All Chapters of My Stepfather Is My Mate: Chapter 221 - Chapter 230

Fumbling through the contents of the bedside drawer, my trembling hands searched for a thermometer. My fingers brushed against various items—a tangle of jewelry, a small notebook, a forgotten receipt. Finally, I felt the familiar shape of the thermometer, its coolness offering a brief reprieve from the feverish inferno consuming me.I held the thermometer in my shaky hand, feeling a sense of trepidation and anticipation. Placing it gently in my mouth, I closed my lips around it, my tongue instinctively settling beneath the slender device. Time seemed to stretch as I waited, my heart pounding in my ears, the seconds ticking by like an eternity.When I finally removed the thermometer, my eyes darted to the digital display, my breath catching in my throat. To my disbelief, the numbers stared back at me, perfectly ordinary. Normal. How could it be possible that I wasn't running a fever, that the instrument failed to detect the raging inferno within me? My body, however, insisted on contra

SYDNEYI stood behind the counter at the bar, wiping down glasses and serving drinks to the patrons as usual. It was just another Friday night, filled with the familiar buzz of conversations, clinking glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter. But something was different tonight. Something I couldn't quite put my finger on.As I moved about, I noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. The men, who were usually engrossed in their conversations or focused on the big game playing on the TV screens, were now stealing glances in my direction. It was as if a magnetic force had suddenly enveloped me, drawing their attention toward me.Confusion etched across my face as I attempted to make sense of the situation. Had I unknowingly changed something about myself? I had always been aware of my charm, a certain allure that seemed to intrigue others. But tonight, it felt different. It felt stronger, more potent than ever before.With each passing moment, I became acutely aware of the men's ey

I moved through the bar with renewed energy, my steps a touch lighter, as I realized the financial gains that awaited me. This sudden influx of male interest seemed like a golden ticket, a gateway to a more prosperous future. With each conversation, I carefully crafted an illusion, a world in which they believed they held a special place in my heart.As I leaned in close to listen to their stories and laughed at their jokes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of empowerment. It was as if I held them under a spell, their desires laid bare at my feet. Their willingness to shower me with attention and generosity gave me a newfound confidence, an assurance that I could harness their fascination for my benefit.Deep down, I knew that this situation was temporary, that the spotlight on me would eventually dim. But for now, I relished the opportunities it presented. The prospect of earning extra money, far beyond my usual wages, filled me with excitement. It was a chance to save up, to finally

SYDNEYI dragged myself into the dimly lit kitchen, my energy drained and my mind shrouded in a haze of exhaustion. The weight of the impending day pressed upon my shoulders, suffocating any flicker of hope or enthusiasm. But as I stumbled into the dining area, the sight that greeted me sent a surge of terror coursing through my veins. Sebastian, my partner, sat at the table, his presence an unwelcome specter in the early morning gloom.A sickening mixture of fear and desperation knotted in the pit of my stomach. Today was meant to be my escape—the day I would collect my monthly paycheck at the bar, a reprieve from the relentless cycle of darkness that consumed my existence. Yet now, with Sebastian lurking in the corners of our home, my chances of breaking free dissipated like smoke in the wind.Curses spilled from my lips, bitter and venomous, directed not only at the unfortunate circumstances but also at Sebastian himself. I yearned for him to vanish, to be swallowed by the jaws of

"Natalia," Sebastian's father's voice echoed, cutting through the tension like a knife. "I need to speak with you for a moment."I glanced at Sebastian, our eyes locking for a brief instant before he reluctantly nodded. It was a silent acknowledgment that our private moment had been abruptly shattered, that the truth we had been skirting around would have to wait a little longer to be unearthed.As I followed his father, my mind raced with a torrent of thoughts. Would Sebastian be suspicious of the interruption? Would he grow frustrated with my evasive answers, my carefully crafted deflections? And most importantly, how much longer could I keep up this charade?His father's office felt cold and impersonal, the stark contrast to the charged atmosphere we had left behind. I braced myself for whatever awaited me, prepared to face the consequences of my deceit head-on. But as his father began speaking, his words fell upon deaf ears. My mind was still consumed with Sebastian and the fragil