Claimed By My Stepbrother novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Camila TOY

I chewed on my bottom lip for a second, debating whether to call or aust pretend like nothing happened. But then again, she’d probably be worried or mad or both. And honestly, I felt like I owed her an explanation. I just didn’t want to give it.

Still… I tapped her name and hit the call button before I could change my mind.

She picked up on the third ring.

“Hello? Her voice was bright, too bright. Like she was in the middle of laughing or cooking something.

“Hey, it’s me,” I said, settling back against the pillows.

Oh, Camila! Hi, sweetie!‘ she said, just a little too enthusiastic. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I mumbled slowly. “I just wanted to let you know I’ll be coming by tomorrow to get the rest of my stuff.

There was a pause.

“Oh?” she breathed out, sounding a little confused.

“And also…” I paused, fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. “I’m sorry I didn’t let you know I wasn’t coming back yesterday.”

Silence.

“You didn’t return yesterday?”

There was another beat of silence.

It stretched so far it could’ve wrapped around the whole damn room.

Then she cleared her throat. “Kidding, of course! Of course, I knew you didn’t come back,” she said quickly. “You’re a big girl–you can stay with your friends as long as you want.”

Friends?

I blinked slowly, eyes fixed on the crack in the ceiling above me.“I’m not at a friend’s place.”

Another pause.

“I’m back with my mom.”

Longer silence.

Then: “Yeah. Yeah, I knew that,” she said quickly, almost too quickly. “That’s why I didn’t call. Because I knew you were safe.”

Are you being for real right now?

‘Right,” I scoffed.

“I mean,” she added, stumbling through her words now, your mom probably missed you,”

“Mhmm.”

1/3

Chapter 98

Another awkward pause.

Are you okay? the acted finally, and for a second her voice Vinod wowed serious.

‘I’m fine, I lied.

More silence.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.

Okay… well, whenever you’re ready to come get your things, just let me know

I’ll come tomorrow,” I said. “After lunch.”

Alright, sweetie. Just call me when you’re close.”

“Yeah. Will do.”

The line went dead.

I dropped the phone onto my bed and stared at the ceiling like it had answers.

It didn’t.

All it had was a suspicious brownish patch near the fan that I’d been ignoring since I got here.

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