Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 330

The door creaked open. Soft footsteps padded in, and before I could urn, I felt that subtle, familiar heat against my back. That stupid, stubborn warmth that always tried to bloom in my chest whenever she was around began to take root.

She was standing there in her tiny socks and oversized unicorn sweater, blinking up at me with wide,

worried eyes.

"Kester! What happened to you?" she asked, her voice already laced with panic.

I didn't respond right away. I just turned my back to her, my fingers ranking impatiently at the buttons of my bloodied school shirt.

"It's nothing. Leave," I muttered, trying to sound as cold as I could. Bat my knuckles trembled a little as I peeled the shirt off and tossed it into the laundry basket.

I got into a fight again.

After the day I beat the hell out, of Troy at school, things had shifted People looked at me differently, with fear, respect, and caution. No one messed with me anymore. At least, no one from my school.

But the Shadow Valley kids were another story. They were doing a good job at pissing me off. Especially Nagel.

That idiot had been testing my patience for weeks, mouthing off like he had nothing to lose. So, today, I made sure he understood exactly who he was dealing with.

I was sure he lost a tooth or two.

But he still had the nerve to promise revenge.

Good. I'd be waiting. Because I would be glad to beat him again.

"Mum and Dad aren't home," Kasmine said softly. "I can call one of the maids to check your injury..."

"Don't," I cut in quickly, "I can take care of myself."

She paused, watching me. Her eyes flicked to the blood staining my shoulder, then to the bruising starting to swell on my knuckles.

"Should I... get you some ice?" she asked. "Does it hurt?"

Her voice was so gentle. So sincere.

It crawled under my skin, and I hated that it made something ache deep in my chest.

So, I snapped.

"Leave me alone, Kasmine!"

She flinched, taking a step backward like she didn't know whether to run or apologize or just disappear into the floor.

"I... I'm sorry," she whispered. Her voice cracked around the words. And when I turned to look at her, I saw those big green eyes were filled with tears. Her bottom lip trembled as she held back a sob.

'And it somehow got to me.

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Chapter 330

quickly, yanked the door open with her tiny fingers, and

feel bad. I mean... I asked her several times

didn't know why I'd been restless since she

came to talk to

nightlamp painted the walls in pastel hues. She was curled up on her bed,

sad eyes lit up, and

I was there-to-yell at her again or to tell her

there was this strange, soft power in her gaze, like a

did that to me... stirred something warm I

to be protected by someone bigger and stronger than her. She had to

sat down on the edge. It was awkward.

back of my neck, eyes fixed on the toy-strewn carpet. "I'm sorry... for yelling at you

face brightened like forgiveness had already been waiting

okay, Kester. You were upset,"

almost laughed. Forgive me? Just like that? It was

didn't quite feel. I was about to stand and make my escape, but her hand caught my

feel calm and peaceful, even though I always yelled at her

so sad?" she asked, tilting her head, those innocent eyes scanning my face with an honesty that cut.

I looked away.

a friend. Norlan.

nodded as if that somehow

watch a movie. I don't like it when you're sad all the time. Or alone." She said in the most innocent way ever but

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Chapter 330

door open with her tiny fingers, and ran out. She didn't

asked her several times to leave me alone, but she kept insisting, and I didn't like

to talk

the walls in pastel hues. She was curled up on her

moment she saw me, het sad eyes lit up,

if I was there to yell at her again or to tell her

so breakale. And yet, there was this strange, soft power in her gaze, like a candle refusing to go out in

to me... stirred something warm I didn't

by someone bigger and stronger than her. She had to be protected from the world. She looked

walked toward her bed, dragging my feet a little, then sat down on the edge. It was

I rubbed the back of my neck, eyes fixed on the toy-strewn carpet. "I'm sorry..." for

forgiveness had already been waiting on the tip of

upset," she said gently.

me? Just like that? It was that

small chuckle I didn't quite feel. I was about to stand and make my escape, but her hand

my wrist.

that of an angel. It always made me feel calm and peaceful,

she touched me.

you always so sad?" she asked, tilting her head, those innocent eyes

cut. "Don't you have

1

I looked away.

have a friend. Norlan. Just

as if that