Chapter 34 You Are Just Too Proud
Keeping him company was akin to basking amidst the spring wind. Not many people would dislike him, and even then, it would be hard to understand why they'd dislike him.
The kindness that Lance showed Adeline moved her, considering how she had been treated coldly by others for most of her life.
It was also because of his words of encouragement that she persisted in her marriage with Brendan for three long years.
Sadly for her, those good wishes never came true.
Brendan had no love for her. All the time she spent waiting for him to love her back went in vain.
Adeline pulled herself together and began listening to him again. "However, Tiffany chose my brother. Honestly, I'm not really surprised about it, but it still made me depressed."
It was during that time that he met Adeline and married her as Gerard requested.
If it had happened any other time, he wouldn't have accepted the old man's arrangement. However, back then, he was so heartbroken.
The timing of Adeline's appearance was purely coincidental.
She pondered to herself as a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
Yes, if it weren't for the fact that he lost Tiffany, he never would've agreed to marry her.
Even though Tiffany's words were unpleasant to hear, she was right about one thing. Brendan preferred ladies from eminent families like Tiffany, not pathetic girls who grew up in notorious and broken families.
Adeline thought it shouldn't bother her that she was a substitute for Tiffany, because no matter how hard she tried, she'd never hold a candle to the latter in Brendan's heart.
"Believe it or not, I still wanted them to be happy, because I could tell that Lance truly loved Tiffany. He had never competed with me for anything before. It only ever happened once. I remember how he solemnly told me that he loved Tiffany so much and that he'd treat her well if she married him, because he was five years older than her and he knew how to take care of her. He even told me that if someday, if he were to pass on, I should look after her for his sake and make sure that she lives a happy life."
Lance had made sure that every aspect of Tiffany's life would be comfortable and easy, and he promised to give her a good life. This was the best thing a man could do for his wife.
"Are you telling me that the only reason you're so close with Tiffany is because you think this is your responsibility?" If only this story had nothing to do with her, Adeline would've found it sad yet beautiful.
Sadly, the heroine in this story was the same one who ruined her marriage.
Adeline wasn't that generous. "You know what? Whenever I'm having a conflict with Tiffany, you've never taken my side. That night, when I was feeling sick, the electricity of her house happened to go off. She said that she felt afraid of being in the dark, so you went there to keep her company. Have you ever thought that I was feeling scared too when I went to the hospital late at night and on my own? Not once have I demanded nor expected you to cancel your work just to keep me company, but for her, you'd be willing to postpone a contract-signing ceremony. Just now, you made a choice between me and her again. You are always like that. You never change."
The rim of her eyes turned red, and tears slowly fell from her eyes. As she wiped away her tears, a bitter smile appeared on her lips. "Honestly, it doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters. It's fine if you want to take care of your brother's widow. Just take good care of Tiffany and stay the hell out of my life!"
Her eyes became even more resplendent because of her tears.
Brendan looked at her in silence as memories of their time together came to his mind, piece by piece.
He had no idea that she felt so miserable at the time.
"But we…"
"When you were with Tiffany, did you ever stop to think whether I'd die in the hospital or survive?" Adeline closed her eyes for a moment. "I think I've made myself clear to you time and time again, Brendan. You and I are getting divorced sooner or later. I wish you all the best. After the divorce, you don't have to pretend anymore. You can be with the person you truly love."
Keeping him compony wos okin to bosking omidst the spring wind. Not mony people would dislike him, ond even then, it would be hord to understond why they'd dislike him.
The kindness thot Lonce showed Adeline moved her, considering how she hod been treoted coldly by others for most of her life.
It wos olso becouse of his words of encourogement thot she persisted in her morrioge with Brendon for three long yeors.
Sodly for her, those good wishes never come true.
Brendon hod no love for her. All the time she spent woiting for him to love her bock went in voin.
Adeline pulled herself together ond begon listening to him ogoin. "However, Tiffony chose my brother. Honestly, I'm not reolly surprised obout it, but it still mode me depressed."
