My Stepbrother 56

Chapter 56 

KASMINE. 

I stepped out of the bathroom, my bare feet sinking into the thick rug, but the warmth did nothing to chase away the cold sinking into my bones. 

This was breaking me. 

Piece by piece. 

No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, to suppress it, to pretend that I wasn’t unraveling at the seams, it was destroying me. 

I pressed a trembling, hand to my chest, my heart thudding too fast, too violently. 

This couldn’t continue. 

It shouldn’t have started in the first place. 

But the more I told myself that, the more Kester’s voice replayed like a loop in my head, dark and possessive, with promises that made me tremble. 

‘You can’t and won’t leave me.‘ 

‘You are my obsession, Kasmine.‘ 

‘After this, you will get addicted to me.‘ 

And yes, I was getting addicted to him, and it was scary. He had devoured my light and left me craving his darkness. 

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing his words away, but they only burned deeper, carving themselves into the fragile parts of me that already belonged to him. 

Because that was the truth, wasn’t it? 

I wouldn’t deny the pull I felt toward Kester. In the last few days, he had managed to worm his way into my fragile heart, and despite reminding myself that he was my brother, my heart kept growing softer for him every second. 

I pressed my fingers against my lips, remembering how he kissed me like he was trying to make me feel the obsession coursing through his veins, how he touched me like he was trying to carve his name into my very soul. And now that he had been the one who had taken my virginity, he seemed to have nestled himself deeper into the most fragile part of my heart where I couldn’t pull him off easily, otherwise, I’d bleed. 

But, no. This had to be controlled. Otherwise, we’d both bleed after this. 

A strangled sob escaped my lips, and I clamped a hand over my mouth, my shoulders shaking. 

He had been so broken when he left the bathroom. I saw it all in his eyes. My words always had a way of killing him each time, but I had no choice. 

I forced my breathing to steady, swiping furiously at the tears streaming down my cheeks. I locked my door securely before reaching for my secret phone. 

“Oh, Selene…” I gasped when the screen lit up, and my stomach dropped. 

Missed calls: 12 

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Mess 

6 

Jake. 

BONUS 

He was dying with worry. 

was 

My pulse pounded violently as I tapped on his name, my fingers barely able to keep steady. 

Jake: Kasmine, where the hell are you? 

Jake: It’s been hours. Why aren’t you answering? 

Jake: Are you okay? Say something. Please. 

Jake: I swear to the Moon, if he’s hurting you- 

I sucked in a sharp breath, my chest tightening painfully. 

I cursed myself for making him worry and left him in the dark while I let Kester consume me whole. 

With a shaky hand, I dialed his number, my heart slamming against my ribs as I brought the phone to my ear. 

I swallowed, pacing the room, my free hand clutching the fabric of my robe. 

Ring 

“Come on, Jake. Pick up…” I whispered. 

Ring 

The line went dead. 

I stared at the screen as it flashed ‘Call Unreachable.” 

No. 

No, no, no- 

I tried again. 

Call Unreachable. 

My breath hitched, my throat tightening. “Oh, Selene…” I whispered, gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. 

The rest of the day went on as quietly as it shouldn’t have been. A pang of sadness and guilt hit me hard occasionally when I recall how I always seemed to ruin Kester’s plans whenever he had anything good planned out 

for both of us. 

Kester had wanted today to be ours. He had planned for it, probably envisioned it down to the smallest detail. But I 

-like always–had ruined it. Again. 

He didn’t leave his room all day, and I didn’t even have the courage to face him. 

I felt better when I woke up today, just like Kester said I would. I moved quickly, dressing for work, eager to see Jake to ensure he was okay. If he wasn’t at the office, then I have no choice but to confront Kester. 

The thought made my stomach twist. 

Chapter 56 

+25 BONUS 

My eyes kept darting around the corners of the room every now and then, still looking for the dress I had returned from Jake’s house with I wanted to give it to the maids for laundry. 

Or had they already taken it with them when they came to clean my room yesterday? 

My door creaked open, and a certain tall, muscular, heart–stoppingly handsome man strode in with his usual charisma that made my knees weak. 

Gods. 

The navy blue suit clung to his broad chest like it was fighting for its life, stretched taut over thick muscle, teasing, 

His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, giving a hint of what lay beneath it, and the delicate gold chain resting against his collarbone only made it worse–made him worse. 

And his hair–sleek, dark, perfect. 

Too perfect 

I wanted to ruin it. To slide my fingers through it, tug until that maddening perfection cracks, if it would make him look less attractive. He was so handsome that it felt illegal 

“Get it together, Kasmine! This isn’t the first time you’ve seen Kester!‘ I clenched my fists instead. 

This wasn’t the first time I’d seen him, so why did he feel like a brand new sin every time? 

