Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 545

Chapter 545: 545-Not Going To Kiss Another Woman
Maximus:

I swear, if Charlotte didn’t help me, I would’ve lost my mind. Helanie saw me leave with Charlotte, so this mission needed to be done in a nicer and more perfect way.

“So, where are we going?” she asked me, clapping her hands happily and sitting up in her seat.

I stopped the car after we arrived at the hotel’s parking lot, where I had booked a room.

“Maximus, what’s wrong?” The moment I let out a sigh, she started questioning me.

“I’m in a hot mess,” I sighed, leaning back in my chair.

“What kind of mess? I’m sure whatever it is, you can handle it,” she gently placed her hand on the back of mine, and I felt a rush of emotions inside me. I never imagined her touch could do that to me. I used to have so many girlfriends and one-night stands. But falling for Helanie changed everything for me.

And now, Helanie’s effect was so strong that Charlotte’s touch was making me feel sick. It felt like I was being touched by something poisonous. I couldn’t feel anything romantic.

“I can’t do this alone. It’s about Romeo,” I turned to look at her reaction when I mentioned Romeo’s name. She looked slightly bitter, though.

“Is it about Helanie’s case?” she sat up straight, folding her arms over her chest.

“No! It’s about him knowing my secret,” I said, and she quickly turned to me again.

“Of course he knows—he must have found out when he used to stay over. But he’d never tell anyone,” she tried to hold my hand, but I accidentally dodged it. I had to be quick and hold her hand back since I wanted this plan to work so badly.

“How do you know that? He’s been blackmailing me lately. I need to do something about it—or maybe just leave everything—and everyone—behind and run away,” I noticed the way she narrowed her eyes at me and then asked with interest,

“Even me?” she asked softly.

I turned to her and gave her a very sad look.

“Even you. Especially you. I can’t let my secret hurt you. That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to get closer to you. I was scared of that secret—getting exposed one day. And then I’d have to move away, heartbroken. So I was trying not to fall for you—but this heart—” I placed her hand on my chest to let her feel my heartbeat, and I could tell she lost it.

“You’ve fallen for me?” Her tone was cheerful even though she tried to sound worried because I was upset.

“The day you told me we were mates—I started to see you differently,” I lied shamelessly while looking into her eyes.

She smiled to herself and leaned back in the seat until my words sank in.

“But now I have to leave.” I sighed, and she held my hand when she noticed I was trying to pull it away.

“No! Can’t we do anything about it?” she jumped up in her seat in worry.

“What can we do? Romeo’s not going anywhere,” I scoffed, feeling like she was falling for it.

“What if—what if we get him arrested in Helanie’s case? He’ll no longer have the power to say anything. He’ll be seen as a liar,” she was heading exactly where I wanted her to go.

“But how would we do that?” I asked, letting her come up with a plan.

“That I’m not sure about. What if he admits to the crimes from his own mouth?” she sighed.

“Again, how? We can’t force him—and we definitely can’t just ask him to confess,” I said, and when she zoned out, I decided to throw my final card.

“Unless,” I mumbled, and noticed her ears perk up.

“Unless what?” she asked.

“Unless the woman he loves gets the truth out of him,” I snapped my fingers like I just came up with the idea, and her face lit up.

“That’s amazing. Men always confess to their loved ones,” she giggled, probably thinking I was talking about her.

“Do you know his mate?” she asked.

“Not his mate—but someone he has a crush on,” I gave her a side glance, but she didn’t get the hint. Of course she didn’t. She knew very well that no one in their right mind would have a crush on a liar and a bitter person like her.

“Great, let’s go and get her on our side,” she put her hand on the door when my next words stopped her, and she froze.

“Actually—she’s already on my side,” I held her hand and lifted it to my lips, kissing the back of it. That was the first time I showed affection, so she was so stunned that she didn’t process what I was saying until I had to spell it out.

“He has a crush on you, Charlotte,” I confessed, and her jaw dropped. However, she wasn’t entirely upset. She liked attention—I knew that.

“Huh?” she asked while trying hard to hide her smile.

“All he talks about is you—and that drives me crazy,” I faked anger, and that made her bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling in triumph.

“You know what, tell me what I need to do. I’ll do it for you. I just didn’t know men were so attracted to me. But don’t worry, I’m only yours, so please don’t be jealous of him.” Wow. She was truly delusional as she held my hand and pouted, trying to comfort me.

I gave her a fake nod and noticed she was leaning in for a kiss.

‘Do it and lose Helanie. Finally, there will be no fighting for Helanie,’ my wolf hissed, reminding me how he didn’t want Helanie to suffer with us—so he would rather lose her and accept this toxic mess.

“Charlotte, let’s go home and make a good plan,” I turned away, fixing my seatbelt to head home. No way was I going to kiss her and make a mistake that would cost me Helanie.