Tasting Nora-Pleasing Her Stepbrother Mates novel Chapter 165

165–He Invited Natalya 

Nora: 

I studied his face for a moment before closing my eyes to take a deep breath and ask him again. 

“You did what?” just to be certain I heard him clear the first time, I asked him again. 

“I burned it down,” he repeated his answer with an even carefree attitude. 

“Cain, can you just once be serious and not lash out because you’re upset about something else?” I was so sure he wouldn’t destroy my painting that I couldn’t believe he was saying those words himself. 

“Why do you think I’m lying?” He frowned, furrowing his eyebrows. 

“Because there’s no way–” I didn’t finish before he cut me off sharply. 

“Nora! There’s no painting of you in my studio anymore. This conversation is over. I have a guest coming and I need to make arrangements. Can you please leave me alone for a while?” His gentle tone when he requested this didn’t soften the offense I felt at his 

command. 

I wasn’t finished yet, but the way he interrupted me made it clear he 

didn’t want to talk to me. 

“May I ask what’s wrong?” Standing my ground stubbornly, I questioned his sudden change in behavior. 

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“Nothing’s wrong anymore,” he replied wearily. 

“There definitely is. How else would you go from loving me to being so rude? Is it because of Brody?” I asked, and he scoffed, rolling his 

eyes. 

“No! I’m not happy that he’s dating you, but that’s because neither of us brothers likes him. If you were to choose someone from the pack, I’d be happiest.” That was it. His calmness was now irritating me. 

How could he treat me like this? Acting as if it was okay for me to date anyone? 

“Remember, we’re mates, don’t you?” I hissed through clenched teeth. He tilted his head but didn’t respond. 

Then his phone beeped, and he pulled it out to check the notification. 

“Hey, I’m talking. Can this wait?” I scoffed, demanding he finish this conversation and be honest with me. 

“There’s nothing more to talk about. I told you I have a guest coming over. It’s best for you to stay in your bedroom and not come out,” his urgency to confine me made me regard him skeptically. 

“Who’s coming over? Is it some model you’re going to paint?” It had to be a model. He doesn’t have friends, and no other males come over to our mansion like that, especially to his studio. 

“Think whatever you want. I can’t change your mind,” he shrugged, stepping back and leaving me stunned with my jaw hanging low. 

Before I could ask anything else, he had shut the door in my face. I was not just shocked but deeply hurt, standing motionless in front of his door. 

1985 

Part of me wanted to hurt him as much as he hurt me, to say things that would ache his soul like he did mine. But I couldn’t even do that. He shut the door without letting me respond. 

I stormed back into my bedroom and paced hastily. I was seething, recalling one thing after another. 

He said he burned down my painting, why? And was he still dreaming about that woman in the veil? 

My phone rang, distracting me for a few minutes. It was Brody calling. Seeing his name on the screen gave me a small sense of relief. I wasn’t alone. If these brothers thought they could leave me broken and unwanted, they were wrong. 

I answered the call almost instantly. 

“Hey,” I forced a sweet voice, greeting him. 

“Whoa! That sounded seductive,” he remarked. 

“I meant to call you sooner and ask about your health. But I was so ashamed of my stepbrothers that I couldn’t,” mentioning Ryker as my stepbrother, I clenched my jaw. 

“I’m fine. I just had to leave before things got worse, and I didn’t want you to witness all that violence,” his words brought a fleeting smile to my lips. 

I felt somewhat relieved now, but not entirely. Soon, memories of Cain. would bring anger rushing back into my veins. 

“So, I heard about the ball. Your stepfather sent me an invitation card,” he continued, causing me to pace idly. 

“Yeah, he told me today too,” I replied. 

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165-He invited Natalya 

“I thought it was obvious we would go to the ball together, but then I decided to ask you, just for the sake of romance,” his voice softened sweetly, “will you come to the ball with me?” 

I stared blankly ahead and replied, “Of course.” 

“I was hoping we could go together to get you a gown, but then decided to keep it a surprise,” he continued, speaking for a few more minutes. 

Throughout this time, I responded absentmindedly. 

After he hung up, I sat down and sighed tiredly. I couldn’t find comfort after Cain treated me like I didn’t matter.