Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 294

Chapter 297

Chapter 296

KESTER.

17 YEARS AGO.

It'd been four days since my sad, lonely birthday, and Mum and Dad had not been home yet.

No calls. No texts. Not even a note.

Caroline came to tell me two days after my parents didn't show up at home for my birthday that they had traveled for a business meeting.

I nodded then as if I believed her.

But I didn't.

I may be eleven, but I'm not stupid.

Mum was probably with one of the men Dad always yelled about, and Dad was probably with one of the women Mum said nasty things about when she thought I was asleep.

The card I made for them was still sitting on the hallway table. I drew stars on it. And a crown. I wrote "I love you with a blue marker.

I thought maybe they'd see it when they came back.

But they didn't.

Outside school this morning, I watched Mrs. Freya hug Norlan.

She kissed his head and said, "Be safe and eat your snacks, okay?" She kept looking at him with so much tenderness in her eyes, like he was the only thing that mattered in the whole world.

He laughed and hugged her back. His smile looked so easy. Like breathing. "Thanks, Mum."

It seemed a bit too strange to me. Can't recall when last I smiled that way.

Then she said, "Remember all we studied last night. You've got to win this, baby. Your dad would be proud."

I blinked. They had studied together for the upcoming interschool quiz competition? Great.

I studied too. But I did it alone. At the dinning. I was tired of locking myself up

alone in my room. Caroline brought me tea, but she didn't stay.

And it was okay. I discovered that I study better when alone.

I even combed my hair three times this morning. Made sure it was neat. Wore the shirt I ironed by myself. they'd be happy with me. Maybe they'd say something nice to me.

e if I won today,

"You, too, Kester. Be good," She smiled at me, offering what little warmth she could spare, before walking back to her car.

I and Norlan went into the school, ready to smash the completion.

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Chapter 296.

And we did!

It was a huge success!

The Ashmoor Crescent Academy beat the Vermillion Crimson Institute!

I was the team leader. I stood on the stage. My heart was going fast, and my hands were all sweaty, but I did it. I beat June Mellors, that spoiled brat from Crimson Valley. Her face when she lost-it made me feel... I don't know. Good?

She looked sad. Like me on my birthday.

Maybe I liked that.

Maybe I don't want to be the only one who feels like this!

Norlan beat Nagel Vale from the Shadow Valley pack.

Nagel was always picking on kids from our pack near the gate. Not me, though. He doesn't look at me funny. Maybe he's scared of my eyes. Or maybe he just knows there's no point.

their faces felt so good as everyone cheered with

Hill clapped me on the back. Said, "Good job, son. I'm proud

wait

my hand like it was

to call Mum and Dad and tell them

me. I got an

me as we neared the gate. My legs were already twitching to run

look for her," he was saying. "Make her your friend.

I blinked. "Huh?"

girl. The one you saw through the window on your

Oh. Her.

had told

didn't tell him what I was doing when I saw her, I only

me

said, feeling the flutter again in my chest. "I... I felt

Norlan shrugged. "Try talking to

don't know... She's quite younger than

I asked, crinkling my nose, and

are

is that you both like each

I nodded slowly.

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Chapter 296

Maybe I would,

first-1 had to tell

to Norlan and ran straight into the house. Didn't ever take off my

Chapter 297

my schoolbag on the ouch with a soft thump and made a beeline for the drawer

Caroline let me use it most of the

call Mum

long.

edge of

I call first? Mum or

my lip,

Mum.

she hated me now, she was the softer

answered on

phone, thinking it was the maid. Caroline

"Mum?" I said, putting as much brightness in

like she could see me. "We won, Mum! We actually won the competition! Crescent Moon beat Crimson Valley!" I leaned forward like it made it more real. "I-I was the

could feel the words rushing out of me and tumbling over each other. I wanted her to hear it all-how

She lost, Mum. She actually lost.

she cut in. Her voice

about it when I

I blinked.

quickly, my heart

chest so fast it almost

was silence, and then the

it to light up again. Maybe she'd call back and say she didn't mean to hang

screen

the phone slowly, pressing it against my chest. I wasn't

room gets when I turn my

looking for something I never

She was coming home.

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Chapter 297.

good. That should feel

It didn't quite reach my eyes. But

my shorts, then

contact.

answered on the first

voice sounded a bit louder than usual.

if he

I asked. "It's me. Kester. I

now," he said, cutting

something warm crawled up my chest.

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