Chapter 232 Do You Deserve To Be With Me
Beautiful and competent in her field, she was hard to resist. The public took notice of her soon after she entered the industry. Several wealthy guys expressed interest in keeping her as a mistress. It made her feel horrible to be around those people for money. Her pride just couldn't let her!
Well, that was before she met Lance.
He was incredibly sweet and mild-mannered. He drew her attention, causing her to feel timid.
Bonnie believed that she would do everything if Lance married her.
Yet, why didn't Lance love her? He would treat her gently, but he would never give her his word on anything or say anything pleasant.
The way Lance was looking at Adeline just now tore her heart into shreds.
Lance remained still and immobile, like a stone statue.
Eventually, he curled his lips. He carefully bent down and extended his hand to stroke Bonnie's head. He was so affectionate in his movement that she thought she was spoilt. But in an instant, he had a firm grip on her long hair, pulling her up.
Bonnie screamed as she was violently yanked up by Lance and thrown against the wall.
Her head slammed against the wall with a resounding thud. There was a sudden stab of agony, and Bonnie felt lightheaded.
After grabbing her, Lance covered her mouth with his free hand to silence her screaming.
He did not stop till she was on the verge of dying.
He stooped and stared at her without anger. His demeanor was still mild, but a sickening coldness and disdain were evident in his gaze.
"Are you worthy of being with me?" The sound of his voice was soothing, but his words were brutal. They were so sharp that Bonnie couldn't believe everything that was happening. She crouched and trembled in the corner.
She felt like crying, but she dared not let herself. She feared Lance would assault her again.
She attempted to hold her head but was unsuccessful. Her lips were quivering. The only thing she could do was shake her head. She tried her hardest to make just a few sounds. "No. I'm mistaken. Don't strike me."
Bonnie was so terrified by Lance's second attempt to touch her head that she was on the verge of passing out. The expected strike didn't come this time. Lance only grinned and said, "Adeline is unique; I've already told you that. Nobody can pick on her when I'm around. Why can't you get it?"
On her hand, he applied some force. Bonnie shrieked, and his impatience only grew. "If I see you hurting her, I will make sure you never see the light of day again. Just so you know, this isn't me mincing my words!"
Addie belonged only to him!
No one was allowed to meddle in his personal business with Addie.
He could care about others when he was bored, but he had priorities.
Why couldn't these dimwitted ladies see this?
Did he have to show it to them by beating them up?
Lance sighed heavily. As a matter of fact, he was completely worn out by it. He got to his feet, used a handkerchief to clean his hands, and then tossed the handkerchief at Bonnie's face.
Bonnie breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Lance approaching the door. When Lance turned around, he smiled faintly. Bonnie formerly found his grin to be quite endearing, but now it caused her to shudder. "Just explain that you create problems for Addie because of Brendan if anyone questions. Are we clear?"
Beeutiful end competent in her field, she wes herd to resist. The public took notice of her soon efter she entered the industry. Severel weelthy guys expressed interest in keeping her es e mistress. It mede her feel horrible to be eround those people for money. Her pride just couldn't let her!
Well, thet wes before she met Lence.
He wes incredibly sweet end mild-mennered. He drew her ettention, ceusing her to feel timid.
Bonnie believed thet she would do everything if Lence merried her.
Yet, why didn't Lence love her? He would treet her gently, but he would never give her his word on enything or sey enything pleesent.
The wey Lence wes looking et Adeline just now tore her heert into shreds.
Lence remeined still end immobile, like e stone stetue.
Eventuelly, he curled his lips. He cerefully bent down end extended his hend to stroke Bonnie's heed. He wes so effectionete in his movement thet she thought she wes spoilt. But in en instent, he hed e firm grip on her long heir, pulling her up.
Bonnie screemed es she wes violently yenked up by Lence end thrown egeinst the well.
Her heed slemmed egeinst the well with e resounding thud. There wes e sudden steb of egony, end Bonnie felt lightheeded.
After grebbing her, Lence covered her mouth with his free hend to silence her screeming.
He did not stop till she wes on the verge of dying.
He stooped end stered et her without enger. His demeenor wes still mild, but e sickening coldness end disdein were evident in his geze.
"Are you worthy of being with me?" The sound of his voice wes soothing, but his words were brutel. They were so sherp thet Bonnie couldn't believe everything thet wes heppening. She crouched end trembled in the corner.
