Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 417: Wedding Invitation

"Is it really that hard to answer?" Julia teased. "You look absolutely baffled."

Natalie snapped out of her daze and replied, "Umm... maybe because... he’s very handsome..." She sighed in relief, thinking she’d gotten away with not having to explain further.

In response, Julia’s soft laughter echoed through the drawing room. Caryn subtly lowered her face and pressed her temple as if she was disappointed to hear that answer.

James looked at Caryn and smiled as he knew the exact reason of Caryn’s such reaction.

"You’re just like your mother," Julia chuckled.

Natalie glanced at Caryn, who looked more disappointed than anything else.

"What happened?" Natalie asked, genuinely confused.

Julia explained, "Back when James brought Caryn to our home in Bayford for the first time to meet me, I asked her the same question that why did she like my son? Her reaction was exactly like yours as if I asked the question that was out of syllabus. And then her answer was exactly the same as yours."

Natalie felt surprised to hear it about her mother who was always so meticulous with her replies.

Julia giggled again. "At the time, I thought, ’Well, maybe she’s as smart and capable as James, that means, his smartness was nothing special to her, so his good looks must have impressed her,’ so I let it pass. But now it seems you both—mother and daughter—have a thing for handsome faces."

Natalie turned to Caryn, slightly shocked. "Is that true?" She referred to Caryn’s answer to Julia’s question in the past.

Caryn looked at her and replied coldly, "When women are young, they tend to be deceived by a man’s good looks."

James, seated beside her, turned to look at her with interest. "Now you’re old. Do my good looks still deceive you after all these years?"

Without looking at him, Caryn answered in her usual stern tone, "When one is old and weak, they’re meant to be suppressed by someone stronger."

powerful enemies, who wanted to kill you, could suppress you. So why is it that I can and you

rapidly, unsure if she was dreaming. Was she really seeing James Harper flirt with a woman? The

Caryn, not your usual ordinary woman. How bold of

James Harper only to be seen like this with his woman. His cold, aloof demeanor was just for

putting more distance between

then, when I took you to my home to meet my mother, she saw us kissing.

flushed

disappeared to since no one was around," James added smoothly. "That

her hands and muttered,

that’s only going to get

you anymore," she said and began walking toward the staircase

to her son as she watched

better than strangers," James replied as he stood up, his

Caryn reached the staircase and began climbing—each step requiring visible effort—she was suddenly swept

"James..." she exclaimed.

reach our room," he said as he

she countered,

so it’s our

go back

in is mine. I just let you have some

give me

next

voices gradually faded as the two women sitting downstairs

can’t believe my father can be like this—not even in

him in his younger

I totally believe you—after what I