Claimed By My Stepbrother novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Camila POV

With that thought, I turned toward the mirror, catching sight of myself, and-

Holy shit.

I looked like absolute hell.

My dark hair was a mess, wild and unkempt, sticking out in different directions like I had just survived at tornado. My eyes were slightly puffy from lack of sleep, My oversized pajama shirt was wrinkled, one side sliding off my shoulder, exposing my collarbone, and I had a crease from my pillow imprinted on my cheek.

Great.

With a sigh, I grabbed my brush and ran it through my hair, wincing when the bristles snagged on knots. Halfway through, realization struck.

1 paused.

Then frowned.

Why the hell was I doing this?

Why did I care?

Why did it suddenly matter what I looked like when I walked downstairs? Who the hell was I trying to look good for?

With a sharp scowl, I tossed the brush aside and grabbed my hair, rolli

it into the messiest bun possible before marching out of my room with my chin high and my expression neutral.

I wasn’t going to put in any effort.

If Ethan saw me like this? So what?

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, I knew I wasn’t alone.

Ethan stood near the counter, shirtless, his toned chest on full display, muscles flexing slightly as he tilted his head back and drank from a cold bottle of water.

I stopped.

Bad decision.

Because I stared.

The sharp lines of his jaw, the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the flex of his biceps–Jesus.

Chapter 76

Then, just as he lowered the bottle, his gaze caught mine.

Shit,

He stared at me, his eyes dragging over my face, down my oversized pajamas, then back up again.

Then he laughed.

Soft, low, infuriating.

My face burned.

What the hell was so funny?

“What?” I snapped, crossing

sing my arms. “Have you never co

“Have you never seen a woman with bed hair before?”

Ethan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, still grinning as he set the bottle down on the counter.

“No.” He shook his head slowly, his smile widening just a fraction. “It’s not the hair.”

I blinked. “Then what?”

His gaze softened.

“I just think you look cute.”

…Cute.

I was standing there in an oversized pajama shirt, my hair looking like a literal disaster, and he thought I looked cute.

For half a second, I didn’t even know how to respond.

I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to respond.

My skin felt hot, my fingers twitching at my sides as I fought the urge to look away, to avoid the way his damn eyes held something I wasn’t ready to face.

But more than anything-

More than the compliment, more than the way he was looking at me-

I was frustrated.

Because why the hell was he acting like nothing happened yesterday?

Like he didn’t press me against a wall.

Like he didn’t whisper things that made my whole body react.

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Chapter 76

Like he didn’t-

I swallowed.

Hard.

Forcing a laugh, I crossed my arms tighter over my chest. “Right.

Ethan’s smile didn’t fade. If anything, it softened even more.

“You always deflect when you’re flustered.”

I scoffed. “I do not.”

1. te. Sure.”

“Mhm.” He grabbed his coffee mug, taking a slow sip, eyes still locked onto mine. “If you say so.”

God, he was infuriating.

I rolled my eyes and turned toward the fridge, opening it just to give myself something to do. My heartbeat was way too fast, and I needed to calm the hell down.

As I grabbed the milk, my mind still raced.

Was he really just going to pretend last night didn’t happen?

Was I supposed to do the same?

Wasn’t this what I wanted?

For him to act like nothing happened?

For things to go back to normal?

Then why did it feel like someone had wrung all the air out of my lungs?

I watched Ethan from the corner of my eye, the way he stood there so casually, drinking his coffee, like he hadn’t poured his heart out to me last night.

A tight ball of frustration curled in my stomach.

Did it mean nothing to him?

No.

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