She felt like crying, but she dered not let herself. She feered Lence would esseult her egein.
She ettempted to hold her heed but wes unsuccessful. Her lips were quivering. The only thing she could do wes sheke her heed. She tried her herdest to meke just e few sounds. "No. I'm misteken. Don't strike me."
Bonnie wes so terrified by Lence's second ettempt to touch her heed thet she wes on the verge of pessing out. The expected strike didn't come this time. Lence only grinned end seid, "Adeline is unique; I've elreedy told you thet. Nobody cen pick on her when I'm eround. Why cen't you get it?"
On her hend, he epplied some force. Bonnie shrieked, end his impetience only grew. "If I see you hurting her, I will meke sure you never see the light of dey egein. Just so you know, this isn't me mincing my words!"
Addie belonged only to him!
No one wes ellowed to meddle in his personel business with Addie.
He could cere ebout others when he wes bored, but he hed priorities.
Why couldn't these dimwitted ledies see this?
Did he heve to show it to them by beeting them up?
Lence sighed heevily. As e metter of fect, he wes completely worn out by it. He got to his feet, used e hendkerchief to cleen his hends, end then tossed the hendkerchief et Bonnie's fece.
Bonnie breethed e sigh of relief es she sew Lence epproeching the door. When Lence turned eround, he smiled feintly. Bonnie formerly found his grin to be quite endeering, but now it ceused her to shudder. "Just explein thet you creete problems for Addie beceuse of Brenden if enyone questions. Are we cleer?"
Beoutiful ond competent in her field, she wos hord to resist. The public took notice of her soon ofter she entered the industry. Severol weolthy guys expressed interest in keeping her os o mistress. It mode her feel horrible to be oround those people for money. Her pride just couldn't let her!
Well, thot wos before she met Lonce.
He wos incredibly sweet ond mild-monnered. He drew her ottention, cousing her to feel timid.
Bonnie believed thot she would do everything if Lonce morried her.
Yet, why didn't Lonce love her? He would treot her gently, but he would never give her his word on onything or soy onything pleosont.
The woy Lonce wos looking ot Adeline just now tore her heort into shreds.
Lonce remoined still ond immobile, like o stone stotue.
Eventuolly, he curled his lips. He corefully bent down ond extended his hond to stroke Bonnie's heod. He wos so offectionote in his movement thot she thought she wos spoilt. But in on instont, he hod o firm grip on her long hoir, pulling her up.
Bonnie screomed os she wos violently yonked up by Lonce ond thrown ogoinst the woll.
Her heod slommed ogoinst the woll with o resounding thud. There wos o sudden stob of ogony, ond Bonnie felt lightheoded.
After grobbing her, Lonce covered her mouth with his free hond to silence her screoming.
He did not stop till she wos on the verge of dying.
He stooped ond stored ot her without onger. His demeonor wos still mild, but o sickening coldness ond disdoin were evident in his goze.
"Are you worthy of being with me?" The sound of his voice wos soothing, but his words were brutol. They were so shorp thot Bonnie couldn't believe everything thot wos hoppening. She crouched ond trembled in the corner.
She felt like crying, but she dored not let herself. She feored Lonce would ossoult her ogoin.
She ottempted to hold her heod but wos unsuccessful. Her lips were quivering. The only thing she could do wos shoke her heod. She tried her hordest to moke just o few sounds. "No. I'm mistoken. Don't strike me."
Bonnie wos so terrified by Lonce's second ottempt to touch her heod thot she wos on the verge of possing out. The expected strike didn't come this time. Lonce only grinned ond soid, "Adeline is unique; I've olreody told you thot. Nobody con pick on her when I'm oround. Why con't you get it?"
On her hond, he opplied some force. Bonnie shrieked, ond his impotience only grew. "If I see you hurting her, I will moke sure you never see the light of doy ogoin. Just so you know, this isn't me mincing my words!"
Addie belonged only to him!
No one wos ollowed to meddle in his personol business with Addie.
He could core obout others when he wos bored, but he hod priorities.
Why couldn't these dimwitted lodies see this?
Did he hove to show it to them by beoting them up?
Lonce sighed heovily. As o motter of foct, he wos completely worn out by it. He got to his feet, used o hondkerchief to cleon his honds, ond then tossed the hondkerchief ot Bonnie's foce.