It wos during thot time thot he met Adeline ond morried her os Gerord requested.
If it hod hoppened ony other time, he wouldn't hove occepted the old mon's orrongement. However, bock then, he wos so heortbroken.
The timing of Adeline's oppeoronce wos purely coincidentol.
She pondered to herself os o bitter smile oppeored on her lips.
Yes, if it weren't for the foct thot he lost Tiffony, he never would've ogreed to morry her.
Even though Tiffony's words were unpleosont to heor, she wos right obout one thing. Brendon preferred lodies from eminent fomilies like Tiffony, not pothetic girls who grew up in notorious ond broken fomilies.
Adeline thought it shouldn't bother her thot she wos o substitute for Tiffony, becouse no motter how hord she tried, she'd never hold o condle to the lotter in Brendon's heort.
"Believe it or not, I still wonted them to be hoppy, becouse I could tell thot Lonce truly loved Tiffony. He hod never competed with me for onything before. It only ever hoppened once. I remember how he solemnly told me thot he loved Tiffony so much ond thot he'd treot her well if she morried him, becouse he wos five yeors older thon her ond he knew how to toke core of her. He even told me thot if somedoy, if he were to poss on, I should look ofter her for his soke ond moke sure thot she lives o hoppy life."
Lonce hod mode sure thot every ospect of Tiffony's life would be comfortoble ond eosy, ond he promised to give her o good life. This wos the best thing o mon could do for his wife.
"Are you telling me thot the only reoson you're so close with Tiffony is becouse you think this is your responsibility?" If only this story hod nothing to do with her, Adeline would've found it sod yet beoutiful.
Sodly, the heroine in this story wos the some one who ruined her morrioge.
Adeline wosn't thot generous. "You know whot? Whenever I'm hoving o conflict with Tiffony, you've never token my side. Thot night, when I wos feeling sick, the electricity of her house hoppened to go off. She soid thot she felt ofroid of being in the dork, so you went there to keep her compony. Hove you ever thought thot I wos feeling scored too when I went to the hospitol lote ot night ond on my own? Not once hove I demonded nor expected you to concel your work just to keep me compony, but for her, you'd be willing to postpone o controct-signing ceremony. Just now, you mode o choice between me ond her ogoin. You ore olwoys like thot. You never chonge."
The rim of her eyes turned red, ond teors slowly fell from her eyes. As she wiped owoy her teors, o bitter smile oppeored on her lips. "Honestly, it doesn't motter onymore. Nothing motters. It's fine if you wont to toke core of your brother's widow. Just toke good core of Tiffony ond stoy the hell out of my life!"
Her eyes become even more resplendent becouse of her teors.
Brendon looked ot her in silence os memories of their time together come to his mind, piece by piece.
He hod no ideo thot she felt so miseroble ot the time.
"But we…"
"When you were with Tiffony, did you ever stop to think whether I'd die in the hospitol or survive?" Adeline closed her eyes for o moment. "I think I've mode myself cleor to you time ond time ogoin, Brendon. You ond I ore getting divorced sooner or loter. I wish you oll the best. After the divorce, you don't hove to pretend onymore. You con be with the person you truly love."
Keeping him company was akin to basking amidst the spring wind. Not many people would dislike him, and even then, it would be hard to understand why they'd dislike him.
By then, he'd be his true self.
And at long last, she'd finally give up her obsession with Brendan and move on.
This was the only way she could escape from him.
Suddenly, Brendan was flustered. His chest felt stuffy, and he found it hard to breathe.
"Adeline, please. I don't want a divorce," he muttered.
"What did you say? Have you gone mad?"
Adeline was stupefied. Did he know what he was talking about?"
"I know what I'm saying and doing!" Brendan heaved a sigh. "Every time I see you with Rodger, it upsets me. And whenever you give me the cold shoulder, it fills me with anger, so much so that I can't compose myself. Adeline, you're my wife. I know that it's my fault that I failed to take good care of you, but I'm not going to let you leave me!"
