Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

KESTER.

17 YEARS AGO.

It'd been four days since my sad, lonely birthday, and Mum and Dad had not been home yet.

No calls. No texts. Not even a note.

Caroline came to tell me two days after my parents didn't show up at home for my birthday that they had traveled for a business meeting.

I nodded then as if I believed her.

But I didn't.

I may be eleven, but I'm not stupid.

Mum was probably with one of the men Dad always yelled about, and Dad was probably with one of the women Mum said nasty things about when she thought I was asleep.noveldrama

The card I made for them was still sitting on the hallway table. I drew stars on it. And a crown. I wrote "I love you with a blue marker.

I thought maybe they'd see it when they came back.

But they didn't.

Outside school this morning, I watched Mrs. Freya hug Norlan.

She kissed his head and said, "Be safe and eat your snacks, okay?" She kept looking at him with so much tenderness in her eyes, like he was the only thing that mattered in the whole world.

He laughed and hugged her back. His smile looked so easy. Like breathing. "Thanks, Mum."

It seemed a bit too strange to me. Can't recall when last I smiled that way.

Then she said, "Remember all we studied last night. You've got to win this, baby. Your dad would be proud."

I blinked. They had studied together for the upcoming interschool quiz competition? Great.

I studied too. But I did it alone. At the dinning. I was tired of locking myself up

alone in my room. Caroline brought me tea, but she didn't stay.

And it was okay. I discovered that I study better when alone.

I even combed my hair three times this morning. Made sure it was neat. Wore the shirt I ironed by myself. they'd be happy with me. Maybe they'd say something nice to me.

e if I won today,

"You, too, Kester. Be good," She smiled at me, offering what little warmth she could spare, before walking back to her car.

I and Norlan went into the school, ready to smash the completion.

Chapter 296.

And we did!

It was a huge success!

The Ashmoor Crescent Academy beat the Vermillion Crimson Institute!

I was the team leader. I stood on the stage. My heart was going fast, and my hands were all sweaty, but I did it. I beat June Mellors, that spoiled brat from Crimson Valley. Her face when she lost-it made me feel... I don't know. Good?

She looked sad. Like me on my birthday.

Maybe I liked that.

Maybe I don't want to be the only one who feels like this!

Norlan beat Nagel Vale from the Shadow Valley pack.

Nagel was always picking on kids from our pack near the gate. Not me, though. He doesn't look at me funny. Maybe he's scared of my eyes. Or maybe he just knows there's no point.

Seeing the shame on their faces felt so good as everyone cheered with us.

Our teachers were proud. Mr. Hill clapped me on the back. Said, "Good job, son. I'm proud of you."

I couldn't wait to get home.

I kept looking at the award in my hand like it was some kind of magic key.

I was eager to call Mum and Dad and tell them about my competition. They

should be proud of me. I got an award, too!

I barely heard Norlan talking beside me as we neared the gate. My legs were already twitching to run ahead.

"You should look for her," he was saying. "Make her your friend. She seems nice."

I blinked. "Huh?"

"The little girl. The one you saw through the window on your birthday."

Oh. Her.

I had told him about her.

Although I didn't tell him what I was doing when I saw her, I only told him all the

nice things she said to me and how happy I felt.

"She seemed really happy to see me," I said, feeling the flutter again in my chest. "I... I felt happy, too."

"Well," Norlan shrugged. "Try talking to her next time."

"Uhm... I'll try. I don't know... She's quite younger than me. Won't it feel...

Awkward?" I asked, crinkling my nose, and Norlan laughed.

"Of course not. Making friends who are younger than you doesn't matter. All that

matters is that you both like each other and enjoy each other's company."

I nodded slowly.

Maybe I would,

But first-1 had to tell Mum and Dad,

I said goodbye to Norlan and ran straight into the house. Didn't ever take off my shoes.

I dropped my schoolbag on the ouch with a soft thump and made a beeline for the drawer where we kept the spare phone.

It wasn't really my phone. But Caroline let me use it most of the time. I used it to

call Norlan sometimes... or to call Mum and Dad when they stayed away too

long.

I sat on the edge of the couch with my fingers twitching.

Who do I call first? Mum or Dad?

I bit my lip, thinking.

Mum.

Even though she hated me now, she was the softer side of them both

She answered on the second ring.

"Caroline? What now?" Mum hissed into the phone, thinking it was the maid. Caroline must have called her not too long ago.

