Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 329

Chapter 329: 329-His Gameplan

Helanie:

My heart wasn’t ready to accept any excuses from Maximus, so I didn’t confront him. He had asked me to leave my phone in the car, and I did. He was my boss at work, and I needed this money. I was waiting for the right moment to tell him I couldn’t be with him. I wouldn’t give him a reason or the satisfaction of knowing he had hurt me.

Not until the engagement ceremony was over.

Now, I wanted my mother to get engaged to Lord McQuoid so that Maximus and his mother could taste defeat.

“This was the last weapon for the day. From tomorrow, we’ll test a few new ones and a few old ones, and then—we’ll figure out a way for you to keep working even after the academy reopens.” Not only was he distracted, but he had also been trying to make small talk with me all the time.

I could tell he had noticed the change in my behavior. I was much colder to him.

“Okay,” I spoke without emotion, jotting down the last bits of the testing.

“And with that—we’re free to spend the rest of the day together.” He came from behind and suddenly kissed my cheek. My reaction was wild this time. I quickly stepped away from him and grimaced.

Oh, the look of shock on his face was worth watching. It wasn’t just that he played with my feelings but also that he tried to make me talk about my past. He asked if I had any boyfriends or anything.

Was he trying to get me to name someone so he could later use it against me and call me a slut as part of his plan?

“Helanie? What is your problem?” He didn’t use a harsh tone, but his eyes clearly showed he wasn’t happy with how disgusted I looked.

“I’m not comfortable with you showing affection in public places where anyone can see us and start asking questions,” I said, shutting the notebook and handing it over to him.

He stood before me with his hands on his waist and a very judgmental look on his face.

“Okay,” he said in a way that told me he didn’t believe my excuse, but he had no other choice.

“Did I make a mistake?” he asked again.

“No! Why do you keep asking me that? Did you do something I should know about?” I used a softer tone this time since I couldn’t afford to make him openly challenge me.

I needed to handle this situation more carefully.

“No! Of course, I didn’t,” he said confidently.

“You know why you’re feeling so low? It’s because of the upcoming engagement ceremony, isn’t it?” He finally looked relieved, as if he had just given himself an excuse.

“Correct. I guess that’s it.” I gave him a closed-lip smile while walking back to the car with him.

“Don’t worry, everything will go fine. I’ll take care of it,” he reassured me while starting the car.

I guess he wanted us to keep talking, but I wasn’t in the mood. I really didn’t feel like talking to him. He noticed it too after I ignored him a few times. The car ride was tense for me.

Finally, when I could see the mansion in view, I put my phone down and straightened my back in the chair.

I was so ready to get out of the car. Being with him was uncomfortable in a way—because I had fallen for him. Basically, I was the only fool in love. And being betrayed again and again by men like him made me wonder if I always picked the wrong ones.

They came for me because they wanted something from me. I should be the one choosing someone for myself.

But I wasn’t ready to do that anymore.

I jumped out of the car and almost ran to the front porch when Maximus caught up with me.

“Hey! What’s the rush?” He slowed me down and eventually stopped me outside the door on the front porch.

“I was just uncomfortable in these boots. I want to take them off,” I had the lie prepared in my head just in case I wasn’t quick enough to get away from him.

“Then you should have told me. I would’ve bought you a whole shoe store.” A line like that would have made me blush if I hadn’t overheard his conversation with his mother yesterday.

For now, I faked a smile and nodded.

“You’re such a flirt.” My comment was dry, but even if he noticed, he didn’t mention it.

Why would he?

He only cared about getting his job done.

And then there was my mate, who had lost his mind after I asked him for rejection.

“I’m yours,” he still managed to say something sweet. “Anyway, I’ve found the perfect solution to your worries.”

I was all ears, so I folded my arms over my chest and tilted my head in interest.

“We should tell everyone that we want to be each other’s mates. That we’re in love,” he said, making me scoff in my heart.

Of course, he was such a player. He was following his mother’s orders so carefully and attentively.

“I asked for some time, Maximus,” I reminded him, but he immediately started shaking his head.

“It’s been a week already. How much more time, Helanie? In one week, the ceremony will happen, and then what? I want this to be said so that—” he was talking when I cut him off.

“And why do you think making this public would be good for us? Do you think your father would stop the engagement for us?” I asked in a sharp tone, tired of his persistence.

At first, it seemed like he was just being affectionate, but now, it felt manipulative.

“Then I’ll take you and disown myself. I can live in the woods or on the mountains as long as I have you by my side.” In a confident and determined tone, he laid out another lie—one that, despite being false, still made my heart skip a beat.