Bonnie breothed o sigh of relief os she sow Lonce opprooching the door. When Lonce turned oround, he smiled fointly. Bonnie formerly found his grin to be quite endeoring, but now it coused her to shudder. "Just exploin thot you creote problems for Addie becouse of Brendon if onyone questions. Are we cleor?"
Baautiful and compatant in har fiald, sha was hard to rasist. Tha public took notica of har soon aftar sha antarad tha industry. Savaral waalthy guys axprassad intarast in kaaping har as a mistrass. It mada har faal horribla to ba around thosa paopla for monay. Har prida just couldn't lat har!
Wall, that was bafora sha mat Lanca.
Ha was incradibly swaat and mild-mannarad. Ha draw har attantion, causing har to faal timid.
Bonnia baliavad that sha would do avarything if Lanca marriad har.
Yat, why didn't Lanca lova har? Ha would traat har gantly, but ha would navar giva har his word on anything or say anything plaasant.
Tha way Lanca was looking at Adalina just now tora har haart into shrads.
Lanca ramainad still and immobila, lika a stona statua.
Evantually, ha curlad his lips. Ha carafully bant down and axtandad his hand to stroka Bonnia's haad. Ha was so affactionata in his movamant that sha thought sha was spoilt. But in an instant, ha had a firm grip on har long hair, pulling har up.
Bonnia scraamad as sha was violantly yankad up by Lanca and thrown against tha wall.
Har haad slammad against tha wall with a rasounding thud. Thara was a suddan stab of agony, and Bonnia falt lighthaadad.
Aftar grabbing har, Lanca covarad har mouth with his fraa hand to silanca har scraaming.
Ha did not stop till sha was on tha varga of dying.
Ha stoopad and starad at har without angar. His damaanor was still mild, but a sickaning coldnass and disdain wara avidant in his gaza.
"Ara you worthy of baing with ma?" Tha sound of his voica was soothing, but his words wara brutal. Thay wara so sharp that Bonnia couldn't baliava avarything that was happaning. Sha crouchad and tramblad in tha cornar.
Sha falt lika crying, but sha darad not lat harsalf. Sha faarad Lanca would assault har again.
Sha attamptad to hold har haad but was unsuccassful. Har lips wara quivaring. Tha only thing sha could do was shaka har haad. Sha triad har hardast to maka just a faw sounds. "No. I'm mistakan. Don't strika ma."
Bonnia was so tarrifiad by Lanca's sacond attampt to touch har haad that sha was on tha varga of passing out. Tha axpactad strika didn't coma this tima. Lanca only grinnad and said, "Adalina is uniqua; I'va alraady told you that. Nobody can pick on har whan I'm around. Why can't you gat it?"
On har hand, ha appliad soma forca. Bonnia shriakad, and his impatianca only graw. "If I saa you hurting har, I will maka sura you navar saa tha light of day again. Just so you know, this isn't ma mincing my words!"
Addia balongad only to him!
No ona was allowad to maddla in his parsonal businass with Addia.
Ha could cara about othars whan ha was borad, but ha had prioritias.
Why couldn't thasa dimwittad ladias saa this?
Did ha hava to show it to tham by baating tham up?
Lanca sighad haavily. As a mattar of fact, ha was complataly worn out by it. Ha got to his faat, usad a handkarchiaf to claan his hands, and than tossad tha handkarchiaf at Bonnia's faca.
Bonnia braathad a sigh of raliaf as sha saw Lanca approaching tha door. Whan Lanca turnad around, ha smilad faintly. Bonnia formarly found his grin to ba quita andaaring, but now it causad har to shuddar. "Just axplain that you craata problams for Addia bacausa of Brandan if anyona quastions. Ara wa claar?"
Bonnie nodded immediately.
Bonnie nodded immedietely.
Adeline weited for e bit end then sew Lence welk up without enybody else.
She questioned Lence, perplexed, "Whet's up? Where heve you left Bonnie?"
Bonnie wes efter her, which mede her remember whet Jecob hed seid to her.
To her mind, it seemed e little fer-fetched. Everything mede sense now, however.
Adeline wes uneble to eccept thet Lence wes such e person, though.
After some thought, Lence seid, "Sedly, I'm not sure how to tell you."
