Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother novel Chapter 352

Chapter 352 

KASMINE 

Okay, Jake, I said slowly, drawing in a breath to steady the rising nerves clawing at my throat. “You’re in control now. Let’s talk. It’s getting really late.” 

My voic 

sounded softer than I intended, but the pressure in my chest was anything but calm. 

Jake didn’t answer right away. He scoffed, but it wasn’t his usual light–hearted scoff that used to come with a smirk and a shake of the head when I teased him. No. This one was laced with something bitter. 

My spine stiffened. 

For a brief second – no, less than that I saw something. I could swear I saw a different Jake sitting before me. Not the cool, sweet, composed Jake I used to know. But he blinked, and was gone in a millisecond, almost as if I’d imagined it or like my eyes had lied to me. 

Jake was quiet for a long beat before he finally spoke in a low and almost fragile voice like it might snap if he spoke too 

loud. 

“I did love you, Kasmine…” 

He didn’t look at me. He kept his gaze ahead, staring out through the windshield into the darkness as though the trees beyond the roadside would offer him answers I couldn’t. 

“I really did love you,” he repeated, slower and softer. “I just… I wish you had loved me back. The way I loved you. Maybe then…” His fingers curled around the edge of the steering wheel, knuckles going white, “Maybe then I would’ve had the guts to fight for you.” 

Something inside me dropped. It felt like the ground beneath us was starting to shift. 

I turned toward him more fully, my eyes narrowing slightly as I tried to read his face. But he still wouldn’t look at me. 

“Jake…” I swallowed. “What are you talking about?” 

He finally moved just his head, but not to face me. He shook it slowly, The faintest bitter laugh slipped from his lips, but it held no humor, only ache. 

“I knew,” he murmured. “I knew about you and Kester. All this time.” 

My heart thudded painfully against my ribs. 

“What…” I tried again, my voice hoarse, “What do you mean?” 

This time, he turned, and his eyes found mine. They weren’t soft or kind anymore. They were tired and sad and filled with 

something long buried that had finally clawed its way up. 

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