Claimed By My Stepbrother novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Camila POV

I froze mid–step, my brain scrambling for an escape plan. I could turn around and walk back the way I came, but that would make it obvious I was avoiding him. And knowing him- or at least what little I had managed to piece together- he would probably just follow me anyway.

The fucking psycho.

So I kept walking, my steps brisk and purposeful.

When I reached the stop, I didn’t even glance in his direction. I stood a few feet away, pulling out my phone and pretending to scroll through my messages.

The bus arrived a few minutes later, and I climbed on without looking back.

By the time I reached home- or the massive mansion I have no choice but to reluctantly call home- I was mentally rehearsing how I would bring up Ethan to Mom. How do you casually tell, your mother that her fiancé’s son is lowkey a psycho. That he had been stalking you and has this intense stare like he’s trying to read your soul? Yeah,

not exactly dinner table conversation.

I dragged myself up the driveway, the ornate iron gates behind me clicking shut like they were sealing me into some kind of luxurious prison. As much as this house screamed “perfect family,” it always felt… off. Maybe it was the way the chandeliers sparkled too much or how the marble floors seemed too pristine, like no one actually lived here.

The front door creaked open as I stepped inside, the faint scent of Mom’s favorite vanilla candles wafting toward me. Before I could even kick off my shoes, Mom came barreling toward me like she was on a mission.

“Oh, there you are!” she exclaimed, her eyes practically glowing with excitement. She was holding her phone like it was a winning lottery ticket. “I’ve been waiting for you to get back!”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, hey? What’s up?”

Before I could get another word out, she shoved her phone in my face. “Look at this!

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Chapter 12

Isn’t it stunning?”

I squinted at the screen, trying to process what I was seeing. It was a picture of a wedding dress lacey, extravagant, and definitely expensive,

“Oh,” I said, unsure how to respond. “It’s… nice?”

“Nice?” Mom gasped, clutching her chest like I had insulted her. “This is the dress, Camila! It’s perfect, don’t you think? The beading, the train, the neckline! Oh, I can already picture myself walking down the aisle in this.”

She started swiping through more pictures, talking a mile a minute about fabric swatches, flower arrangements, and something about matching napkin holders.

“Mom,” I tried to interject, but she was on a roll.

“And the boutique said they could customize it however I want! Isn’t that just amazing?” she gushed. “Oh, and Greg thinks-”

“Mom!” I said, a little louder this time.

She paused, finally fooking at me. “Sorry,” she said with a sheepish smile. “I’m just so excited. It’s been a while since I’ve had something to look forward to, you know? Anyway,

what did you want to say?”

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. How was I supposed to bring up Ethan now, when she was practically glowing with happiness? She looked so… alive, like the weight of the past few years had finally lifted off her shoulders.

“Uh…” I started, then trailed off. “It’s nothing. Forget it.”

Her brows furrowed. “Are you sure? You looked like you had something on your mind.”

“It’s really nothing,” I insisted, forcing a smile. “I just had a long day at school. You

know how it is.”

Mom gave me a concerned look but didn’t push. Instead, she reached out and squeezed my hand. “Well, if you ever want to talk, you know I’m here, right?”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I know.”

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