Chapter 133

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Christiana’s POV

The aroma of garlic and rosemary wafted through the small kitchen of my hotel suite as I stirred the pot of pasta sauce simmering on the stove. Ethan and Emma were curled up on the couch watching a cartoon, their giggles and chatter filling the suite. It was one of those rare quiet evenings, and I was savoring it.

The iPad propped on the counter buzzed, and Alex’s name flashed on the screen. I wiped my hands on a towel, swiping to answer. His face appeared, sharp and handsome as always, though his expression held something softer tonight. He looked… contented.

“Hey,” I greeted with a smile, adjusting the iPad so he could see me better. “How’s your evening going?”

“It’s been…eventful,” Alex replied, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. He leaned back in his chair, the city skyline visible through the window behind him.

“Eventful?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I turned back to the stove. “That sounds suspicious. What have you been up to?” He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “You’re not going to believe this, Christiana. I barely believe it myself.”

I glanced at the screen, intrigued. “Alright, now you’ve got my attention. Spill it.”

Alex leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. His expression grew serious, though a trace of awe lingered in his eyes. “I have a brother.”

I froze, the wooden spoon clattering against the pot as I turned to face him fully. “What? A brother?” My voice rose in disbelief. “Alex, what are you talking about?”

“A half–brother,” he clarified, his tone steady but weighted. “His name is Sebastian. He showed up at my office today, completely out of the blue.”

“Sebastian?” Lechoed, shaking my head as I tried to process his words. “You’ve never mentioned a brother before. How is that even possible?”

Alex exhaled deeply, running his fingers over his jaw. “It’s a long story. My father….he had an affair with an Italian woman when I was barely five. I didn’t know about it until I was ten. I found out by accident…overheard a conversation I wasn’t supposed to hear.”

I stared at him, my mind spinning. “Ten? Alex, you were just a child. How did you even handle something like that?”

“I didn’t, not at first,” he admitted, his gaze distant as if recalling those years. “But even at that age, I knew I couldn’t tell my mother. You know how Madam Margaret is. If she had found out, she would’ve set hell loose. She would’ve destroyed his reputation, the woman, the child…everyone involved.”

I nodded slowly, imagining the storm that revelation would have unleashed. “So, you kept it a secret?”

“For years,” Alex said, his voice tinged with regret. “After my father died, I tried to find Sebastian. I was older then, and I wanted to connect with him. But he didn’t want anything to do with me. He was angry, bitter. He resented my father, resented me.”

I could see the pain in his eyes, the guilt he carried. “And now? What changed?”

faintly, a glimmer of hope breaking through the shadows. “Now he’s back. After all these years, he came to me. He’s been

the spoon down as I leaned closer to the screen.

Chapter 133

what to say.”

firmly, his jaw tightening. “I’m going to make things right for him. I’ve already started. He’s staying around. I’ve given him everything he needs…clothes, a home, money. He’ll never have

Alex. Truly. You didn’t have to do all that, but did. You’ve got such a good

you

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my brother, Christiana. My blood. He deserves to be treated like it. I just wish…I wish I’d found

sat at the counter, facing the iPad. “Don’t blame yourself for the past, Alex. You’re doing everything you can

his mother here too. I wanted to meet her, to show her the same respect. But…” He trailed off,

hand over my heart, my voice soft. “I’m so sorry,

funeral,” Alex continued, his gaze dropping to his hands. “He had no one.

now, Alex. You’ll give him the family he’s been missing.” “I will,” he vowed, his voice strong and unwavering. “I’m going to give him everything I can, everything he deserves. And I won’t let anyone, including my mother…stand

Madam Margaret is going to lose her mind when

out.”

bridge I’ll cross when I get to it. For now, Sebastian comes first.” “You’re an amazing brother, Alex,” I told him, my voice brimming with sincerity. “He’s

time that evening, the tension seemed to ease from his features. “And I’m

strand of hair behind my ear. “That’s because I know you. Now, go spend time

he promised, a spark of

I said with a smile, ending the call as warmth

man he truly was…compassionate,

glancing at the clock. It was late, and I wasn’t expecting anyone.

pulse quickened slightly, not out of fear, but out of curiosity. Who

the

I’d never seen before. She clutched her handbag tightly, her knuckles white, and when

Chapter 133

Her voice eracked, and then she broke down, sobbing. “Oh,

I exclaimed, stunned. I immediately stepped aside, ushering her into the suite and closing the door behind her. My heart raced as I

shoulders shaking with silent sobs. My mind raced. Daniel’s grandmother

children, who were watching us from the couch with wide, curious eyes. Their cartoon had paused, forgotten in the background. “Ethan, Emma,” I said gently, kneeling to their level. “Can you both go to your

mom..” Ethan began, glancing

I said softly but firmly, stroking his

padded off toward the bedroom, glancing back over their shoulders.

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