My Stepbrother 297

Posted by AdminM, ? Views, Released on May 9, 2025

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Chapter 297

I dropped my schoolbag on the ouch with a soft thump and made a beeline for the drawer where we kept the spare phone.

It wasn’t really my phone. But Caroline let me use it most of the time. I used it to call Norlan sometimes… or to call Mum and Dad when they stayed away too long.

I sat on the edge of the couch with my fingers twitching.

Who do I call first? Mum or Dad?

I bit my lip, thinking.

Mum.

Even though she hated me now, she was the softer side of them both

She answered on the second ring.

“Caroline? What now?” Mum hissed into the phone, thinking it was the maid. Caroline must have called her not too long ago.

I brushed off the unpleasant reception and continued. Maybe she was just busy.

“Mum?” I said, putting as much brightness in my voice as I could. “Guess what?!”

There was a small pause. Then her voice came out flat and clipped. “What?”

I gripped the phone tighter and smiled like she could see me. “We won, Mum! We actually won the competition! Crescent Moon beat Crimson Valley!” I leaned forward like it made it more real. “I–I was the team leader! I answered the final question. I got it right! Everyone clapped for me! Even Mr. Hill said he was proud of me.”

I could feel the words rushing out of me and tumbling over each other. I wanted her to hear it all–how I kept my voice clear, how didn’t freeze, how I remembered everything I studied.

“I–And you know June Mellors? She lost, Mum. She actually lost. And-”

“I’m busy, Kester,” she cut in. Her voice wasn’t angry. Just tired and dismissive. “Tell me all about it when I get home tonight,

I blinked.

“You’re coming home?” I asked quickly, my heart starting to race. I sat up straighter, hope blooming in my chest so fast it almost hurt. Like… tonight tonight? Really?”

There was silence, and then the line went dead.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, waiting stupidly for it to light up again. Maybe she’d call back and say she didn’t mean to hang up.

But the screen stayed dark.

I lowered the phone slowly, pressing it against my chest. I wasn’t sure how I felt. My insides felt jumbled–like the way my room gets when I turn my toy box upside down, looking for something I never end up finding.

She was coming home.

1/3

Chapter 297.

That should be good. That should feel good.

I smiled a little. It didn’t quite reach my eyes. But it was something

I wiped my palms on my shorts, then tapped the screen and went to bad’s contact.

He answered on the first ring.

“What is it?” His voice sounded a bit louder than usual. There was some background noise as if he were on the road.

“Dad?” I asked. “It’s me. Kester. I just wanted to

“I can’t talk now,” he said, cutting in. “I’m driving home”

My lips parfed, surprised as something warm crawled up my chest. My fingers stopped shaking,

“Wait… Really?” I asked. “Like home–home?”

But he’d already ended the call.

I pulled the phone away and stared at it again.

Two calls. Two hang–ups.

But they were both coming home.

I bit my lip and looked around the living room like maybe someone would walk in and confirm that this was real. No one did.

My heart felt light and heavy at the same time. I didn’t know how that was possible, but it was.

Okay. They were coming home.

I stood up, holding the phone against my chest like a secret, and looked toward the kitchen.

I could do something… Something really good.

They’d probably be tired when they got back. Maybe if I made dinner they’d be happy. Really happy. Like Mrs. Freya was when Norlan cleaned his room and folded his shirts.

I dashed to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and took inventory.

Eggs. Bread. Some tomatoes. I could make toast and scrambled eggs, maybe. Or something nicer. I wasn’t sure.

I ran back to the living room, grabbed the phone again, and searched “How to make dinner for parents when you’re a kid.”

A video popped up of a boy making spaghetti and toast with avocado. He looked about my age. Maybe younger.

I clicked it and watched, nodding along. I could do this. I could totally do this.

I replayed the part where he cut the tomatoes because he made it look really easy. I wasn’t sure we had all the ingredients he did, but I could improvise.

I didn’t need the help of the maids. If they come in to help, I’ll tell them to back off, that this was a special meal.

I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.

2/3

Chapter 297

The kitchen felt a bit too quiet, but that was okay. I talked to myself little, pretending someone was watching me, like in the video.

“Now we crack the eggs… gentl” I said under my breath, focusing like it was science class.

I imagined a lot of things while I stirred… Mum walking in first with her heels clicking against the floor, her voice tired but warm, asking what that smell was. Then, her eyebrows lifting, surprised to see me at the stove. Maybe she’d put her bag down slowly, softening her expression. “Did you do this?” she would ask.

Then Dad. Maybe he’d come in through the other door, rubbing the back of his neck like he always did when he was tired. He’d pause at the doorway, take a whiff of the air, and say something like “Smells good in here,”

And then… maybe they’d both sit. Maybe they’d both eat. Maybe we’d talk about the competition, and they’d actually listen this time. Maybe they’d laugh–genuinely laugh. The way they used to. The way they haven’t in a long time.