Claimed By My Stepbrother novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Camila POV

The next morning came way too soon, dragging me out of sleep like a rude alarm clock with zero chill. I groaned, blinking against the light filtering through the half–closed blinds. My body felt heavy, and my mind still clung to the remnants of sleep, but the faint sounds of the city outside were enough to remind me that I had school today.

Stretching lazily, I pulled the blanket over my head, savoring the brief cocoon of warmth. I could already hear faint noises from the kitchen- clinking dishes and the unmistakable hum of Anya’s off–key singing. Probably making herself a fancy breakfast or, knowing her, mixing a smoothie that could double as paint stripper.

With a resigned sigh, I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The room was still the same unfamiliar guest room, cluttered with random knick–knacks and mismatched furniture. It didn’t feel like home, but then again, nothing had really felt like home since… well, since everything went sideways.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, stretching until my joints popped. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I checked the time. Barely enough time to get ready, but I wasn’t in the mood to rush.

I stumbled to the bathroom down the hall. The mirror greeted me with a reflection I barely recognized- messy hair, tired eyes, and a permanent frown that seemed etched into my features.

Yeah, definitely not my best look.

After a quick shower, I felt marginally more human. Wrapping a towel around me, I headed back to the room to change into something halfway decent. School might not be the most exciting thing in the world, but I wasn’t about to show up looking like I had just crawled out of bed.

My options were limited, given that I’d packed in a hurry, but I managed to pull together a half–decent outfit- black jeans, a loose shirt, and my worn–out sneakers.

Once dressed, I grabbed my backpack and slung it over one shoulder. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since that sandwich last night. Time for breakfast, I thought, heading downstairs.

As I reached the bottom step, voices drifted from the kitchen- Anya’s unmistakable laugh and a deeper, unfamiliar voice. Great. The guy from last night was still here,

I hesitated at the doorway, debating whether to sneak out without breakfast. But my stomach growled again, louder this time, and I knew I couldn’t skip it. With a resigned sigh, I stepped into the kitchen.

Anya was leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in hand, her loose curls spilling over her shoulders. She looked as effortlessly glamorous as ever, wearing an oversized shirt that probably belonged to her overnight guest. Speaking of whom there he was, sitting at the table, casually munching on a piece of toast.

He looked up as I entered, offering a friendly, if slightly amused, smile. He was younger than I had expected, probably in his mid–twenties, with tousled dark hair and a sharp jawline. Definitely not the usual type of guy Anya brought around.

“Well, good morning, sunshine,” Anya greeted, raising her coffee cup in a mock toast. “Sleep okay?”

“Yeah, sure,” I muttered, avoiding eye contact with the guy as I made a beeline for the fridge.

“This is Camila, my niece,” Anya added, turning to her guest with a grin. “She’s staying with me for a while.”

1/2

Chapter 54

“Cool. I’m Logan,” the guy said, his voice smooth and casual. He leaned back in his chair, clearly comfortable in someone else’s house.

I nodded, not really in the mood for introductions. Grabbing some milk, I poured myself a bowl of cereal and sat down at the far end of the table, keeping as much distance between us as possible.

“So, Camila, Logan began, clearly trying to make conversation. “You go to school around here?”

I nodded again, focusing on my cereal like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“High school, huh? Bet that’s fun,” he added with a smirk, as if he found the whole idea of school amusing.

“Loads,” I replied dryly, not bothering to look up. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, especially not with some guy who thought it was okay to crash at my aunt’s place uninvited.

Anya, of course, found the whole thing hilarious. She laughed, ruffling my hair as she walked past. “Lighten up, kiddo. Logan’s cool. You’ll like him once you get to know him.”

I seriously doubted that, but I kept my mouth shut, finishing my cereal as quickly as possible. I needed to get out of here before things got any more awkward.

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