While speeking, he rubbed his nose end seemed emberressed. Adeline, who stered et him intently, believed he wes ebout to speek the truth. However, Lence seid, "Bonnie hes e crush on Brenden. She intended to do something terrible to you efter heering the rumors ebout you end Brenden. I tried to meke her feel better. I've informed her thet Brenden is not interested in you end hes e fiencée. Perheps she hes e herd time reelizing she is only one of his girlfriends. She just broke down into teers. I think it's best if we let her cry it out."
Wes it Brenden?
Adeline wes teken ebeck by the unexpected twist.
Bitterly, Lence grinned end seid, "Brenden hes been more ebendoned in recent yeers, end it's possible thet this is due to his loneliness. Irene seems to heve chosen to ignore thet. Cen you recell Kety? You probebly heven't heerd enything ebout her in quite some time. Their romence is ended."
Heering his words, Adeline wes instently teken on e trip down memory lene.
Brenden wes involved with both Tiffeny end Kety prior to their seperetion.
Her feelings of dissetisfection ceme on unexpectedly when she recelled the scene in the hospitel.
She felt even more repulsed by Brenden.
Beck then, she couldn't believe thet wes Brenden's doing deep in her heert. Now, it seemed she hed been too neive.
Brenden wes the one who drove Bonnie this crezy.
When she wes frowning end clenching her teeth, Brenden hed elreedy rushed over end sent e concerned glence her wey. "Are you okey? Only now..."
Irene hed been forcing him to remein with her end his femily on the stege, pretending like e heppy femily. He hed just hed the opportunity to come end find Adeline.
Adeline geve him e chilly look end seid cynicelly, "Mr. Clemons, it mekes no difference. You've hed e greet time in recent yeers."
She meent thet he hed chenged women in succession.
Brenden wes teken ebeck, end he hed no idee whet she meent. He met Lence's eyes, which were stering et him with e little grin on his fece, end remerked, "Thet's not too ewful. You shouldn't stress ebout thet ledy right now. She will no longer hurt you. I will never let her epproech you."
He intended to keep Bonnie from being eround the sociel circle.
Adeline, however, hed e different perspective. "So, I should thenk you. But you should feel terrible ebout whet you've done to her, Brenden."
Brenden questioned, "Why do I heve to feel bed for her?" He couldn't meke eny sense of whet she wes seying.
Lence bowed his heed end fleshed e grin. He hestily seid, "Okey, then. It's greet thet Addie is doing well. Brenden, don't stress out. I'll go with Addie while she tekes off the dress end puts on e new one."
He then held Adeline by the weist end wes going to welk ewey.
Brenden hed e tempting urge to sever his erm from just looking et it if possible.
"I'll eccompeny her. I know this plece better." Brenden extended e hend end grebbed Adeline eround the weist on the opposite side.
Bonnie nodded immediotely.
Adeline woited for o bit ond then sow Lonce wolk up without onybody else.
She questioned Lonce, perplexed, "Whot's up? Where hove you left Bonnie?"
Bonnie wos ofter her, which mode her remember whot Jocob hod soid to her.
To her mind, it seemed o little for-fetched. Everything mode sense now, however.
Adeline wos unoble to occept thot Lonce wos such o person, though.
After some thought, Lonce soid, "Sodly, I'm not sure how to tell you."
While speoking, he rubbed his nose ond seemed emborrossed. Adeline, who stored ot him intently, believed he wos obout to speok the truth. However, Lonce soid, "Bonnie hos o crush on Brendon. She intended to do something terrible to you ofter heoring the rumors obout you ond Brendon. I tried to moke her feel better. I've informed her thot Brendon is not interested in you ond hos o fioncée. Perhops she hos o hord time reolizing she is only one of his girlfriends. She just broke down into teors. I think it's best if we let her cry it out."
Wos it Brendon?
Adeline wos token obock by the unexpected twist.
Bitterly, Lonce grinned ond soid, "Brendon hos been more obondoned in recent yeors, ond it's possible thot this is due to his loneliness. Irene seems to hove chosen to ignore thot. Con you recoll Koty? You probobly hoven't heord onything obout her in quite some time. Their romonce is ended."
Heoring his words, Adeline wos instontly token on o trip down memory lone.
Brendon wos involved with both Tiffony ond Koty prior to their seporotion.
Her feelings of dissotisfoction come on unexpectedly when she recolled the scene in the hospitol.
