Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 229

Chapter 229

What next? Build an altar and Sacrifice a goat in his honor while we worship at Jaden's feet? Because what's the obsession with him

about?

The moment he stepped in, it was like someone flipped a switch. Every single face around the table lit up-as if he were the crown jewel of the night.

A smile almost spread across my lips at the instant switch in Kesters countenance. The 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 was seething, his voice remained deceptively calm. But the storm in his eyes? Roaring. Explosive. Unmissable.

"Oh. Alpha Kester. Almost didn't notice you there."

Low blow. He meant that jab. Because who in thiş damn world wouldn't notice Kester Hamilton in a room?

"You haven't answered my question, Jaden," Kester took a gulp of his wine, and sometimes I wondered how he managed to drink this much without getting drunk. "Have you become so less busy that you now attend people's 'family' dinners?"

Jaden laughed, and I realized this was the first time he'd laughed since the day I met him. It was a short chuckle, though, but it managed to pull a dimple out of hiding on his left cheek. I couldn't help but notice it.

Hmm. Interesting.

If I hadn't already been dragging Jake up the 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 at this table trying to keep a mask on.

"Come on, brother-in-law," Jaden said, sliding into the seat beside me. "Aren't we already family?"

then-as if rehearsed-his hand slid over mine where it rested on the

to me, "My fiancée here

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

Fiancée?

Baby?!

Brother-in-law?

blinking in disbelief. My heart jumped into my

prepared to put on a show tonight. Seems like Alpha

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 turned my attention to the rest of the table, who didn't seem displeased at all, painting on a faint,

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

Chapter 229

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,

they were happy with whatever it was they thought was happening between me and Jaden. If

table, June's smile had

tired of replying to questions on Kester's behalf. She

She had imagined something different tonight. A picture-perfect dinner where she'd be

was background noise because Kester hadn't said another word since Jaden sat down. Not even when Uncle Ralph asked him a question about when the wedding date

something else into my ears: "Your brother looks like he would

giggled softly, tilting my face

I whispered back. "He won't do that in public." We both laughed

wouldn't call the dinner perfect-but it

and watching him play fiance

hadn't cried about him just