Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Mated 320

Chapter 320

KASMINE.

By the time Kester was rounding up his story, I had forgotten how to stop crying. The tears wouldn't stop falling. They slipped down my cheeks silently, like they didn't want to interrupt him. Like they understood that his pain was finally finding a voice.

He looked at me again, and his expression-God, it was worse than tears.

"Kester," I breathed, shaking my head slowly. I didn't even know what to say.

It was like I was staring at the little boy he used to be-the one who needed love more than anything in the world but got none in

return.

Even though I knew he hadn't told me everything and hadn't laid out the full horror of what his childhood looked like, the little pieces he had shared tore through my heart, shattering it to pieces. His parents. His loneliness. That house that never felt like

home.

ever

I'd never be that helpless again. I'd never trust anyone to protect what's mine. I'd be the one in control. I'd always be in control. If my father couldn't protect my mother, the woman I loved more than anything, then no one else can protect

Not just his hands but his entire body. Like the weight

his shoulder. His skin

don't have to carry that alone," I whispered. "You don't

didn't say anything right away. Just wrapped his arms around me so tight I could barely breathe, but I didn't care. I didn't even

Then, he spoke again.

Kasmine. You might

and pulled back just enough to look at him. "You always say that. But I still don't understand

He smiled.

was my birthday. Not that anyone remembered. I was alone in the house. No cake. No candles. No hugs. Not even a call from my

eyes drifted past me as if he could still see the gloom of that lonely room. "I sat beside my window for hours, just staring into

would take to fall. Wondering if anyone would even

My breath caught.

but it was empty... more like he was trying to breathe through

white dress and