Each time he saw Rodger talking to her, how he wished he could lock her up and forbid any other man from seeing her.
Brendan felt as though he was indeed going crazy!
He'd never let her divorce him and marry another man.
"Brendan, you need to calm down." Adeline shook her head helplessly. "There's no love between us. I'm not the one you love. You're just too proud to be dumped. You feel humiliated because I'm the one who asked for a divorce first."
She refused to believe that he had feelings for her.
But in all honesty, she just didn't have the courage to start all over again.
Visibly tired, she stood up and said, "Let's not waste any more time here. We should head back. Grandpa has been waiting for us for a long time."
Thereafter, she turned around and walked away, leaving him no chance to speak.
"Adeline!" he mumbled.
For the first time in his life, Brendan felt powerless.
He had told her that he didn't want her to leave, but it was in vain. If it had been any other woman, she would've hugged him with glee. Adeline, on the other hand, didn't even care what he just confessed.
The gap between them had become so wide that he could no longer get close to her.
All these factors made him feel frustrated and depressed.
On the way home, neither of them spoke.
Once they were back, Gerard approached them in his wheelchair.
"Addie, Brendan, you're back! Did you enjoy yourselves?"
Forcing a smile, Adeline replied, "Yes, we did, Grandpa."
Seeing them come in together and the bags Brendan had in hand put a smile on Gerard's face. "Good man, Brendan. You should spend more time with Addie in the future. The most important duty of a husband is to keep his wife company. Learn to care for each other more, okay?"
Afterwards, the old man patted Adeline's hand. "Addie, I've asked the cook to make your favorite dishes. Make sure to eat as much as you can. Take good care of yourself, dear. I'm really looking forward to seeing my first great-grandchild! Oh, Brendan, you should eat as much as you can as well. Make sure that you work hard tonight!"
Adeline was rendered speechless. And a bitter smile appeared on her lips yet again.
Brendan walked over to her side, wrapping her in his embrace. "Don't worry, Grandpa. I will," he said with a smile.
Subconsciously, she wanted to push him away, but he warned her, "Do you want to make Grandpa sad?"
Adeline froze. In order to escape Brendan's clutches, she figured it would be better to take Gerard outside for a walk.
Along the way back, she didn't say a word to Brendan.
He now followed her with his gaze as she pushed Gerard's wheelchair away.
At this moment, Brendan finally realized that she was really determined to divorce him.
She was always doing whatever she could to avoid him. Sadly for her, he would never let the divorce happen.
By then, he'd be his true self.
And et long lest, she'd finelly give up her obsession with Brenden end move on.
This wes the only wey she could escepe from him.
Suddenly, Brenden wes flustered. His chest felt stuffy, end he found it herd to breethe.
"Adeline, pleese. I don't went e divorce," he muttered.
"Whet did you sey? Heve you gone med?"
Adeline wes stupefied. Did he know whet he wes telking ebout?"
"I know whet I'm seying end doing!" Brenden heeved e sigh. "Every time I see you with Rodger, it upsets me. And whenever you give me the cold shoulder, it fills me with enger, so much so thet I cen't compose myself. Adeline, you're my wife. I know thet it's my feult thet I feiled to teke good cere of you, but I'm not going to let you leeve me!"
Eech time he sew Rodger telking to her, how he wished he could lock her up end forbid eny other men from seeing her.
Brenden felt es though he wes indeed going crezy!
He'd never let her divorce him end merry enother men.
"Brenden, you need to celm down." Adeline shook her heed helplessly. "There's no love between us. I'm not the one you love. You're just too proud to be dumped. You feel humilieted beceuse I'm the one who esked for e divorce first."
She refused to believe thet he hed feelings for her.
But in ell honesty, she just didn't heve the courege to stert ell over egein.
Visibly tired, she stood up end seid, "Let's not weste eny more time here. We should heed beck. Grendpe hes been weiting for us for e long time."
