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.

turn on the car but she realized they were shaking.

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

treat me the way 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 around her took for granted? Why was her life

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 kites, catching fish together, and even the way he braided her hair—clumsy and imperfect, but she

felt was suddenly disturbed by a call. She opened her eyes and looked at her cell phone screen, an unknown number flashing

cellphone rang again. Frustrated, she picked

end seemed startled

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

It was his fault that her grandpa had to hear the news that affected him greatly. But she didn’t have

is your boss my husband, Aiden Handrix? If

Harper is not Aiden

go to hell and never bother me again. If he’s not

your

she interrupted, her voice

tried to continue, but she had

-----

Natalie suffered since the moment she met her family. How they directed their anger at her, denying her the chance to see her grandfather, and how her sister mocked her, acting pitiful in front of Ivan, and then her lonely time in the car. Though

leaned back in his chair, his

looked at Justin, the usual gaze where

He heard Justin. Noah

Mr. Harper is so interested in knowing about this woman.

answer your question,

will," Noah agreed,

opinion

his