His smirk deepened as if he could hear my thoughts. 

He seemed better this morning. Wasn’t as gloomy as I expected him to be. And sincerely, it made me happy. 

I wrenched my gaze away before I could drown in him completely, attempting to break the silence between us, Did you see my dress?” I cleared my throat, scanning my wardrobe for something to wear. 

He didn’t answer right away, and for a moment, I thought he hadn’t heard me. 

Then he spoke, “The one that maggot desecrated?” He asked, and I paused, my heart skipping a beat before I resumed rifling through my clothes. “I’ve burnt it.” He said casually, walking toward me. 

I prayed I hadn’t heard him properly, “You what?” I asked, turning to face him. 

“I burnt it.” He repeated, coming to a stop in front of me. 

“How could you? That was one of my favorites, Kes..” I was broken. 

He tilted his head slightly, regarding me with the kind of detached curiosity that sent a chill down my spine. 

“Then we’d get another,” he murmured, shifting his attention to my closet as if the conversation was already over. 

How could he act so unbothered? 

“Kester- 

“You should be grateful,” he cut in, his voice becoming lethal instantly. “Burning that dress was the only thing I did, Kasmine. Don’t remind me of the other actions I was supposed to take last night.” I stiffened, the anger in his eyes passing on the perfect message. 

I swallowed, dropping my gaze, suddenly hyper–aware of the anger crackling beneath his calm. 

“What are you doing?” I asked. 

Kester hummed as he flipped through the dresses in my closet, his fingers trailing over the fabric like he owned 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 56 

them—because, in truth, he did. Every single piece in this wardrobe had been picked out and bought by him. 

“Picking out something for you to wear,” he replied without glancing at me. 

I knitted my brows in confusion, “Since when do you pick out my clothes for work?” 

His shirk returned as he pulled a dress from the rack and turned to face me. “Since now.” 

Kester held up the dress, letting the fabric slip through his fingers like it was something precious. The moment my eyes landed on it, my stomach dropped. 

A small, red flair dress. 

It stopped well above the lavees. It was beautiful, but that wasn’t the problem. The problem was him. 

I knew Kester. 

I swallowed hard, “You never let me wear something like this to work.” 

His gaze flicked to mine, dark amusement swirling in those deep–set eyes. “And yet, this is what I want you to wear today.” 

I didn’t move, and Kester didn’t like that. 

With a slow step, he closed the space between us and placed the dress in my hands, his fingers brushing against mine. He leaned in, sniffing me in, “Make sure to wear one of those sweet, seductive perfumes I got for you,” he murmured, “The one with jasmine and vanilla.” 

I shivered. 

“That’s how I want you to smell today, Kasmine.” 

I bit the inside of my cheek, my fingers curling around the dress with my heart hammering against my ribs. 

His touch lingered for a moment too long before he turned back to my closet, flipping through the neatly arranged clothes again. 

He pulled out something else, and I became genuinely concerned about what he was up to. 

A pair of panties… A lacy red thong. 

He handed it to me, his eyes watching my face like he was waiting for my reaction. 

My fingers trembled as I reached for it, a flare of heat burning through me. “Kester…?” 

“Put this on underneath,” he said casually, like he was asking ine to wear a jacket, not the most scandalous undergear in my drawer. 

My face flamed. 

“This dress is too short,” I said, gripping the thong tightly. “Anyone would be able to see my nakedness even without trying too hard.” 

Kester’s lips curled into a slow smirk that did wicked things to my pulse. He tilted his head, studying me. “Then make sure you carry yourself cautiously at work all day.” 

My breath caught. 

The bastard. 

He was enjoying this. 

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+25 BONUS 

I hated him for it. 

But what I hated more was how my body reacted–the way heat called in my stomach and my skin prickled under his gaze. 

Without another word, he turned, crossing the room with that effortless grace of his, stopping by my shoe rack. 

He crouched slightly, plucked a pair of stilettos from the neatly arranged rows, and straightened, holding them up for me to see. 

Black. 

High. 

Deadly. 

He ran a finger over the sleek heels before handing them to me. “These would go with the dress.” 

I hesitated before taking them. He didn’t bother paying so much attention to me after that as he reached for the door. But then, he paused. 

I should have known he wasn’t done. 

His hand rested against the doorframe, and he glanced over his shoulder, “I trust you know your hair would be. better in a high ponytail,” Kester said, but before I could protest, he turned around and stepped closer, fingers grazing my jaw, tilting my chin up until our eyes locked. “No… scratch that. I want it in a twisted half–updo. Loose strands framing your face–just enough to remind me exactly how delicate you are…” 

He paused and planted the most sensual kiss on my lips. A kiss that was gone even before I had the chance to react. “…Because, each time I am around you, Mine, I am always tempted to break you.” 

Chapter 57