Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 360

Chapter 360: 360-I Misread The Signs

Helanie:

My heart had crumbled into tiny pieces like a cookie. My eyes kept trying to hold back the tears, but there were times when it became too hard for me.

Right before my eyes, Maximus chose Charlotte.

I could only think back and remember when he was convincing me to share my past with him. Imagine if I had done that. We make mistakes when we are emotional and overshare. Thankfully, I didn’t.

But would that help?

Right now, it wouldn’t. Because I was devastated inside my heart. All I could think about was leaving this place and going back to the academy. I couldn’t wait to kick Rayden’s ass.

I began to think about other things to stop myself from crying and drawing attention to myself.

"Helanie!" Emma calling my name turned heads to me, "Are you not going to congratulate her? I know she’s not your cousin, but you two have grown up like cousins. Come on, give her a hug," she stretched her arm out and wiggled her fingers, asking me to go hug Charlotte, who was looking at me with those eyes that said she had won a better position in this family.

"Before that—," Emmet cleared his throat, stepping in front of me, "I would want to congratulate my brother."

Thankfully, him stepping up ruined the moment for Charlotte. The brothers gathered around them, and I saw Norman gesturing at me to escape the living room now that no one was looking.

As I was about to do so, Emma called me again.

"Where are you going?" It was becoming too much. If she was happy for her daughter, she should just stay happy and not drag others into the mess, using this moment to get back at them.

"She has some pending work. She should submit it before the academy starts. Just because she’s our stepsister doesn’t mean she gets a pass," Norman excused, giving me a reason to hide in my room for the rest of the night.

Even when we hated each other’s guts, he somehow helped me out of the situation. I bet he did it so I wouldn’t ruin his brother’s happy moment.

I nodded my head and went straight back to my room, and once I was in my room, I broke down.

"Fucking idiot, Helanie. Why do you keep getting fooled?" I hissed under my breath, kneeling down on the cold floor and remembering Kaye’s words.

Today, right before my eyes, I saw the worst sights.

Both the men that made me believe they loved me had someone else beside them, but that’s how it was going to be.