Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 167

Chapter 167: 167-He Won’t Reject Me

Helanie:

“I will go give these names to Professor Kaye,” I told my friends and began to leave. At the same time, Sydney and Salem were heading back to the mansion to continue serving and cleaning.

The moment we stepped outside, their group quickly formed a circle around me. Even though I wasn’t as powerful as them, I didn’t flinch. I had faced them too many times before, and they no longer seemed intimidating to me.

“What is it?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest. “Haven’t you learned from your previous mistakes?”

The two sisters shared a glance before Sydney stepped forward. “You are such an evil person. You went out of your way to secretly inform everyone that Professor Maximus was coming here and didn’t even tell us?” she demanded, her tone laced with ignorance.

“I did warn you girls. The first time I thought about doing something good for you, your sister locked me in a room. So why do you think I would go out of my way for bullies like you?” I kept my tone harsh, refusing to waver or stutter. I wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of getting under my skin.

To be honest, they didn’t. Their behavior wasn’t shocking to me anymore.

“Then you’ve started a war,” Salem whispered in her raspy and unpleasant voice.

“Oh, really? I thought you girls were already at war with me,” I muttered, noticing their smirks fade.

“Now, get out of my way unless you want me to tell Professor Kaye why I was delayed,” I added firmly. Their friends immediately began whispering among themselves, as if trying to break the circle and avoid further trouble.

“You can go now, but we’ll get you next time,” Sydney threatened. Her words didn’t scare me. This wouldn’t be the first time they tried to get me in trouble. If I had survived this long, I was confident I could handle whatever they threw at me in the future.

They walked away to continue their punishment, and I jogged to the parking lot. Kaye was sitting in his car, the passenger-side door open.

It was about to rain, so I hurried. I wanted to get back to the guesthouse before the downpour started. Quickly, I got in the car and shut the door, noticing him staring at me while his hand rested on the steering wheel.

“This is the list of…” I began, extending the papers toward him. But he pushed them down, making it clear that the list had only been an excuse to get some time alone to talk to me.

“You said you wanted to talk about something,” he inquired urgently.

I had to take a deep breath because what I was about to say wasn’t easy for me to talk about. Gathering my courage, I took another deep breath and uttered, “Kaye! Congratulations!”

His face showed signs of exhaustion, his eyes darkening as he shook his head.

“It’s just a business deal,” he muttered, refusing to accept my congratulations.

“Then congratulations on acing that deal,” I added. He stretched his neck, his body language betraying obvious signs of weariness.

“I also wanted to ask you to reject me,” I said, my words bringing his movements to an abrupt stop. His eyes fixed on me, wide with shock, as I made it clear why I had called for this meeting.

“Huh? Why? Why are you suddenly–,” he stammered, his usual composure slipping as his accent lost its sharpness.

“It’s not sudden. I don’t want to be accepted by someone who is starting a new life with his chosen mate. Why drag me along?” I argued, shifting in my seat. My back pressed against the door, my body turning to face Kaye fully.

“This was what we decided. That until you were ready, I could–,” he began, but I silenced him with the sharpness of my reaction.

“You’re going to get married to Kesha. What exactly are you expecting from me? To come to you and be your mistress once I’m ready? Kaye, you made your choice, and now I’m making mine. I just want rejection. It’s my right,” I said firmly, amazed at the confidence in my tone.

If I hadn’t been through so much, I might have begged him to accept me. I would have dropped everything to be with him. But I had realized that if someone truly wants to be with you, they’ll wait–they won’t simply find amusement elsewhere in the meantime.

I wasn’t even blaming him. He had every right to date whoever he wanted. But at least, he could reject me now.

“Okay,” he nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard, seemingly trying to process what I’d just said.

“Okay?” I murmured softly, almost disbelieving.

“Then it’s my choice that I’m not rejecting you,” he said, raising his head to meet my eyes with a determined gaze as he made his announcement.

“That is–,” he interrupted me, finishing what I was about to say.

“Ridiculous? Controlling of me? Think whatever you want. As for marrying Kesha, I’m not. I’m doing what I should. It was their fault for asking me to choose her. I’ll keep her around until you decide to accept me, and then I’ll drop her,” he said, his tone so demeaning that I couldn’t believe I had once started to fall for this man.

“You are–wow! You’re going to drag an innocent girl along just to get the benefits of business deals, and once you have me, you’ll discard her?” I asked in disbelief. He shamelessly nodded his head.

“You heard me right. The deals are mine, and you are mine, Helanie. Go ahead, hate me all you want, but the day you realize the only innocent person in our land is you, you won’t hate me for playing that woman,” he said without remorse, picking up the list and pretending to be done with the conversation.

“You can close the door when you leave,” he added, his focus shifting entirely to the papers in his hands.