Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 18: She Is My Step-Sister

"It’s nothing, Ivan," Briena said softly, lowering her teary eyes as if trying to hide her tears.

Ivan turned to Natalie, who was still glaring at Briena as if slapping her once was not enough. "Why did you slap her?"

"I don’t need to answer that to you," Natalie shot back, her anger now directed at him as well.

"Don’t be angry at him," Briena interjected weakly, playing the victim. "You’ve already slapped me, and I forgive you for that."

"Do I need your forgiveness?" Natalie retorted angrily, her icy voice full of warning, "If something happened to grandpa, I will make sure to dig a grave next to his and bury you there so you could continue to apologize to him even after you die."

Briena visibly shivered at Natalie’s threat, clutching Ivan’s hand as if seeking protection from her sister’s wrath. "I... I’m sorry..."

"You better be," Natalie snapped before turning to leave.

"Who do you think you are to walk away like this after hurting others for no reason?" Ivan’s voice was filled with anger.

Natalie turned back to him, her gaze sharp. "So, do you want me to slap your fiancée a few more times instead of slapping her just once and leave?"

Ivan frowned at her stubbornness and then looked to Briena for an explanation. "What happened?"

Briena sniffled, her voice trembling as she spoke. "It’s because of her scandal that Grandpa went into shock, and now she blames me for it. She thinks I told Grandpa, but I didn’t. He had already heard about it, and when he asked me to confirm, I couldn’t lie. But I didn’t know it would... I didn’t mean to..."

Ivan gently hugged Briena, comforting her as she played the pitiful role. "It’s not your fault. Don’t cry."

Ivan gently wiped away the tears from Briena’s cheek. As he did, Briena turned her gaze to offer a smug look in the direction where Natalie had been standing, but Natalie was already gone. "Where is my sister?" Briena asked, feigning concern.

Ivan looked around, realizing that Natalie had vanished. His eyes scanned the long corridor, but there was no sign of her.

car but she realized they were shaking. She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. The tears she was stubbornly holding back till now, started rolling down silently,

had the power to hurt her. But she was wrong. It hurt badly, leaving her feeling utterly alone. The same question that had

they treat Briena? They shared the same blood, yet she was the one cast aside. What had she done wrong? Why couldn’t she receive the love and care that other girls

genuine affection. She prayed silently for his well-being, not wanting to lose the only person who held fond memories of her childhood. She remembered how he used to dote on her, how she would act spoiled in front of him, sitting on his shoulders, flying

her pain flow out through her tears, and continued to sit idle inside the car for a while. That calmness she felt was suddenly disturbed by a call. She opened her eyes and looked at her cell phone screen, an unknown number flashing on it but she

it and closed her eyes again. But the cellphone rang again. Frustrated, she picked up the call and snapped, "What

seemed startled by her anger, but

were scheduled to meet Mr. Harper half an hour ago," he

Mr. Harper reminded of the man she was hunting for—Aiden Handrix. It was his fault that her grandpa had to hear the news that affected him greatly. But she didn’t have time to play

your boss my husband, Aiden Handrix? If

Natalie, Mr. Harper is not Aiden Handrix. He just

again. If he’s not my husband, I have nothing to do

Natalie, your

it away," she interrupted, her voice cold and

tried to continue,

-----

her sister mocked her, acting pitiful in front of Ivan, and then her lonely time in the car. Though it was recorded

the tablet and leaned back

looked at Justin, the usual gaze where he

Noah hesitated a little before

in knowing about this woman. You’ve never shown interest in

answer your question, you

will," Noah

opinion of

considered his