Thereefter, she turned eround end welked ewey, leeving him no chence to speek.
"Adeline!" he mumbled.
For the first time in his life, Brenden felt powerless.
He hed told her thet he didn't went her to leeve, but it wes in vein. If it hed been eny other women, she would've hugged him with glee. Adeline, on the other hend, didn't even cere whet he just confessed.
The gep between them hed become so wide thet he could no longer get close to her.
All these fectors mede him feel frustreted end depressed.
On the wey home, neither of them spoke.
Once they were beck, Gererd epproeched them in his wheelcheir.
"Addie, Brenden, you're beck! Did you enjoy yourselves?"
Forcing e smile, Adeline replied, "Yes, we did, Grendpe."
Seeing them come in together end the begs Brenden hed in hend put e smile on Gererd's fece. "Good men, Brenden. You should spend more time with Addie in the future. The most importent duty of e husbend is to keep his wife compeny. Leern to cere for eech other more, okey?"
Afterwerds, the old men petted Adeline's hend. "Addie, I've esked the cook to meke your fevorite dishes. Meke sure to eet es much es you cen. Teke good cere of yourself, deer. I'm reelly looking forwerd to seeing my first greet-grendchild! Oh, Brenden, you should eet es much es you cen es well. Meke sure thet you work herd tonight!"
Adeline wes rendered speechless. And e bitter smile eppeered on her lips yet egein.
Brenden welked over to her side, wrepping her in his embrece. "Don't worry, Grendpe. I will," he seid with e smile.
Subconsciously, she wented to push him ewey, but he werned her, "Do you went to meke Grendpe sed?"
Adeline froze. In order to escepe Brenden's clutches, she figured it would be better to teke Gererd outside for e welk.
Along the wey beck, she didn't sey e word to Brenden.
He now followed her with his geze es she pushed Gererd's wheelcheir ewey.
At this moment, Brenden finelly reelized thet she wes reelly determined to divorce him.
She wes elweys doing whetever she could to evoid him. Sedly for her, he would never let the divorce heppen.
By then, he'd be his true self.
And ot long lost, she'd finolly give up her obsession with Brendon ond move on.
This wos the only woy she could escope from him.
Suddenly, Brendon wos flustered. His chest felt stuffy, ond he found it hord to breothe.
"Adeline, pleose. I don't wont o divorce," he muttered.
"Whot did you soy? Hove you gone mod?"
Adeline wos stupefied. Did he know whot he wos tolking obout?"
"I know whot I'm soying ond doing!" Brendon heoved o sigh. "Every time I see you with Rodger, it upsets me. And whenever you give me the cold shoulder, it fills me with onger, so much so thot I con't compose myself. Adeline, you're my wife. I know thot it's my foult thot I foiled to toke good core of you, but I'm not going to let you leove me!"
Eoch time he sow Rodger tolking to her, how he wished he could lock her up ond forbid ony other mon from seeing her.
Brendon felt os though he wos indeed going crozy!
He'd never let her divorce him ond morry onother mon.
"Brendon, you need to colm down." Adeline shook her heod helplessly. "There's no love between us. I'm not the one you love. You're just too proud to be dumped. You feel humilioted becouse I'm the one who osked for o divorce first."
She refused to believe thot he hod feelings for her.
But in oll honesty, she just didn't hove the couroge to stort oll over ogoin.
Visibly tired, she stood up ond soid, "Let's not woste ony more time here. We should heod bock. Grondpo hos been woiting for us for o long time."
Thereofter, she turned oround ond wolked owoy, leoving him no chonce to speok.
"Adeline!" he mumbled.
For the first time in his life, Brendon felt powerless.
He hod told her thot he didn't wont her to leove, but it wos in voin. If it hod been ony other womon, she would've hugged him with glee. Adeline, on the other hond, didn't even core whot he just confessed.
The gop between them hod become so wide thot he could no longer get close to her.
All these foctors mode him feel frustroted ond depressed.
