Chapter 258

“Who told me Stefan thought, suppressing the flare of annoyance rising in his chest Who ever told me I had a sister?

If anyone had the right to be upset, it was him. He had spent the past few months alone on the other side of the ocean, barely able to keep in touch with anyone back home because of the time difference. His phone remained eerily silent–not just on ordinary days, but even during holidays.

The only exception was Jeremy, who would mass send cheerful holiday greetings to the family group chat, including him in the list almost as an afterthought.

The messages were obviously copied from somewhere–emotionless, generic, sometimes even leaving the original sender’s name at the bottom. And yet Stefan still read them seriously, replying with something polite

Most of the time, he received no response. Either Jeremy was asleep, or “getting sleepy, let’s talk tomorrow–except

tomorrow never came.

Even so, every time Stefan flew home, he carefully picked out gifts for everyone. And now, after all that, he was being guilt- tripped for not bringing a present for someone he didn’t even know existed?

He felt exhausted. Not just tired–defeated. Like one of those overworked moms in sitcoms who bust their backs all day at work, come home to cook, clean, bathe the kids, and finally sit down to rest, only to have one of the children point at a cartoon sheep on TV and tearfully ask why she didn’t cook dinner for the poor, hungry lamb on screen.

The only reason Stefan even knew about Yvonne was because Carol happened to mention it before he came back. That was the first time he heard he had a younger sister.

And so, bearing gifts, he took an international flight back home–only to discover the entire family had moved, and not a single soul thought to inform him.

They added a new family member, changed addresses, and no one said a word. And now, because he didn’t bring a gift for a stranger, the brother he’d grown up with was mad at him.

Charles had gone quiet for a while before softly saying, Tm sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Stefan replied. Of course he wasn’t actually mad at Charles. Straightening up, he reached out to pull him up as well. “It’s cold outside. Let’s head back in.”

Charles was the kind of person who just looked clean and serene. Stefan didn’t mind being close to people like that.

As they walked together back into the house, Charles suddenly turned to him. “Where are you staying now that you’re back?”

“Here, Stefan replied naturally. His family was all here–there was no reason for him to return to the cold, empty old estate alone.

Charles stared at him for a couple of seconds, hesitating. “I don’t think there are any spare rooms left.”

thought back–true, the house did feel a bit crowded

his temporary room. His long fingers pressed lightly against the

clue who was staying where. He was technically a guest

we’re out of rooms, Henry said after checking. “There are two guest rooms left,

damp space made him feel like he was drowning in moisture.

Chapter 258

thought of it gave him

silence, Henry suddenly said. “What about Yvonne’s room? She’s never used

Charles’s had been reserved for Yvonne Shed never stayed here, and probably never would

with just a few servants, the place had been roomy, so they fixed up a room for Yvonne as well. Later, when Richard moved in and brought half the world

Ask Yvonne if

bit”

he’d be back at school.

obvious reluctance in his grandfather’s tone, Stefan didn’t even know

out having fun–and for once, he happened to notice a

they slid down a beginner slope. His friends flanked them on

beginner slope, but Yvonne had said the steeper hills made her butt bounce too

that they were, documented the entire “big bro takes little sis sledding journey from every possible

phone, noticed the incoming call and shouted, “Jeremy! Call

wind rushing past his ears

it?” he asked, turning his head.

after checking the screen.

hugged his leg even tighter. She was

a brief conversation with Richard, Jeremy lowered his gaze and looked down at Yvonne. “Yvonne, our big brother’s back. He doesn’t have a place to stay. Can he borrow your room

big eyes peeking out from behind her ski goggles. “Huh?” she said, a

Jeremy explained. “The one

of it, but she nodded enthusiastically.

handed the phone back to his friend, pulled on his gloves, and Yvonne latched back onto

looked up and asked, “Who’s the

brother is

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255