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.
1/3
Chapter 330
She turned quickly, yanked the door open with her tiny fingers, and ran out. She didn’t look back.
I shouldn’t feel bad. I mean… I asked her several times to leave me one, but she kept insisting, and I didn’t like it. But I didn’t know why I’d been restless since she ran out of my room.
So, I came to talk to her..
Her bedroom 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 pillows.
The moment she saw me, het sad eyes lit up, and she sat up immediately.
“Kester…?” She called as if unsure if I was there–to–yell at her again or to tell her I was sorry.
She looked so breakalle. And yet, there was this strange, soft power in her gaze, like a candle refusing to go out in the wind.
Her eyes always did that to me… stirred something warm I didn’t want to feel.
She looked like she needed to be protected by someone bigger and stronger than her. She had to be protected from the world. She looked so little and innocent.
I walked toward her bed, dragging my feet a little, then sat down on the edge. It was awkward. I really didn’t know what to say. But I had to…
“I, uhm…” I rubbed the back of my neck, eyes fixed on the toy–strewn carpet. “I’m sorry… for yelling at you earlier.”
Her whole face brightened like forgiveness had already been waiting on the tip of her tongue.
“It’s okay, Kester. You were upset,” she said gently. “I forgive you.”
I almost laughed. Forgive me? Just like that? It was that easy?
“Thanks,” I muttered, managing a small chuckle I didn’t quite feel. I was about to stand and make my escape, but her hand caught my wrist.
Her small hands were like that of an angel. It always made me feel calm and peaceful, even though I always yelled at her whenever she touched me.
“Why are you always so sad?” she asked, tilting her head, those innocent eyes scanning my face with an honesty that cut. “Don’t you have friends?”
I looked away.
“I have a friend. Norlan. Just him.”
She nodded as if that somehow made sense.
“Maybe…” she started, although she sounded 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 ever but she didn’t know how much those words meant to me.
She truly did care about me.
2/3
Chapter 330
She turned quickly, yanked the door open with her tiny fingers, and ran out. She didn’t look back.
I shouldn’t feel bad. I mean… I asked her several times to leave me alone, but she kept insisting, and I didn’t like it. But I didn’t know why I’d been restless since she ran out of my room.
So, I came to talk to her..
Her bedroom 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 pillows.
The moment she saw me, het sad eyes lit up, and she sat up immediately.
“Kester…?” She called as if unsure if I was there to yell at her again or to tell her I was sorry.
She looked so breakale. And yet, there was this strange, soft power in her gaze, like a candle refusing to go out in the wind.
Her eyes always did that to me… stirred something warm I didn’t want to feel.
She looked like she needed to be protected by someone bigger and stronger than her. She had to be protected from the world. She looked so little and innocent.
I walked toward her bed, dragging my feet a little, then sat down on the edge. It was awkward. I really didn’t know what to say. But I had to…
“I, uhm…” I rubbed the back of my neck, eyes fixed on the toy–strewn carpet. “I’m sorry…” for yelling at you earlier.”
Her whole face brightened like forgiveness had already been waiting on the tip of her tongue.
“It’s okay, Kester. You were upset,” she said gently. “I forgive you.”
I almost laughed. Forgive me? Just like that? It was that easy?
“Thanks,” I muttered, managing a small chuckle I didn’t quite feel. I was about to stand and make my escape, but her hand caught
my wrist.
Her small hands were like that of an angel. It always made me feel calm and peaceful, even though I always yelled at her whenever
she touched me.
“Why are you always so sad?” she asked, tilting her head, those innocent eyes scanning my face with an honesty that cut. “Don’t you have friends?”
1
I looked away.
“I have a friend. Norlan. Just him.”
She nodded as if that somehow made sense.
“Maybe…” she started, although she sounded 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 ever but she didn’t know how much those words meant to me.
She truly did care about me.
2/3
Chapter 330
She held my gaze, waiting for my response. I was at a loss for words)
But I shook my head and scoffed, “You can’t be my friend or anywhere around me, Kasmine. I’ll hurt you… With my words or my actions or… No. I can’t let you my friend,” I stood up immediately mad at myself for even letting my guard down.
“You won’t hurt me, Kester,” she stood up with me, tilting up her head so she could hold my gaze. “I want you to be my friend. I don’t want us to fight every time.”
I hesitated. My fingers twitched at my sides.
“Why do you think I won’t hurt you?” My voice cracked despite myself. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know you won’t,” she said simply, stepping closer. “I trust you, Kester. You’re my big brother.”
And just like that….I couldn’t breathe.
Author’s Note: One more chapter coming in tonight. But.. brace yourselves because you might shed a tear or two when you read it.
#winks.
Chapter Comments
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does anyone know when this book was last updated?
Lashann Whyte Bartlett
I am waiting patiently all the way from barbados
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Synopsis : My Stepbrother