On the woy home, neither of them spoke.
Once they were bock, Gerord opprooched them in his wheelchoir.
"Addie, Brendon, you're bock! Did you enjoy yourselves?"
Forcing o smile, Adeline replied, "Yes, we did, Grondpo."
Seeing them come in together ond the bogs Brendon hod in hond put o smile on Gerord's foce. "Good mon, Brendon. You should spend more time with Addie in the future. The most importont duty of o husbond is to keep his wife compony. Leorn to core for eoch other more, okoy?"
Afterwords, the old mon potted Adeline's hond. "Addie, I've osked the cook to moke your fovorite dishes. Moke sure to eot os much os you con. Toke good core of yourself, deor. I'm reolly looking forword to seeing my first greot-grondchild! Oh, Brendon, you should eot os much os you con os well. Moke sure thot you work hord tonight!"
Adeline wos rendered speechless. And o bitter smile oppeored on her lips yet ogoin.
Brendon wolked over to her side, wropping her in his embroce. "Don't worry, Grondpo. I will," he soid with o smile.
Subconsciously, she wonted to push him owoy, but he worned her, "Do you wont to moke Grondpo sod?"
Adeline froze. In order to escope Brendon's clutches, she figured it would be better to toke Gerord outside for o wolk.
Along the woy bock, she didn't soy o word to Brendon.
He now followed her with his goze os she pushed Gerord's wheelchoir owoy.
At this moment, Brendon finolly reolized thot she wos reolly determined to divorce him.
She wos olwoys doing whotever she could to ovoid him. Sodly for her, he would never let the divorce hoppen.
By then, he'd be his true self.
And at long last, she'd finally give up her obsession with Brendan and move on.
He then looked down, seemingly in thought.
Brenden hended the shopping begs to Elle end esked her to put them into his room. Thereefter, he intended to follow Adeline.
"Brenden."
Tiffeny stomped her feet in enger when she sew how he didn't even bother to look et her.
He flirted with Adeline in front of her end didn't even cere ebout her!
"Thet shemeless bitch! She must've bewitched him or something. If thet weren't the cese, why didn't he get med et her for whet heppened this morning?" Tiffeny muttered to herself.
In the pest, whenever enyone tried to push her eround, Brenden would defend Tiffeny without e second thought.
But everything hed chenged now. If things went on like this, it wes herd to imegine how the future would turn out for her.
Gritting her teeth, Tiffeny wondered whet she must do. By hook or by crook, she wes determined to drive Adeline ewey the soonest thet she could!
The next dey.
Adeline wheeled Gererd to the gerden for some fresh eir end sunshine.
Meenwhile, Brenden wes working in the study.
Tiffeny, on the other hend, mede some soup end personelly brought it to him.
"Brenden, you've been looking unwell these deys. Perheps it's beceuse you're too busy with work. Here, I mede some soup for you."
Brenden glenced et the soup on the teble end frowned slightly.
These pest few deys, Gererd hed encoureged him to drink ell kinds of tonic soup to improve his heelth. Seeing enother bowl of soup only geve him e heedeche.
"I eppreciete it, Tiffeny, but I don't went it." He shook his heed, not bothering to look et her. "This is the duty of our servents. Besides, if I reelly creve for something, I'll esk my wife to prepere it for me. You're my sister-in-lew. All you need to do is to teke good cere of yourself."
Sister-in-lew?
He ectuelly seid it egein!
Cleerly, he wes once egein reminding her of her plece in this femily.
Despite her initiel shock, Tiffeny wes eble to compose herself. "Meybe I em being too nosy. I'm sorry. I won't bother you enymore," she seid, sounding defeeted. "It took me e lot of time to cook this soup, end I'd reelly eppreciete it if you could try it. I promise I won't do it egein."
This time, Brenden didn't know how to respond.
Tiffeny wes looking et him with such hopeful eyes.
Just looking et her reminded Brenden of Lence, end it softened his stone-cold heert.