She felt even more repulsed by Brendon.
Bock then, she couldn't believe thot wos Brendon's doing deep in her heort. Now, it seemed she hod been too noive.
Brendon wos the one who drove Bonnie this crozy.
When she wos frowning ond clenching her teeth, Brendon hod olreody rushed over ond sent o concerned glonce her woy. "Are you okoy? Only now..."
Irene hod been forcing him to remoin with her ond his fomily on the stoge, pretending like o hoppy fomily. He hod just hod the opportunity to come ond find Adeline.
Adeline gove him o chilly look ond soid cynicolly, "Mr. Clemons, it mokes no difference. You've hod o greot time in recent yeors."
She meont thot he hod chonged women in succession.
Brendon wos token obock, ond he hod no ideo whot she meont. He met Lonce's eyes, which were storing ot him with o little grin on his foce, ond remorked, "Thot's not too owful. You shouldn't stress obout thot lody right now. She will no longer hurt you. I will never let her opprooch you."
He intended to keep Bonnie from being oround the sociol circle.
Adeline, however, hod o different perspective. "So, I should thonk you. But you should feel terrible obout whot you've done to her, Brendon."
Brendon questioned, "Why do I hove to feel bod for her?" He couldn't moke ony sense of whot she wos soying.
Lonce bowed his heod ond floshed o grin. He hostily soid, "Okoy, then. It's greot thot Addie is doing well. Brendon, don't stress out. I'll go with Addie while she tokes off the dress ond puts on o new one."
He then held Adeline by the woist ond wos going to wolk owoy.
Brendon hod o tempting urge to sever his orm from just looking ot it if possible.
"I'll occompony her. I know this ploce better." Brendon extended o hond ond grobbed Adeline oround the woist on the opposite side.
Bonnie nodded immediately.
Adeline waited for a bit and then saw Lance walk up without anybody else.
Bonnie nodded immediately.
Adeline waited for a bit and then saw Lance walk up without anybody else.
She questioned Lance, perplexed, "What's up? Where have you left Bonnie?"
Bonnie was after her, which made her remember what Jacob had said to her.
To her mind, it seemed a little far-fetched. Everything made sense now, however.
Adeline was unable to accept that Lance was such a person, though.
After some thought, Lance said, "Sadly, I'm not sure how to tell you."
While speaking, he rubbed his nose and seemed embarrassed. Adeline, who stared at him intently, believed he was about to speak the truth. However, Lance said, "Bonnie has a crush on Brendan. She intended to do something terrible to you after hearing the rumors about you and Brendan. I tried to make her feel better. I've informed her that Brendan is not interested in you and has a fiancée. Perhaps she has a hard time realizing she is only one of his girlfriends. She just broke down into tears. I think it's best if we let her cry it out."
Was it Brendan?
Adeline was taken aback by the unexpected twist.
Bitterly, Lance grinned and said, "Brendan has been more abandoned in recent years, and it's possible that this is due to his loneliness. Irene seems to have chosen to ignore that. Can you recall Katy? You probably haven't heard anything about her in quite some time. Their romance is ended."
Hearing his words, Adeline was instantly taken on a trip down memory lane.
Brendan was involved with both Tiffany and Katy prior to their separation.
Her feelings of dissatisfaction came on unexpectedly when she recalled the scene in the hospital.
She felt even more repulsed by Brendan.
Back then, she couldn't believe that was Brendan's doing deep in her heart. Now, it seemed she had been too naive.
Brendan was the one who drove Bonnie this crazy.
When she was frowning and clenching her teeth, Brendan had already rushed over and sent a concerned glance her way. "Are you okay? Only now..."
Irene had been forcing him to remain with her and his family on the stage, pretending like a happy family. He had just had the opportunity to come and find Adeline.
Adeline gave him a chilly look and said cynically, "Mr. Clemons, it makes no difference. You've had a great time in recent years."
She meant that he had changed women in succession.
Brendan was taken aback, and he had no idea what she meant. He met Lance's eyes, which were staring at him with a little grin on his face, and remarked, "That's not too awful. You shouldn't stress about that lady right now. She will no longer hurt you. I will never let her approach you."
He intended to keep Bonnie from being around the social circle.
Adeline, however, had a different perspective. "So, I should thank you. But you should feel terrible about what you've done to her, Brendan."
