My Stepbrother 47

KASMINE 

I stirred restlessly on my bed, tangled in the sheets, still as restless as I had been three days ago after saying those hurtful things I said to Kester in his car. 

Three days. Three whole days since, I had torn into Kester with words meant to rip him apart. And they had. 

I knew it the moment I said them. Knew it by the way his grip had loosened on my chin, the brief flicker in his eyes before they turned ice–cold. I knew it when he let me walk away without another word or a fight. 

That was the part that hurt the most. 

I replayed the events and conversations in my head, and sincerely, I realized that he didn’t deserve those cruel words. I had let my anger and jealousy take over. 1 

I hadn’t set my eyes on him after that evening. I hadn’t seen him at the office all day Friday. When I got home, I half–expected–no, hoped–he’d be somewhere, anywhere in the house. But he wasn’t. 

And when I finally caved, when my pathetic ass swallowed my pride and walked to his door, June was standing in my way like a fortress. 

He had instructed her not to let me in, pretending to be in the middle of something… Always 

there, 

I canceled my movie plans with Claire the next day. I couldn’t stomach the idea of laughing at mindless comedies and pretending I was fine. Because I wasn’t! 

I was drowning in something I didn’t have a name for. 

My heart raced uncontrollably, and no matter how hard I tried, I remained constantly sad. It was almost as if a part of me was slowly dying 

I hated it. 

A dull vibration against the mattress pulled me from my thoughts. I reached under the bed and grabbed the phone, already knowing who it was 

Jake: 

I had hidden our secret phone under my bed, more securely this time. 

I stared at the screen for a second before answering. There was no point in being too careful. Kester wasn’t going to barge in on me after all. Not today. I was certain 

His volte was soft, dripping with concern, and for the first time, it didn’t soothe me. 

It grated on my nerves. Sincerely, at the moment, I saw this care and concern as a disturbance. 

But it was Jake, after all. 

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing out the words. I’m sorry. I slept all day.” I lied. 

I heard the exhale on the other end of the line before he spoke again. “I was starting to worry,” he finally said in a warm voice, as if gauging my mood before saying more. 

swallowed the guilt that came creeping up my throat. “I’m fine,” I murmured, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. “I just… Needed rest.” 

Another lie. And maybe he knew it because he went silent for a second too long. Then, his voice brightened. “Well, 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 47 

that’s good. You needed the rest. You’ve been so tense lately.” 

I hummed, not trusting myself to say more. 

Jake took the silence as his cue to move on. “I called to remind you about our date.” 

Ah. Right. 

I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. If I were to choose, I wouldn’t have stepped an inch out of my bedroom. But I didn’t have the heart to disappoint Jake. 

“I remember,” I said quietly. “But… can we just stick to the date? No ride. No other plans. Just dinner.” 

He paused. I didn’t need to look into his pretty face to know that he’d be running his fingers through his short, black hair by now while letting out an exhale. I knew him that well. 

“Yeah, of course,” he said after a beat, but the excitement in his tone had dimmed. “Whatever makes you comfortable, Kasmine. As long as you’re happy.” 

I pressed my lips together, hating the way that simple sentence made something heavy settle in my chest. 

Poor, Jake. Tell me why I shouldn’t fall harder for him. He was way too sweet and understanding. Always putting me first. I had taken advantage of it, giving him just enough to keep him around but never what he truly wanted. 

Maybe that was why I agreed to this date in the first place. To make up for the times I let him down, even if I didn’t really want to go… Even if I knew I’d spend the whole night distracted, my thoughts tangled up in someone else. 

Even if the mere thought of being in Jake’s presence right now–of faking smiles and pretending I wasn’t coming apart inside–felt exhausting 

It was also a good thing Kester wasn’t speaking to me at the moment. I could slip out. Have dinner. Come back without him ever knowing 

“I’ll see you in two hours at your house,” I said, forcing lightness into my voice. 

Jake exhaled, some of the tension easing from his tone. “I can’t wait.” 

I hung up before I could second–guess myself. 

The dress clung to my body so perfectly, its silky fabric gliding over my skin as I adjusted the straps in front of the mirror. Midnight blue. One of the many expensive dresses Kester had bought for me, but this one–this one he had been particularly possessive over. 

“Wear it for me, Kasmine. Only me.” I remembered the way he had said it in his usual dark and unapologetically claiming voice… Remembered the way his fingers had trailed down my spine as he zipped it up in the dressing room of the mall, his lips pressing into the curve of my neck, as he whispered the words, “You are beautiful to a 

And now, here I was, wearing it for someone else. 

I ran my hands down the smooth fabric, ignoring the way my stomach twisted. Kester wouldn’t find out. 

But why did it feel like a betrayal? 

Jake’s house was small, tucked into a quiet street where the glow of streetlights bathed the cracked sidewalks in 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 47 

soft gold. His uncle’s car was parked in the driveway, but the living room lights were dim when I knocked. 

I barely had time to lower my hand before the door swung open, and Jake’s face lit up like he had been waiting all his life just for this moment. 

Gods, his smile. It was easy, genuine, the kind that could sujooth out any rough edge in the world. And for the briefest second, I wished I could love him the way he deserved to be loved. 

“You’re here.” His eyes flickered down my body, admiration flashing in his expression before he masked it with a grin. “You look-“He exhaled a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. Wow.” 

I forced a smile, stepping inside. “Don’t act so surprised.” 

“Not surprised. Just… impressed.” 

The house smelled like cinnamon and something sweet. Jake led me through the narrow hallway, past the familiar framed photos of his uncle’s family, and then stopped at his bedroom door. 

“Wait here,” he said, slipping inside before I could see anything. A few seconds later, he peeked out, his grin widening. “Okay, now.” 

I arched a brow but stepped in, and- 

Soft candlelight flickered across the small space, casting golden glows on the walls, Fairy lights were strung above his bed, their warm bulbs twinkling like fallen stars. A blanket was spread on the floor, set up like a picnic, with plates of food carefully arranged–spaghetti, garlic bread, and a small chocolate cake in the center. 

My heart clenched. 

It was simple. Nothing extravagant, nothing lavish. But it was Jake. It was effort and thoughtfulness. And after three days of feeling like I was drowning, it was the first time I felt something other than regret pressing against my ribs. 

I turned to him, my throat tight. “You did all this?” 

He shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Didn’t have a fancy place to take you, so I figured… why not bring the date here?” His smile softened. “This way, we can eat and talk without any distractions.” 

Something inside me ached at the sincerity in his voice. 

Goddess, why did he have to be like this? Why did he have to be so good? 1 

I stepped further in, running my fingers along the checkered blanket. “Jake…” 

“You like it?” 

I nodded, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “I love it 

And for tonight, I decided, I would let myself love the moment, too. 

+25 BONUS 

Chapter 48