In a split second, Mia Moore’s mind was racing—was it still possible to make a run for it? Or at least give her a chance to warn Charles Chase that he was in danger!
She hadn’t even finished her desperate calculations when Julian Jarvis’s icy voice rang out. “Hmm? Where’s your boyfriend? Not around?”
“...Brother.”
Mia Moore called out with a guilty conscience, thinking to herself: Give it a minute or two, he’ll be right here. Her head was buzzing—she just wanted to shoo her brother off, arrange a better time to meet, anything but this unprepared early morning ambush.
Heading downstairs, Mia Moore went over to the sofa and clung to Julian Jarvis’s arm, putting on a rare display of sisterly affection. “Brother, ahem, you went abroad and didn’t even bring me a single present?” Always best to strike first and put him on the back foot.
Julian Jarvis smiled a fake smile and glanced at his sister, then bent to fish out two boxes from the rug beside the sofa. “Here. The newest Lomngj evening dresses.”
“…”
Mia Moore took the boxes and forced a cheerful face. “Wow, Brother, I knew you loved me most!”
“But I promised Cecilia yesterday that I’d get to the studio early this morning, so, um, maybe you could come by another day?”
“Oh? That’s funny, at dinner last night Cecilia said since dinner ran late, there’s no need to go early today.”
“…”
No luck—her brother was way too sharp. No chance against him.
Mia Moore slumped back onto the sofa, all out of energy. “Then why did you show up so early? Hmph.” She gave Erdou, who’d been circling nearby, a gentle shove with her foot. Traitorous dog, she thought. Didn’t even warn me my brother came.
Julian Jarvis turned and gave her a serious look. “So you and Charles Chase are really together?” As if the answer wasn’t obvious—the two of them came home together last night.
“Yeah, didn’t I already tell you?”
Julian Jarvis pulled her to sit up straight. “Is it the marriage kind of together?”
Mia Moore nodded and even waggled her ring. “We’ve decided. We’re getting married. Plus, I’ve already met Aunt Chen, and I said yes to Yuxiu.” She hugged his arm again. “Brother, you’re going to give us your blessing, right?”
Ever since they were kids, no matter how much brother and sister fought, whenever Mia Moore hugged his arm and acted cute like this, Julian Jarvis would always let her have her way.
“Does my blessing even matter? Hmph. I only just got back last night, and you’re already taking off with him.”
“He drank last night, that’s all! I was just being careful. Besides, wasn’t I leaving you and Sister Song Ying some time to chat?”
Julian Jarvis cocked an eyebrow—he and Song Ying hadn’t chatted at all. He reached over and tapped her on the forehead. “Stop making stuff up.”
“Brother, you need to hurry up yourself. Look, even your little sister’s beating you to falling in love!”
Mia Moore slyly patted her belly. Not only that, she thought, I’ll even be first to have a baby at this rate! All in one go, maximum efficiency.
As they chattered, the doorbell rang.
...
Mia Moore’s thoughts instantly turned to Charles Chase. Before she could get up, Julian Jarvis was already on his feet, heading to answer the door. As she watched her brother walk off, Mia Moore had a fleeting urge to sneak away.
The door swung open. There stood Charles Chase, breakfast in hand. “Babe—my foot! What are you doing here, Julian Jarvis?”
Charles Chase frowned, pushing past Julian Jarvis without a second glance. Feeding Yao Yao came first—everything else could wait.
“Yao Yao, come eat breakfast.” he called matter-of-factly from the table, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Mia Moore blinked several times, then glanced at her brother, signaling for Charles Chase to rein in his enthusiasm.
Charles Chase stepped over, picked up the slippers she’d kicked aside, and neatly placed them in front of her. “Go on—eat first.”
Julian Jarvis sat back on the sofa with a sigh, his tone frosty. “Tsk, we haven’t seen each other in ages, and now you call me ‘babe’ the minute you walk in? I can’t keep up, Charles Chase.”
Charles Chase grabbed a sofa cushion and chucked it at Julian Jarvis. “Shut it, will you.”
...
The whole scene was too bizarre. Mia Moore’s eyes darted suspiciously between the two men. Brow furrowing, round eyes glaring, she finally demanded, “You two know each other?!”
Charles Chase just shrugged and nodded, then pulled her up by the hand.
“Charles Chase!” Mia Moore stomped her foot and shook off his hand. “Sit down!” Realizing she was too short to pull off a proper glare, she directed Charles Chase to sit next to Julian Jarvis on the sofa.
“Sit, sit. Babe, don’t be so worked up, or you’ll—” Whatever he was about to say next was cut short by Mia Moore’s withering glare.
“Alright, out with it, spill everything—who’s going to start?” Mia Moore stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the two men while Charles Chase looked properly chastened and her brother just looked amused, as if watching a show.
“Erdou, here! Go bite them!” she ordered. The dog barked happily and loyally came to sit by her.
Charles Chase, worried she might actually be upset, tried to pull her back to his side, but she smacked his hand away. “Back in Y Country, I went to school with your brother. And later, since he started a business there too, we ended up working together.”
“So when did you know he was my brother?” She spun around to glare at Julian Jarvis. “And you, when did you find out he was my boyfriend?!”
Charles Chase thought for a second and didn’t answer.
“Hurry up,” Mia Moore grabbed his cheeks and started squishing, “out with it!”
Charles Chase raised his hands in surrender, “Not too long ago, honestly. You two don’t share the same last name, so I didn’t make the connection at first.”
Julian Jarvis nodded. “Yeah, it was around September. He showed off your photo, bragging about his cute girlfriend, and took the chance to tease me for still being single.”
“September?!”
They’d started dating in late August—he knew by September! Who knows what Charles Chase told her brother. Hopefully not about the first time…
Charles Chase, worried she really might panic, quickly tugged her hand back. “No, really, he only saw your photo. I’d never say anything else. How could I?”
True enough, Charles Chase wasn’t the type to overstep. Mia Moore relaxed a little.
“Enough now, you haven’t eaten breakfast. Go get something to eat.”
He led her toward the dining table, and as they passed by Julian Jarvis, Charles Chase gave him a firm kick.
“The two of you, just leave. I don’t want to see either of you.” Mia Moore grabbed a pretzel bun, pretending it was Julian Jarvis and Charles Chase, and took a vengeful bite.
Julian Jarvis stood up, unwilling to watch them act lovey-dovey. “Alright, I’m leaving. Yao Yao, make sure to properly discipline Charles Chase—he’s already told me all kinds of things.”
As he meandered to the door, Mia Moore put down her milk with a little huff. “Fine, tomorrow I’m telling Cecilia and Sister Song Ying everything about you two. Hmph.”
No one’s getting off easy. Bully me, will you? She vowed dramatic revenge—every little secret would be tattled on.
Julian Jarvis just smiled, closed the door, and headed out for the company.
Truthfully, his little sister was perfect—except for being a bit fierce, a little dense, and if it weren’t for the fact that Charles Chase was someone he knew well, Julian Jarvis never would have agreed to them dating so quickly.
He still remembered how shocked he was the first time Charles Chase sent over a photo to brag about his adorable, pretty girlfriend. But after seeing him up close all this time, Julian Jarvis really understood Charles Chase’s character—he was never the playboy or troublemaker, and he excelled in every field. He’d only ever shown Yao Yao’s photo to his closest friend. Because to him, she was simply the person he liked most in the world.