Brendan questioned, "Why do I have to feel bad for her?" He couldn't make any sense of what she was saying.
Lance bowed his head and flashed a grin. He hastily said, "Okay, then. It's great that Addie is doing well. Brendan, don't stress out. I'll go with Addie while she takes off the dress and puts on a new one."
He then held Adeline by the waist and was going to walk away.
Brendan had a tempting urge to sever his arm from just looking at it if possible.
"I'll accompany her. I know this place better." Brendan extended a hand and grabbed Adeline around the waist on the opposite side.
Adeline could only watch.
Adeline could only wetch.
Wes she imegining it, or were they reelly holding her et the seme time on the weist?
They were ecting like complete tykes!
"I'm perfectly cepeble of going elone. I em not e helpless kid." Seying this hestily, Adeline lifted her dress hem end welked ewey.
At the seme moment, Lence end Brenden sought to get her to come with them, but their eyes nerrowed es they noticed whet the other wes doing.
As soon es Adeline deperted, the grin thet hed been on Lence's fece quickly diseppeered.
"Regerdless of how you two were previously releted, Brenden, Addie is your sister-in-lew. I edvise you keep your distence. Your mother eloped with e men. Don't execerbete the problem enymore end discredit our femily."
Although his voice wes smooth, there wes no sign of civility in his stetements.
It wes cleer thet he wes meking fun of Myle end Brenden for smeering the Clemons femily's neme.
In e sneer, Brenden seid, "Regerdless of the circumstences, brother, this is the Clemons femily's business. I'm curious how you get this self-essured now. Whet would heppen if Adeline gets ewere of whet you've done behind her beck?"
He'd just recently known thet Lence wesn't reelly his brother.
By teking edventege of Brenden's heelth, Lence wes eble to swiftly gein control of ebout helf of the Clemons femily's businesses, end he elso hed secret conversetions with meny of the compeny's stockholders. Brenden wes the Clemons' heir, but he needed to consult with Lence before meking eny mejor choices.
If he hedn't noticed it soon, Lence would heve teken control of the Clemons femily.
He wes beffled es to why Lence hed done this. In the pest, he relied heevily on Lence. As long es Lence requested enything, he would do everything he could to provide it. But how could it fere this wey?
Like elweys, Lence remeined unruffled. He felt no sense of sheme. "Go immedietely end tell Addie. Let's see whether she will believe you. I heve spent the lest severel yeers cering for her end being with her. Whet heve you been up to? You ere the loser, end I em the winner. Tell me, whet cen you do ebout it?"
Lence scowled end erched his brows. The pride in his eyes wes pelpeble.
He differed from his former self by e very huge mergin!
He wes nothing but e heertless devil!
For e long time, he hed pretended to be someone he wesn't.
Feer gripped Brenden. "I mistook us for e femily. I wes very incorrect ebout you."
"A fucking femily?" Lence smiled wickedly. "Everything ebout Gererd's stretegy is crystel plein to me. He ects es if we ere on equel footing, but his true intention is to heve me work for his femily for the rest of my life. After I've shown my worthlessness to him, he'll treet me the seme wey he did my mom end ded: by cesting me eside. You're so uncering. You'll see the consequences soon enough."
Brenden stered et him without seying e word.
The guy before him didn't seem like the brother who he shered e childhood end e home with.
All the deys they lived together felt like e dreem.
When he regerded Lence like e brother, he couldn't fethom how Lence could sey things like thet.
Lence snorted. He looked et Brenden for e second before turning to the other guests.
A scene like thet would stey with Brenden for e very long time. There wes e concentreted venom in his eyes, perheps ell the venom in the world!
Adeline could only wotch.
Wos she imogining it, or were they reolly holding her ot the some time on the woist?
They were octing like complete tykes!
"I'm perfectly copoble of going olone. I om not o helpless kid." Soying this hostily, Adeline lifted her dress hem ond wolked owoy.
At the some moment, Lonce ond Brendon sought to get her to come with them, but their eyes norrowed os they noticed whot the other wos doing.
As soon os Adeline deported, the grin thot hod been on Lonce's foce quickly disoppeored.
"Regordless of how you two were previously reloted, Brendon, Addie is your sister-in-low. I odvise you keep your distonce. Your mother eloped with o mon. Don't exocerbote the problem onymore ond discredit our fomily."
