Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108

KASMINE

Jaden had begun our “date” with questions and answers. No one told me I was coming for an exam

“So, tell me, Kasmine..” He leaned back against his chair, swirling the wine in his glass like he was some aristocrat about to interrogate the help. “You’re what now Twenty–two?”

I blinked, fork freezing, midway to my mouth. “I’ll be Twenty–one in two weeks.”

He smirked. “Ah, still a baby.”

My jaw tightened. “I wouldn’t call myself that.

He let out a short, amused breath. “Of course, you wouldn‘ You probably think you’re all grown up, don’t you?”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

‘It’s just dinner. Get through it and go home.”

Was he always this arrogant, or was he was just excelling at it tonight?

I adjusted the napkin on my lap, keeping my expression neutral as I took a sip of water. This was meeting, and within ten minutes, I already wanted to leave

s our first

I stared at him, debating the best way to answer. With words? Or by throwing my drink in his face?

Instead, I forced a smile. “I’d like to think so.”

“Right,” he drawled. “I suppose as a grown–up, you’re busy with… what? Shopping? Gossiping? Maybe some charity work when you feel generous?”

Wow.

I let out a slow breath, forcing my fingers to relax around my fork. “I’m studying Computer Science and Technology.”

Jaden chuckled. “Cute ”

Cute?

1 blinked at him. “You don’t think women can handle such??

He shrugged like the answer was obvious. “Some can. But let’s be honest, Kasmine, you’re never going to struggle. Your family has money, connections, almost everything” He set his fork aside before continuing, “My family, which you’ll be a part of soon, is also one of the most influential in the country. Whether you succeed or fail, you’ll always be comfortable. That’s not ambition. That’s just…” He smirked. “A hobby.”

That’s it. I’m done..

I set my napkin down carefully, pushing my chair back. “Well, it’s been a pleasure, Jaden. Truly. But I think I’ve had enough.”

He frowned like the idea of someone choosing to leave his presence was inconceivable. “Sit down.”

“I have to go,” I said, checking my phone. 8:30 PM.

“I’ll take you home when I feel like it,” he said condescendingly.

Chapter 10

I stood up anyway, grabbing my purse.

And then his hand shot out, gripping my wrist.

I sucked in a breath from the sheet audacity of it.

Slowly, I turned to him, meeting his amused, unbothered gaze. “Let go.”

He didn’t. Instead, he tugged me back down, forcing me toit again.

“Relax, Kasmine,” he murmured, smiling and showing his perfectly white dentition like he was doing me a favor. “I’m enjoying your comp.

1 stared at him, disgust curling in my stomach.

If there was ever a single doubt in my mind about rejecting this arranged nightmare, it was gone now.

Over. My. Dead. Body.

I didn’t want to create a scene because the first time I tried to leave, Jaden had made a spectacle of it, ensuring every pair of eyes in the restaurant turned toward me, making me look like some hysterical woman causing a

scene.

The embarrassment had forced me to sit back in my seat, my dignity burning to ash with every second I spent here. So now, I sat, my right foot tapping restlessly against the floor, listening to him drone on about his oh–so- impressive achievements.

Gods. Goddess. Any divine being willing to listen, please get me out of here.

I wasn’t even listening. At this point, his voice was nothing more than background noise, like the distant hum of fly too stupid to know it was about to be swatted.

“…That’s why the wedding needs to happen as soon as possible,” he concluded a statement, and I immediately wished I had paid attention.

What stupid wedding was he talking about?

I felt my stomach drop. The audacity. The absolute nerve to think that I’d ever agree to this nonsense.

now.

“Am I boring you?” He asked, and I couldn’t be more glad to answer his question.

“Yes, you are, Mr. Jaden,” I answered honestly. “Didn’t you say you have a meeting to attend to?”

He was silent for a while as if weighing if I was worthy of a response, “I canceled it. Apparently, I’m enjoying your company more than you are mine.” He leaned back in his seat.

“You do know it’s wrong to keep a lady out this late. Don’t you?” I asked with zero effort at hiding my irritation. Jaden checked his watch. “It’s barely past nine, Kasmine. Besides, I have every right to keep you here for as long as I want. Your parents already gave you to me years ago, which means you are mine to do with as I please.

What was he doing here?

My head snapped toward the restaurant entrance, and there he was.

His black trousers were pressed, the sharp lines cutting clean down to his polished shoes. His shirt, dark and fitted, sat open at the collar, the first few buttons undone, exposing a sliver of warm skin. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing the ink curling along his forearm with bold strokes of black against tensed muscle. Heat crept up my neck as the full image of his tattoo flashed across my mind. I almost smiled.

His thick, dark hair was slightly tousled as if he’d run his fingers through it in frustration while driving here.

My pulse roared in my ears.

I felt it before I even saw the tight set of his jaw, the barely leashed tension in his stride as he moved toward me. I sucked in a breath, gripping the edge of the table, trying to prepare myself.

Jaden was totally oblivious to the storm rolling in because he continued speaking, though I no longer heard a word of it. My world had narrowed to the man closing the distance between us with terrifying speed.