Tasting 57

57–I Guess I Have A Crush On My Stepbrother

Nora:

“Hey, what’s up with you? I told you to follow me,” I heard him grunt from behind, and suddenly I felt

trapped.

Ignoring him deliberately, I acted as if I hadn’t heard. But then I sensed him exhaling sharply

through his nose before he grabbed my ear and pulled me aside.

“Ouch! That hurts!” I winced as he pushed me against the wall, looming over me with his hand

against it.

“What’s bothering you?” he asked, glaring at me and causing me to lower my gaze.

Trying to focus on the apple, I ran my hand over it, only for him to snatch it away and toss it behind

him. It landed on the counter with a loud noise, rolling till it fell to the floor.

“Now, look at me,” he urged, pressing me to shrink back.

Reluctantly, I lifted my eyes, and the moment I met his gaze up close, I bit my tongue and glanced

away again.

“Is there a problem?” He used a very calm yet commanding tone to ask me that question. And in

response to his question, I only scoffed.

“Why are you mad at me?”

His calm tone and question caught me off guard. Slowly, I raised my head and met his gaze.

571 Guess I Have A Crush On My Stepbrother

57–I Guess I Have A Crush On My Stepbrother

Nora:

“Hey, what’s up with you? I told you to follow me,” I heard him grunt from behind, and suddenly I felt

trapped.

Ignoring him deliberately, I acted as if I hadn’t heard. But then I sensed him exhaling sharply

through his nose before he grabbed my ear and pulled me aside.

“Ouch! That hurts!” I winced as he pushed me against the wall, looming over me with his hand

against it.

“What’s bothering you?” he asked, glaring at me and causing me to lower my gaze.

Trying to focus on the apple, I ran my hand over it, only for him to snatch it away and toss it behind

him. It landed on the counter with a loud noise, rolling till it fell to the floor.

“Now, look at me,” he urged, pressing me to shrink back.

Reluctantly, I lifted my eyes, and the moment I met his gaze up close, I bit my tongue and glanced

away again.

“Is there a problem?” He used a very calm yet commanding tone to ask me that question. And in

response to his question, I only scoffed.

“Why are you mad at me?”

His calm tone and question caught me off guard. Slowly, I raised my head and met his gaze.

571 Guess I Have A Crush On My Stepbrother

“I’m not mad at you,” I murmured in a fragile voice. I don’t know what it was about him, but in his

presence, I felt as small as a kitten.

“Nora! Either you spill it, or we’re done talking. Your call,” he said. firmly. Though answering might

lead him to the wrong conclusions, I took a deep breath and prepared to respond.

“I don’t think you really wanted to paint me last night,” I grumbled, crossing my arms and pouting.

“What made you think that?” he leaned against the wall, his body hovering over me. I held my

breath in and forced a calm demeanor.

“You didn’t say a word. You just painted quietly, and by the end, you seemed so drained that you

didn’t even acknowledge me,” I regretted revealing my feelings to him. The way he was silently

listening to me was making me feel even anxious.

“Because right after I finished, you rushed out of my studio,” he replied calmly, his gaze scanning

my face.

“Because… you seemed exhausted and disinterested,” I added.

“But did you stick around to find out about my mood?” he asked.

of it.

“I was there the entire night, you didn’t speak to me,” I mumbled, sounding like a spoiled brat. But at

that moment, I didn’t feel any I just loved how much attention he was giving me and how he was

ready to answer my concerns.

“Nora, I take my work seriously. I didn’t realize you were expecting a conversation,” he began to

explain, but I sensed my desperation and tried to sound nonchalant.

“No, I didn’t-” I started, but he cut me off.

571 Cut I Hame A Crush On My Stepbrother

“Hush! I’m not yet done talking. Do you want to discuss this or not?” his tone turned harsh, leaning

in closer until our eyes met, though I refused to lift my head. “Tell me,” he grabbed my collar and

shook me lightly.

“Okay,” I whispered under my breath, and he released me.

“I don’t talk while I paint. It’s not because I’m bored or anything, it’s just how I am. I’m not one to talk

a lot or shower someone with

compliments,” the way he explained himself was kind of captivating.

His assertive demeanor never failed to make my heart race. His expressions softened when our

eyes met again and it was as if he realized I was getting more hurt.

“But… I will say painting you was more enjoyable than painting anyone else,” he complimented,

causing my cheeks to flush.

“Now what are you smiling like a fool for?” he rolled his eyes, sounding exhausted with me and my

body language that was all over the place.

“So, you don’t hate me anymore,” I murmured, feeling incredibly small under his intense gaze.

As he leaned against the wall with his hand, I couldn’t help but imagine… Well, never mind.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Let’s take it one step at a time,” he cautioned, clicking his tongue and

casually scanning my face before turning towards the exit.

It was strange how quickly he could switch gears. Maybe it was just my imagination that he

sometimes flirted with me.

Well, at least he put me at ease, and I savored the pancakes afterward.

.

CIKIL

571 Guess I Have A Crush On My Stepbrother

But as for seeing him again, it never happened.

Lord Atwood had returned with Silas for lunch, and this time, I heard Cain was preparing to leave.

“Lord Atwood, may I ask what’s going on? Is it something serious?” I approached him in the

mansion’s parking lot, where he was waiting for Cain.

“Firstly, call me Dad,” he pouted. It was still a bit strange for me to remember to call him that.

“Secondly, it’s those same monsters trying to reach for the she–wolves in our pack. If only we could

figure out why and what drives them to target certain she–wolves,” he sighed, running his hand over

his forehead.

“Are we talking about monsters? I’m pretty sure they’re here for Nora!” Cain appeared with his gear,

his comment catching me off guard as I glanced at Lord Atwood.

“Are they after me?” I gasped, my words tumbling out,

“No! Nobody knows anything. He’s just teasing you,” Lord Atwood shot Cain a disapproving look for

scaring me, and I shot Cain a glare in return as he laughed while loading his gear into the trunk.

“Silas will look after you, so don’t worry,” Lord Atwood said as he got into the car, but my attention

shifted to Cain.

Sneaking up beside him, I cleared my throat and said, “Please take care of yourself.”

He shut the trunk and placed his hand on his hip, the other on the

trunk.

57-3 Goess I Have A Crush On My Stepbrother

17

“Are you worried about me?” he had a look on his face that suggested he thought I was

overreacting.

“I… am.” I admitted, hunching over slightly, feeling bashful.

The silence stretched, and then he chuckled, shook his head, and flicked my forehead. “Silly

kitten!”

With that, he walked away.

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