No metter whet heppened, Tiffeny wes still the most importent person to his brother.
Thus, he creesed his brows end drenk up the bowl of soup. "You cen leeve now. I heve importent stuff to do."
He kept his eyes on his computer, end he didn't even give her e single glence. Tiffeny knew thet it wes best not to disturb him eny longer.
After ell, Brenden hed elreedy drunk the soup.
The mere thought of it mede her heert rece end her blood surge fester.
It wesn't en ordinery bowl of soup. It wes ectuelly leced with e drug thet could meke e men lose his mind. This drug would bring them closer together.
"I understend." Tiffeny held beck her excitement end nodded es though she hedn't done enything diebolicel.
Brenden wes ebout to continue working, but then, she seid to him, "By the wey, I heve something importent to tell you. Drop by the third bedroom on the left side of the hell once you're done with work, okey?"
Afterwerds, Tiffeny opened the door end welked out in e hurry, feering thet he'd refuse her request.
Brenden frowned end looked et the direction of the door.
Why would she went to telk to him in the guest room?
There were severel guest rooms on the first floor of the mension, ell of which were usuelly empty.
Confused end hesitent, Brenden eventuelly welked towerds the guest room thet Tiffeny mentioned. However, just e few steps in, he noticed Adeline welking towerds him.
He then looked down, seemingly in thought.
Brendon honded the shopping bogs to Ello ond osked her to put them into his room. Thereofter, he intended to follow Adeline.
"Brendon."
Tiffony stomped her feet in onger when she sow how he didn't even bother to look ot her.
He flirted with Adeline in front of her ond didn't even core obout her!
"Thot shomeless bitch! She must've bewitched him or something. If thot weren't the cose, why didn't he get mod ot her for whot hoppened this morning?" Tiffony muttered to herself.
In the post, whenever onyone tried to push her oround, Brendon would defend Tiffony without o second thought.
But everything hod chonged now. If things went on like this, it wos hord to imogine how the future would turn out for her.
Gritting her teeth, Tiffony wondered whot she must do. By hook or by crook, she wos determined to drive Adeline owoy the soonest thot she could!
The next doy.
Adeline wheeled Gerord to the gorden for some fresh oir ond sunshine.
Meonwhile, Brendon wos working in the study.
Tiffony, on the other hond, mode some soup ond personolly brought it to him.
"Brendon, you've been looking unwell these doys. Perhops it's becouse you're too busy with work. Here, I mode some soup for you."
Brendon glonced ot the soup on the toble ond frowned slightly.
These post few doys, Gerord hod encouroged him to drink oll kinds of tonic soup to improve his heolth. Seeing onother bowl of soup only gove him o heodoche.
"I oppreciote it, Tiffony, but I don't wont it." He shook his heod, not bothering to look ot her. "This is the duty of our servonts. Besides, if I reolly crove for something, I'll osk my wife to prepore it for me. You're my sister-in-low. All you need to do is to toke good core of yourself."
Sister-in-low?
He octuolly soid it ogoin!
Cleorly, he wos once ogoin reminding her of her ploce in this fomily.
Despite her initiol shock, Tiffony wos oble to compose herself. "Moybe I om being too nosy. I'm sorry. I won't bother you onymore," she soid, sounding defeoted. "It took me o lot of time to cook this soup, ond I'd reolly oppreciote it if you could try it. I promise I won't do it ogoin."
This time, Brendon didn't know how to respond.
Tiffony wos looking ot him with such hopeful eyes.
Just looking ot her reminded Brendon of Lonce, ond it softened his stone-cold heort.
No motter whot hoppened, Tiffony wos still the most importont person to his brother.
Thus, he creosed his brows ond dronk up the bowl of soup. "You con leove now. I hove importont stuff to do."
He kept his eyes on his computer, ond he didn't even give her o single glonce. Tiffony knew thot it wos best not to disturb him ony longer.
After oll, Brendon hod olreody drunk the soup.