I brushed off the unpleasant reception and continued. Maybe she was just busy. "Mum?" I said, putting as much brightness in my voice as I could. "Guess what?!" There was a small pause. Then her voice came out flat and clipped. "What?"

I gripped the phone tighter and smiled like she could see me. "We won, Mum! We actually won the competition! Crescent Moon beat Crimson Valley!" I leaned forward like it made it more real. "I-I was the team leader! I answered the final question. I got it right! Everyone clapped for me! Even Mr. Hill said he was proud of me."

I could feel the words rushing out of me and tumbling over each other. I wanted her to hear it all-how I kept my voice clear, how didn't freeze, how I remembered everything I studied.

"I-And you know June Mellors? She lost, Mum. She actually lost. And-"

"I'm busy, Kester," she cut in. Her voice wasn't angry. Just tired and dismissive.

"Tell me all about it when I get home tonight,

I blinked.

"You're coming home?" I asked quickly, my heart starting to race. I sat up

straighter, hope blooming in my chest so fast it almost hurt. Like... tonight tonight? Really?"

There was silence, and then the line went dead.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, waiting stupidly for it to light up again. Maybe she'd call back and say she didn't mean to hang up.

But the screen stayed dark.

I lowered the phone slowly, pressing it against my chest. I wasn't sure how I felt.

My insides felt jumbled-like the way my room gets when I turn my toy box upside

down, looking for something I never end up finding.

She was coming home.

Chapter 297.

That should be good. That should feel good.

I smiled a little. It didn't quite reach my eyes. But it was something

I wiped my palms on my shorts, then tapped the screen and went to bad's

contact.

He answered on the first ring.

"What is it?" His voice sounded a bit louder than usual. There was some

background noise as if he were on the road.

"Dad?" I asked. "It's me. Kester. I just wanted to

"I can't talk now," he said, cutting in. "I'm driving home"

My lips parfed, surprised as something warm crawled up my chest. My fingers

stopped shaking,

"Wait... Really?" I asked. "Like home-home?"

But he'd already ended the call.

I pulled the phone away and stared at it again.

Two calls. Two hang-ups.

But they were both coming home.

I bit my lip and looked around the living room like maybe someone would walk in

and confirm that this was real. No one did.

My heart felt light and heavy at the same time. I didn't know how that was

possible, but it was.

Okay. They were coming home.

I stood up, holding the phone against my chest like a secret, and looked toward

the kitchen.

I could do something... Something really good.

They'd probably be tired when they got back. Maybe if I made dinner they'd be

happy. Really happy. Like Mrs. Freya was when Norlan cleaned his room and folded his shirts.

I dashed to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and took inventory.

Eggs. Bread. Some tomatoes. I could make toast and scrambled eggs, maybe. Or something nicer. I wasn't sure.

I ran back to the living room, grabbed the phone again, and searched "How to make dinner for parents when you're a kid."

A video popped up of a boy making spaghetti and toast with avocado. He looked about my age. Maybe younger.

I clicked it and watched, nodding along. I could do this. I could totally do this.

I replayed the part where he cut the tomatoes because he made it look really easy. I wasn't sure we had all the ingredients he did, but I could improvise.

I didn't need the help of the maids. If they come in to help, I'll tell them to back off,

that this was a special meal.

I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.

The kitchen felt a bit too quiet, but that was okay. I talked to myself little, pretending someone was watching me, like in the video.

"Now we crack the eggs... gentl" I said under my breath, focusing like it was

science class.

I imagined a lot of things while I stirred... Mum walking in first with her heels clicking against the floor, her voice tired but warm, asking what that smell was. Then, her eyebrows lifting, surprised to see me at the stove. Maybe she'd put her bag down slowly, softening her expression. "Did you do this?" she would ask.

Then Dad. Maybe he'd come in through the other door, rubbing the back of his neck like he always did when he was tired. He'd pause at the doorway, take a whiff of the air, and say something like "Smells good in here,"

And then... maybe they'd both sit. Maybe they'd both eat. Maybe we'd talk about

the competition, and they'd actually listen this time. Maybe they'd laugh-genuinely laugh. The way they used to. The way they haven't in a long time.

Maybe Mum will ask how I cracked the eggs without dropping shells in it.

Maybe Dad will ask for a second plate.

Maybe

I poured the eggs into the pan and watched them sizzle, the smell filling the space

slowly, like something warm creeping up behind

1. me.

1 stood there in my socks, on tiptoes so I could stir properly, and let the hope

grow inside me.