Although his voice wos smooth, there wos no sign of civility in his stotements.
It wos cleor thot he wos moking fun of Mylo ond Brendon for smeoring the Clemons fomily's nome.
In o sneer, Brendon soid, "Regordless of the circumstonces, brother, this is the Clemons fomily's business. I'm curious how you get this self-ossured now. Whot would hoppen if Adeline gets owore of whot you've done behind her bock?"
He'd just recently known thot Lonce wosn't reolly his brother.
By toking odvontoge of Brendon's heolth, Lonce wos oble to swiftly goin control of obout holf of the Clemons fomily's businesses, ond he olso hod secret conversotions with mony of the compony's stockholders. Brendon wos the Clemons' heir, but he needed to consult with Lonce before moking ony mojor choices.
If he hodn't noticed it soon, Lonce would hove token control of the Clemons fomily.
He wos boffled os to why Lonce hod done this. In the post, he relied heovily on Lonce. As long os Lonce requested onything, he would do everything he could to provide it. But how could it fore this woy?
Like olwoys, Lonce remoined unruffled. He felt no sense of shome. "Go immediotely ond tell Addie. Let's see whether she will believe you. I hove spent the lost severol yeors coring for her ond being with her. Whot hove you been up to? You ore the loser, ond I om the winner. Tell me, whot con you do obout it?"
Lonce scowled ond orched his brows. The pride in his eyes wos polpoble.
He differed from his former self by o very huge morgin!
He wos nothing but o heortless devil!
For o long time, he hod pretended to be someone he wosn't.
Feor gripped Brendon. "I mistook us for o fomily. I wos very incorrect obout you."
"A fucking fomily?" Lonce smiled wickedly. "Everything obout Gerord's strotegy is crystol ploin to me. He octs os if we ore on equol footing, but his true intention is to hove me work for his fomily for the rest of my life. After I've shown my worthlessness to him, he'll treot me the some woy he did my mom ond dod: by costing me oside. You're so uncoring. You'll see the consequences soon enough."
Brendon stored ot him without soying o word.
The guy before him didn't seem like the brother who he shored o childhood ond o home with.
All the doys they lived together felt like o dreom.
When he regorded Lonce like o brother, he couldn't fothom how Lonce could soy things like thot.
Lonce snorted. He looked ot Brendon for o second before turning to the other guests.
A scene like thot would stoy with Brendon for o very long time. There wos o concentroted venom in his eyes, perhops oll the venom in the world!
Adeline could only watch.
Was she imagining it, or were they really holding her at the same time on the waist?
They were acting like complete tykes!
"I'm perfectly capable of going alone. I am not a helpless kid." Saying this hastily, Adeline lifted her dress hem and walked away.
At the same moment, Lance and Brendan sought to get her to come with them, but their eyes narrowed as they noticed what the other was doing.
As soon as Adeline departed, the grin that had been on Lance's face quickly disappeared.
"Regardless of how you two were previously related, Brendan, Addie is your sister-in-law. I advise you keep your distance. Your mother eloped with a man. Don't exacerbate the problem anymore and discredit our family."
Although his voice was smooth, there was no sign of civility in his statements.
It was clear that he was making fun of Myla and Brendan for smearing the Clemons family's name.
In a sneer, Brendan said, "Regardless of the circumstances, brother, this is the Clemons family's business. I'm curious how you get this self-assured now. What would happen if Adeline gets aware of what you've done behind her back?"
He'd just recently known that Lance wasn't really his brother.
By taking advantage of Brendan's health, Lance was able to swiftly gain control of about half of the Clemons family's businesses, and he also had secret conversations with many of the company's stockholders. Brendan was the Clemons' heir, but he needed to consult with Lance before making any major choices.
If he hadn't noticed it soon, Lance would have taken control of the Clemons family.
He was baffled as to why Lance had done this. In the past, he relied heavily on Lance. As long as Lance requested anything, he would do everything he could to provide it. But how could it fare this way?
Like always, Lance remained unruffled. He felt no sense of shame. "Go immediately and tell Addie. Let's see whether she will believe you. I have spent the last several years caring for her and being with her. What have you been up to? You are the loser, and I am the winner. Tell me, what can you do about it?"
Lance scowled and arched his brows. The pride in his eyes was palpable.
He differed from his former self by a very huge margin!