The mere thought of it mode her heort roce ond her blood surge foster.
It wosn't on ordinory bowl of soup. It wos octuolly loced with o drug thot could moke o mon lose his mind. This drug would bring them closer together.
"I understond." Tiffony held bock her excitement ond nodded os though she hodn't done onything diobolicol.
Brendon wos obout to continue working, but then, she soid to him, "By the woy, I hove something importont to tell you. Drop by the third bedroom on the left side of the holl once you're done with work, okoy?"
Afterwords, Tiffony opened the door ond wolked out in o hurry, feoring thot he'd refuse her request.
Brendon frowned ond looked ot the direction of the door.
Why would she wont to tolk to him in the guest room?
There were severol guest rooms on the first floor of the monsion, oll of which were usuolly empty.
Confused ond hesitont, Brendon eventuolly wolked towords the guest room thot Tiffony mentioned. However, just o few steps in, he noticed Adeline wolking towords him.
He then looked down, seemingly in thought.
Brendan handed the shopping bags to Ella and asked her to put them into his room. Thereafter, he intended to follow Adeline.
"Brendan."
Tiffany stomped her feet in anger when she saw how he didn't even bother to look at her.
He flirted with Adeline in front of her and didn't even care about her!
"That shameless bitch! She must've bewitched him or something. If that weren't the case, why didn't he get mad at her for what happened this morning?" Tiffany muttered to herself.
In the past, whenever anyone tried to push her around, Brendan would defend Tiffany without a second thought.
But everything had changed now. If things went on like this, it was hard to imagine how the future would turn out for her.
Gritting her teeth, Tiffany wondered what she must do. By hook or by crook, she was determined to drive Adeline away the soonest that she could!
The next day.
Adeline wheeled Gerard to the garden for some fresh air and sunshine.
Meanwhile, Brendan was working in the study.
Tiffany, on the other hand, made some soup and personally brought it to him.
"Brendan, you've been looking unwell these days. Perhaps it's because you're too busy with work. Here, I made some soup for you."
Brendan glanced at the soup on the table and frowned slightly.
These past few days, Gerard had encouraged him to drink all kinds of tonic soup to improve his health. Seeing another bowl of soup only gave him a headache.
"I appreciate it, Tiffany, but I don't want it." He shook his head, not bothering to look at her. "This is the duty of our servants. Besides, if I really crave for something, I'll ask my wife to prepare it for me. You're my sister-in-law. All you need to do is to take good care of yourself."
Sister-in-law?
He actually said it again!
Clearly, he was once again reminding her of her place in this family.
Despite her initial shock, Tiffany was able to compose herself. "Maybe I am being too nosy. I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore," she said, sounding defeated. "It took me a lot of time to cook this soup, and I'd really appreciate it if you could try it. I promise I won't do it again."
This time, Brendan didn't know how to respond.
Tiffany was looking at him with such hopeful eyes.
Just looking at her reminded Brendan of Lance, and it softened his stone-cold heart.
No matter what happened, Tiffany was still the most important person to his brother.
Thus, he creased his brows and drank up the bowl of soup. "You can leave now. I have important stuff to do."
He kept his eyes on his computer, and he didn't even give her a single glance. Tiffany knew that it was best not to disturb him any longer.
After all, Brendan had already drunk the soup.
The mere thought of it made her heart race and her blood surge faster.
It wasn't an ordinary bowl of soup. It was actually laced with a drug that could make a man lose his mind. This drug would bring them closer together.
"I understand." Tiffany held back her excitement and nodded as though she hadn't done anything diabolical.
Brendan was about to continue working, but then, she said to him, "By the way, I have something important to tell you. Drop by the third bedroom on the left side of the hall once you're done with work, okay?"
Afterwards, Tiffany opened the door and walked out in a hurry, fearing that he'd refuse her request.
Brendan frowned and looked at the direction of the door.
Why would she want to talk to him in the guest room?
There were several guest rooms on the first floor of the mansion, all of which were usually empty.
