Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 336

Chapter 336: 336-My Heart Skips A Beat Whenever He Speaks

Helanie:

My jaw had hit the floor, and Emmet seemed stunned too. I glared at her, but she kept going.

“I would have never said anything, but she is a young girl. And I was shocked why her family let her sell herself—,” she shut up when Emmet closed his eyes and raised a finger to ask for a minute.

“You mean to say—,” Emmet opened his eyes and stretched his neck, but this time, his eyes had determination in them, “when I gave her a task to go do a little research on the people of Hooker’s Street, you thought she was selling herself?”

I was taken aback by his statement. She looked between us before shaking her head and awkwardly smiling.

“She was with that guy Lamar—,” the way she threw Lamar into the mix made a knot form in my stomach. I hated her taking my friend’s name. But before I could defend him, Emmet spoke up again.

“Do you know who Lamar is?” he asked, his leg beginning to shake.

“Yeah, he is the guy who—” she was cut off as Emmet added.

“He is her fellow, a great academy student, and was in the project with her. I wanted the two to prove to us they were capable of doing such a little task before they got the forms from us.”

Emmet was so confidently defending me that I began to wonder if that was indeed why I had gone to Hooker’s Street in the first place.

“Oh!” The look of terror on her face as she held her hand to her face was worth watching. But that didn’t mean she hadn’t done any damage to me. She had caused me misery by telling Emmet about my rendezvous on the street with Lamar. Not to mention, Lamar got dragged into the mix for nothing.

“I am so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me all this time?” Benita asked me directly, and it made Emmet tap his fingers on the table.

“All this time? Have you been running your mouth all this time? She is just eighteen years old. Why would you keep talking about it if you care so much about her well-being?” His tone suddenly turned harsh, making her look around as her servers started to notice the commotion.

“I am sorry. I was just worried for her,” that was all she could say, obviously.

“No! You weren’t,” I wouldn’t let it slide. “You were taunting me. I remember how you made me cry when you name-called me in front of everyone and even told me that I wouldn’t get the job because I am that kind of girl,” I reminded her, watching her face change color as her eyes kept moving to Emmet for a response.

“Get up, Helanie,” he spoke, slamming his hand on the table and scaring me. “We will not eat here.”

“Emmet! It is not like that. I may have said the wrong stuff, but that is because my son is becoming an Alpha, and if someone had seen her here—it would have been a problem for my son. He really works hard to keep his image clean—just give me one chance,” she started to plead.

Of course, she was begging before Emmet because of his status in the academy. I had heard her mention it to Penn before that she wanted the trainers from RVS to give her son private lessons and training.

“Emmet, it is fine. I am very forgiving.”

I watched her jaw tighten before she forced a smile at me when I took her side. I didn’t want to let go of this place since everyone from the academy comes here to eat. Lamar loves this place too, as he says the nachos she makes remind him of his sister.

I can forgive her for Lamar.

“You serious?” Emmet questioned, and only after I gave him a reassuring look did he accept the menu out of her hands.

“But be careful next time, Benita. It’s not good to gossip. Those hookers work hard for themselves. They are better than those men or women who steal, hurt, and taunt others. They’re minding their own business—you should mind your own,” he advised her before dismissing her with a hand gesture.

Once he placed the order and she left, I cleared my throat to explain myself to him.

“Back when I was getting admission and had no money for supplies or food—I did go to Hooker’s Street. It wasn’t Lamar’s fault, though. I asked him to take me. I didn’t do anything, though, because I realized I wasn’t really good for it. I was useless.” I smiled as I laid my truth before him.

I knew he would raise some questions and probably not believe my words, but after I finished, he smiled calmly.

His hand extended on the table, holding the ketchup bottle he kept playing with. In a deep and steady voice, he replied, “I know you didn’t do anything. I trust your words. But Helanie, even if you did, you were a consenting adult. Look around and tell me if you think any of these people haven’t had sex before. They all have—so what makes a hooker different from them? You never know under what conditions they took that job. And even if they did it for money, at least they are working hard instead of stealing from people. Remember never to feel guilty over something that is no one’s business but yours and as long as no laws are broken.”

His words flowed perfectly from his lips, his eyes determinedly looking into mine.

It was the second time today that he made my heart skip a beat. He was unlike anyone I had ever met.

“And next time someone talks about hookers in a taunting way, take a stand for them,” he finished, making me smile widely.

“And keep smiling—you have a pretty smile.”

I don’t know why he had to add a compliment, but that was when my heart skipped a beat for the third time.