Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 225

My brows furrowed.

"Already?"

She nodded, eyes dancing. “He says he doesn't need to wait till next month anymore. He's ready to sign. That is after I convinced him like you wanted. He even mentioned possibly inviting your parents to the council banquet next month."

I looked down at the floor for a second.

Fuck.

That moved faster than I thought.

"With this, you'll be in the big books once again, and your investors will come running back to you, including Wescor."

I didn't expect Mellors to be this eager.

Although, the partnership was only meant to be the first public move-to test the waters, to show the Wescor and Belinzo crowd and the other import lords that I wasn't radioactive. It also meant that my plans were almost at its climax.

Which meant I had a shorter time to pull out cleanly than I thought.

Which meant-

"...Why aren't you smiling?" she asked, her voice suddenly softer, her face dropping into a frown.

I looked up, forcing a half-smile I didn't mean.

about how quickly things are moving," I

adjust the collar of my shirt with a wide smile on her

the other day. Kasmine couldn't see us like this ever again. She might

talks about after tonight,

added, "And I'm glad I'm the one beside you

I didn't respond.

mind, all I could see was Kasmine and I finally having the life

one more plan had to

still straightening out my sleeves as she tilted her head upward to look

up, hopeful, like a child catching the glint of a long-awaited gift. She thought I was about to hand her the future she kept fantasizing about.

want you to make a press appearance tomorrow," I continued, "Talk about tonight's deal. About what your

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Chapter 225

face brightened with the kind of pride

clear that this move had nothing to do with

been inflating. "Tell them that Mellors made this decision because, I've earned it. Not because of the engagement. It's about my work. Not the ring. Not

She blinked once, slowly,

that had just realized

anyone thinking I used this marriage as a fucking elevator to get where I'm going.

A beat of silence.

thought she might protest, but the look in her eyes shifted, the

uncertainty slipping into her features like a draft under

want?" she asked softly, like maybe she wasn't sure anymore