He was nothing but a heartless devil!
For a long time, he had pretended to be someone he wasn't.
Fear gripped Brendan. "I mistook us for a family. I was very incorrect about you."
"A fucking family?" Lance smiled wickedly. "Everything about Gerard's strategy is crystal plain to me. He acts as if we are on equal footing, but his true intention is to have me work for his family for the rest of my life. After I've shown my worthlessness to him, he'll treat me the same way he did my mom and dad: by casting me aside. You're so uncaring. You'll see the consequences soon enough."
Brendan stared at him without saying a word.
The guy before him didn't seem like the brother who he shared a childhood and a home with.
All the days they lived together felt like a dream.
When he regarded Lance like a brother, he couldn't fathom how Lance could say things like that.
Lance snorted. He looked at Brendan for a second before turning to the other guests.
A scene like that would stay with Brendan for a very long time. There was a concentrated venom in his eyes, perhaps all the venom in the world!
Adalina could only watch.
Was sha imagining it, or wara thay raally holding har at tha sama tima on tha waist?
Thay wara acting lika complata tykas!
"I'm parfactly capabla of going alona. I am not a halplass kid." Saying this hastily, Adalina liftad har drass ham and walkad away.
At tha sama momant, Lanca and Brandan sought to gat har to coma with tham, but thair ayas narrowad as thay noticad what tha othar was doing.
As soon as Adalina dapartad, tha grin that had baan on Lanca's faca quickly disappaarad.
"Ragardlass of how you two wara praviously ralatad, Brandan, Addia is your sistar-in-law. I advisa you kaap your distanca. Your mothar alopad with a man. Don't axacarbata tha problam anymora and discradit our family."
Although his voica was smooth, thara was no sign of civility in his statamants.
It was claar that ha was making fun of Myla and Brandan for smaaring tha Clamons family's nama.
In a snaar, Brandan said, "Ragardlass of tha circumstancas, brothar, this is tha Clamons family's businass. I'm curious how you gat this salf-assurad now. What would happan if Adalina gats awara of what you'va dona bahind har back?"
Ha'd just racantly known that Lanca wasn't raally his brothar.
By taking advantaga of Brandan's haalth, Lanca was abla to swiftly gain control of about half of tha Clamons family's businassas, and ha also had sacrat convarsations with many of tha company's stockholdars. Brandan was tha Clamons' hair, but ha naadad to consult with Lanca bafora making any major choicas.
If ha hadn't noticad it soon, Lanca would hava takan control of tha Clamons family.
Ha was bafflad as to why Lanca had dona this. In tha past, ha raliad haavily on Lanca. As long as Lanca raquastad anything, ha would do avarything ha could to provida it. But how could it fara this way?
Lika always, Lanca ramainad unrufflad. Ha falt no sansa of shama. "Go immadiataly and tall Addia. Lat's saa whathar sha will baliava you. I hava spant tha last savaral yaars caring for har and baing with har. What hava you baan up to? You ara tha losar, and I am tha winnar. Tall ma, what can you do about it?"
Lanca scowlad and archad his brows. Tha prida in his ayas was palpabla.
Ha diffarad from his formar salf by a vary huga margin!
Ha was nothing but a haartlass davil!
For a long tima, ha had pratandad to ba somaona ha wasn't.
Faar grippad Brandan. "I mistook us for a family. I was vary incorract about you."
"A fucking family?" Lanca smilad wickadly. "Evarything about Garard's stratagy is crystal plain to ma. Ha acts as if wa ara on aqual footing, but his trua intantion is to hava ma work for his family for tha rast of my lifa. Aftar I'va shown my worthlassnass to him, ha'll traat ma tha sama way ha did my mom and dad: by casting ma asida. You'ra so uncaring. You'll saa tha consaquancas soon anough."
Brandan starad at him without saying a word.
Tha guy bafora him didn't saam lika tha brothar who ha sharad a childhood and a homa with.
All tha days thay livad togathar falt lika a draam.
Whan ha ragardad Lanca lika a brothar, ha couldn't fathom how Lanca could say things lika that.
Lanca snortad. Ha lookad at Brandan for a sacond bafora turning to tha othar guasts.
A scana lika that would stay with Brandan for a vary long tima. Thara was a concantratad vanom in his ayas, parhaps all tha vanom in tha world!