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."

suppress you. So why is it that I can and you just allow

a woman?

woman was Caryn, not your usual ordinary woman. How bold of him

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

slightly, putting more distance between them. "Behave. Mother and

to meet my mother, she saw us kissing. She didn’t mind at all—in fact, she asked the servants to clear the area so we wouldn’t be

flushed with

even asked me where everyone had disappeared to since no one was around," James added smoothly. "That was

with her hands and muttered, "The older you get, the more shameless you

assure you, that’s only going

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

teasing her," Julia said to her son as she watched Caryn

teasing her, we will be no better than strangers," James replied as he stood up, his eyes

effort—she was suddenly

"James..." she exclaimed.

at that pace, it’ll take you an eternity to reach our room," he said as he carried her up

my room," she countered,

too, so it’s our room

back

mine. I just let you have some alone time

give me

find me next to

as the two women

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

him in his younger

And I totally believe you—after what I