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

her tiny fingers, and ran out.

I mean... I asked her several times to

been restless

I came to talk

door was ajar, and the soft light from her princess-themed nightlamp painted the walls in pastel hues. She was curled up on her bed, her arms wrapped tightly around one of her

she saw me, het sad eyes lit up, and

I was there-to-yell at

was this strange, soft power in her gaze, like a candle refusing to

stirred something

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

sat down on the edge.

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

like forgiveness had already been waiting on the

were upset," she said

me? Just like

quite feel. I was about to

an angel. It always made me feel

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

I looked away.

a friend. Norlan.

as if

uncertain, "maybe I can be your friend? If you don't want me to be your sister. We could play together. Or watch a movie. I don't like it when you're sad all the time. Or alone." She said in the most innocent way

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Chapter 330

with her tiny fingers, and

shouldn't feel bad. I mean... I asked her several times to leave me alone, but she kept insisting, and

came to talk

light from her princess-themed nightlamp painted the walls in pastel hues. She was

saw me, het sad eyes lit

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

strange, soft power in her gaze, like a

always did that to me... stirred something warm I didn't want

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

a little, then sat down on the edge. It was awkward.

fixed on the toy-strewn carpet.

brightened like forgiveness had already been waiting on the tip of

upset," she said

me? Just like that? It

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

my wrist.

It always made me feel calm and peaceful,

she touched me.

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

that cut. "Don't you

1

I looked away.

a friend. Norlan.

as if that somehow made