All Chapters of Her Stepbrother's Obsession: His Kitten: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Claire’s POVAfter breakfast, the teachers gathered everyone in a large clearing near the edge of the campsite. The sun was fully up now, casting golden light over the field, but the air still held a bit of morning chill. Students stood in scattered groups, some looking half-asleep while others were buzzing with anticipation for whatever the next activity was.Zara nudged me as we stood in the crowd. “I hope it’s something fun,” she muttered. “If they tell us to go bird-watching or something, I’m going back to bed.”I snorted. “You’re acting like you don’t need the extra credit.”She gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. “How dare you.”Before I could laugh, one of the teachers, Mr. Callahan, clapped his hands loudly, signaling for everyone’s attention. “Alright, listen up, everyone! Now that breakfast is over, it’s time for our first big activity of the day.”A low wave of murmurs swept through the students. Some g

Jace’s POVClaire finally fell asleep.It hadn’t been easy. She’d been trembling for so long, curled up beside me, her fingers twisted in the fabric of my hoodie like she was scared I’d disappear if she let go. I’d stroked her hair, whispered to her, held her close—anything to get her to calm down. Eventually, exhaustion won over, her body too drained to fight sleep any longer.Even as her breathing evened out, her eyelashes were still wet with tears.I stared at her, my chest tightening painfully.I hated seeing her cry.I hated it more than anything else in the world.It did something to me—something raw and ugly, like an uncontrollable fire burning under my skin. Claire wasn’t just anyone. She wasn’t some girl I could replace, some fleeting part of my life that would eventually fade into a memory.She was it for me.The one person who made me feel something real, something I couldn't ignore even if I

JaceThe trip was over.Not just for Claire. Not just for me. For everyone.Because of what happened, the school had no choice but to send us all home. No hiking, no more campfires, no more pretending this was some fun little adventure. The mood was grim as we packed up, the energy of the entire camp completely drained. The teachers moved stiffly, speaking in hushed voices. The students were still whispering about what happened. Some were just relieved to be going home, while others—especially those from the rival school—looked pissed that the trip had been ruined.But I didn’t give a damn about any of them.Claire was half-conscious, barely responding as I helped her onto the bus. Her body still felt too cold, her skin too pale. Every time I looked at her, I felt like punching something. This shouldn’t have happened. I should’ve protected her.I sat beside her the entire ride back, making sure she was okay. She leaned against th

Claire’s POVThe pieces were starting to fall into place, though the image they formed was still blurry and unsettling. Shawty’s initial defensiveness had crumbled, replaced by a look of genuine shock and then dawning realization as she recounted the events of that night at the camp.“It was after dinner,” she began, her voice softer now, the earlier edge completely gone. “Everyone was milling around, some by the bonfire, others just chatting. I felt a bit claustrophobic in the tent, so I went out for some air. That’s when Zara approached me.”I remembered Zara. Quiet, kept to herself mostly. I hadn’t interacted with her much, but she always seemed…harmless.“She looked upset,” Shawty continued, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to recall every detail. “Her eyes were red, like she’d been crying. She said her phone had run out of credit and she desperately needed to call her mum. Something about a family issue, I think. She sounded re

Claire’s POVThe words hung in the air, sharp and cruel, each one a fresh stab wound. Zara. Sweet, funny, unassuming Zara. The girl I’d shared genuine smiles and laughs with in class, the one who had seemed to be so carefree about everything. The one who just wanted nothing but to have fun. The one who cared about everybody. And now, I find out she was nothing of what I thought her to be.She was the one who had wanted me gone. She was the one who had locked me in that suffocating cold, my last breaths misting in the frigid air. The betrayal was a physical ache, a gaping hole tearing through the fragile sense of safety I had tried to rebuild.“Red…” The name escaped my lips, a choked whisper. “Did you… did you never even care about him?” The thought of Red, his goofy grin, his unwavering affection, being led on by Zara who probably felt nothing for him. I tried piecing two and two together. If she was this obsessed w