Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother novel Chapter 251

Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 251

I heard a soft knock on my door. One of the guards, probably sent to let me know it was time.

Claire perked up. “That’s our cue, birthday girl! The moon won’t wall

She reached for my hand, grinning like this was the beginning of a fairytale.

The hall was a sea of elegance–velvet drapes, floating candles, goldimmed everything. Dignitaries, nobles, visiting Alphas, Betas, and Lunas–all dressed to the teeth–littered the place like it was some royal gala. Music floated from a live quartet in the corner, spicy food, expensive wine, forced laughter…

Mum had done a perfect job setting it all up. I’d give her that. The whole thing looked like it belonged in one of those glossy magazines.

And somehow, in all that perfection, I felt like the ugliest mistake in the room.

She hurried to me, and within seconds, I was being paraded like a prized auction item, introducing me to so many guests I had no idea who they were. All the while, she wore her perfect smile–the kind that said look at us, we’re still a power family. Nothing’s broken here.

Not even the fact that her supposed soon–to–be son–in–law was currently behind bars, facing accusations serious enough to stain bloodlines.

And with this, I realized something cold:

People move on fast. God forbid you’re the one bleeding because no one sticks around long enough to mop up the mess. Just try not to be on the other end of the table because, in a minute, they’ll move on and leave you behind.

“Put a smile on that face of yours, Kasmine!” she snapped under her breath as she nudged me toward a young Alpha who looked barely older than me. “I put in a lot of effort to make this happen. The least you can do is smile.”

I smiled. But only with my lips. My eyes stayed dead.

She was treating me like I was already on some shelf. Like I was rotting, and she needed to marry me off before the stench hit the wrong nose. Sometimes, I wondered if she even remembered that I was just twenty–one. Still figuring myself out. Still hurting. Still making mistakes.

But no–around here, emotions are luxuries. Appearances? Those are oxygen.

The night dragged on slowly.

A stupidly oversized cake I barely touched.

More dances than I had the patience for, half of them with men who smelled like power and polished shoes.

The gifts piled up like I was some war heroine. Probably enough to start a gift shop if I ever decided to disappear from this life and

go rogue.

My phone beeped.

Chapter 251

Please, let it be Kester.

Because I still couldn’t believe he’d miss my birthday for anything in the world. But who would blame him?

At least his fiancée was here. I’d seen her earlier, flitting around in glittery lilac dress, playing the perfect socialite, making sure the guests were drinking, dancing, and having maximum fun.

I swiped the phone open, and, God, I almost lost my breath.

It was a text from the same unknown sender from yesterday.

And this time, the message punched the air right out of my lungs.