Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 337

Chapter 337: 337-The Venue Full Of Gorgeous People

Helanie:

We had a great time. Emmet was so thoughtful. He talked about so many interesting and engaging topics. His calm and deep voice was so captivating that I could listen to him for hours.

Once we arrived home, we found Maximus taking a walk in the parking area. Of course, he looked anxious. And I knew why.

He had been texting me, asking why I told him I couldn’t go shopping with him but went with his brother instead.

“You go ahead, I’ll bring your bags to your room,” Emmet said. He obviously didn’t know Maximus was waiting to confront me and not him. But it worked for me, as it helped me escape quickly.

I got out of the car, watching Maximus stop and glare at me, and then rushed toward the main entrance.

I could tell the brothers had talked.

I was in my room when Emmet knocked on the door with my stuff.

The door was slightly open, but he was a gentleman.

After getting a nod from me, he came inside with the dress in the cover.

“Have a great night, okay?” he said, stepping out. But that’s when Maximus came into view, holding my shoebox and other small bags with the jewelry that Emmet had insisted on buying for me.

I guess Maximus had asked Emmet to let him carry the other bags.

Once he was inside, he put the box and the bags down and stood with his hands on his waist.

His eyes told me he had a lot of complaints about me.

“What is going on with you? You’re acting distant today. Even in the woods, you kept talking about others. Did I do something to upset you?” There was a hint of sadness in Maximus’s voice. But I knew better than to believe him anymore.

He had fooled me before. I wouldn’t let him or anyone else play me again.

“I’m actually really tired these days.”

The lack of response from me made him slam the door shut, startling me.

“No, Helanie. You’re lying to me. Something is going on, or else you wouldn’t have gone out with Emmet, spent the entire day with him, and ignored all my texts,” he hissed, stepping closer and leaning down to point his finger in my face.

“Now, here’s what’s going to happen. You will tell me what’s really going on with you. I’ll be busy for the next three days, but I want to know the truth,” he said in a harsh tone, as if he was genuinely hurt.

Maybe he was truly worried and could see his plan failing.

“The engagement ceremony is in three days, Helanie. Three days! I want your answer before that. If it’s too hard for you to tell me anything, or if you’re too busy to respond, then give me your silence on our relationship, and I’ll take the hint and call off the engagement on the day itself. It will turn into their breakup ceremony,” he shocked me with his ultimatum. He was making sure to ruin things for his father and my mother.

And once he cancels the engagement in such a dramatic way, there will be no turning back.

He wanted to do this so that everyone would find out, making it difficult for my mother and his father to recover from that embarrassment.

I remained silent while Maximus walked out of my room, slamming the door shut once again.

At that moment, I started to wonder if I should just tell him that I wasn’t ready for this. Because if I didn’t say anything, he would take my silence as a sign. And he would go for it.

After spending hours in my room, finally, when the clock struck 1 AM, I began to write a text for him.

I had a really bad feeling about his reaction. Of course, his response wouldn’t be anything like Kaye’s because Kaye was genuinely hurt. But Maximus would be angry that I had ruined his game.

Me: I have been thinking about it a lot, and I have come to the realization that I am not ready to be in a relationship yet. I haven’t found my fated mate. And it’s not that I didn’t like you—I did. But remember, you asked me to give you a chance and then decide? I gave you a chance, and I have decided—we are not compatible. I would be grateful if you didn’t hold it against me and let me live in peace.

Of course, my message reeked of anger and fear that his reaction would be explosive. I wouldn’t have been so harsh if I hadn’t overheard his conversation with his mother and realized I had to walk away from him.

But I was ready to be with him. And that part angered me.

He didn’t read my text until 3 AM, when I was jolted awake by the loud rattling of the windows and noticed that he had finally read it.

However, he never responded to me.

Worried and confused, I dozed off again. Staying awake would only make me stress out more.

When I woke up, just as Maximus had said, he was gone—along with Norman. I heard that Norman had asked him to help with some errands and clean one of the second-floor rooms for a guest.

“Good morning,” I greeted as I joined the rest for breakfast. Only Emmet was present from the brothers.

“Morning,” Lord McQuoid greeted me back, while Emmet gave me a nod.

Charlotte kept glaring at me, her fingers tightly wrapped around her fork.

I was shocked by her glare. I hadn’t even done anything this time.

“I’m sorry that Maximus couldn’t go with you. But at least your mom helped you get a gown.” It was then that Lord McQuoid explained the reason behind her anger. Every time one of the brothers scolded her or messed up, she would take her anger out on me.

“Dad, Mom texted—Norman is preparing the room for her. She has invited herself to your engagement ceremony.”

It seemed like the tough job of delivering that news to his father was left on Emmet’s shoulders. And right off the bat, the air grew thick with tension.