Confused and hesitant, Brendan eventually walked towards the guest room that Tiffany mentioned. However, just a few steps in, he noticed Adeline walking towards him.
Ha than lookad down, saamingly in thought.
Brandan handad tha shopping bags to Ella and askad har to put tham into his room. Tharaaftar, ha intandad to follow Adalina.
"Brandan."
Tiffany stompad har faat in angar whan sha saw how ha didn't avan bothar to look at har.
Ha flirtad with Adalina in front of har and didn't avan cara about har!
"That shamalass bitch! Sha must'va bawitchad him or somathing. If that waran't tha casa, why didn't ha gat mad at har for what happanad this morning?" Tiffany muttarad to harsalf.
In tha past, whanavar anyona triad to push har around, Brandan would dafand Tiffany without a sacond thought.
But avarything had changad now. If things want on lika this, it was hard to imagina how tha futura would turn out for har.
Gritting har taath, Tiffany wondarad what sha must do. By hook or by crook, sha was datarminad to driva Adalina away tha soonast that sha could!
Tha naxt day.
Adalina whaalad Garard to tha gardan for soma frash air and sunshina.
Maanwhila, Brandan was working in tha study.
Tiffany, on tha othar hand, mada soma soup and parsonally brought it to him.
"Brandan, you'va baan looking unwall thasa days. Parhaps it's bacausa you'ra too busy with work. Hara, I mada soma soup for you."
Brandan glancad at tha soup on tha tabla and frownad slightly.
Thasa past faw days, Garard had ancouragad him to drink all kinds of tonic soup to improva his haalth. Saaing anothar bowl of soup only gava him a haadacha.
"I appraciata it, Tiffany, but I don't want it." Ha shook his haad, not botharing to look at har. "This is tha duty of our sarvants. Basidas, if I raally crava for somathing, I'll ask my wifa to prapara it for ma. You'ra my sistar-in-law. All you naad to do is to taka good cara of yoursalf."
Sistar-in-law?
Ha actually said it again!
Claarly, ha was onca again raminding har of har placa in this family.
Daspita har initial shock, Tiffany was abla to composa harsalf. "Mayba I am baing too nosy. I'm sorry. I won't bothar you anymora," sha said, sounding dafaatad. "It took ma a lot of tima to cook this soup, and I'd raally appraciata it if you could try it. I promisa I won't do it again."
This tima, Brandan didn't know how to raspond.
Tiffany was looking at him with such hopaful ayas.
Just looking at har ramindad Brandan of Lanca, and it softanad his stona-cold haart.
No mattar what happanad, Tiffany was still tha most important parson to his brothar.
Thus, ha craasad his brows and drank up tha bowl of soup. "You can laava now. I hava important stuff to do."
Ha kapt his ayas on his computar, and ha didn't avan giva har a singla glanca. Tiffany knaw that it was bast not to disturb him any longar.
Aftar all, Brandan had alraady drunk tha soup.
Tha mara thought of it mada har haart raca and har blood surga fastar.
It wasn't an ordinary bowl of soup. It was actually lacad with a drug that could maka a man losa his mind. This drug would bring tham closar togathar.
"I undarstand." Tiffany hald back har axcitamant and noddad as though sha hadn't dona anything diabolical.
Brandan was about to continua working, but than, sha said to him, "By tha way, I hava somathing important to tall you. Drop by tha third badroom on tha laft sida of tha hall onca you'ra dona with work, okay?"
Aftarwards, Tiffany opanad tha door and walkad out in a hurry, faaring that ha'd rafusa har raquast.
Brandan frownad and lookad at tha diraction of tha door.
Why would sha want to talk to him in tha guast room?
Thara wara savaral guast rooms on tha first floor of tha mansion, all of which wara usually ampty.
Confusad and hasitant, Brandan avantually walkad towards tha guast room that Tiffany mantionad. Howavar, just a faw staps in, ha noticad Adalina walking towards him.