looking crushed,

said, turning to look at me now. "That

My ears rang

"What?"

went for drinks and dinner at that exquisite restaurant off Silvergate Avenue. I didn't

kicked a wall inside my chest, and I didn't even have time to catch

told me," I