3. Brother and Sister
Justine couldn’t help but seethe in anger, releasing endless profanities under his breath. He kept on spouting curses until he saw the door of his father’s office in the mansion.
“Sis J-Justine, wait…!” His father’s secretary ran after him, trying to stop him from visiting Callix. But Justine only gave him a cold shoulder and a glare.
“Stay here. And don’t follow me,” he spat at the secretary, who flinched and backed away to let him walk alone.
Justine walked forward and he pushed the door haphazardly, uncaring of the scene he was causing.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw the expensive artwork around and the gold and well-designed furniture that adorned his father’s office. It was to be noted that the chairman’s quarter was undoubtedly the grandest in the entire mansion.
Justine glanced in distaste before he looked at Callix and called in an unusually loud voice, “Father!”
Callix remained unfazed as he greeted Justine with a rather calm expression.
“It’s not been that long since I slapped you and you dare to make a scene here?”
In a harsh, yet soft voice, Justine responded.
“How can I stay still after hearing that? You suddenly brought a peasant into this place and said that he was your son. I never said a thing because I knew he wouldn’t be able to fight us anyway. However, you arranged a marriage for Ophelia?”
Callix merely blinked as he let Justine throw a fit in front of him. When he was done, he answered.
“What’s wrong with that?” he asked in a calm manner, but it only served to aggravate Justine more.
“Ophelia can’t leave here!”
“And why?”
When Callix asked the reason, Justine found his limbs frozen. He pursed his lips and stared at his father as he clenched his fists.
“Why can’t I send Ophelia away?”
“F-Father…”
“Tell me a valid reason why you are stopping your SISTER’S marriage when this will be the first time that I’d benefit from that stupid child?”
The reason why.
It was already on the tip of Justine’s tongue. But he couldn’t spell it out, not when his father highlighted their relationship as siblings.
After a few moments of silence, Justine finally spoke.
“I am just worried about her,” he regrettably said while lowering his gray eyes.
It was quite amusing for Callix to see the eldest son so worked up, even more agitated than the day he announced Chaylen as his son. He watched him the way Justine clenched his jaw tightly.
“Worried. That’s the funniest thing I encountered today, second to the fact that you harassed your brother on his first day in the mansion.”
Eventually, Justine turned away, averting his face away from him. In complete contrast to the rage of emotions swelling up in him from whence he arrived, now stood a calm person. Callix looked at him with pity, before he continued to speak.
“Instead of asking me to stop the marriage, I think you need to explain something to me first.”
Wordless, Justine glanced back.
“Why did you beat Chaylen?”
Justine, who tried so hard to suppress his expression, began to feel agitated again. There was immense strength in his palms, making two cannon fists.
‘Because I wanted to teach him his position in this house,’ Justine answered inwardly.
In this place, Justine believes that he is the only one who has the right to sway Ophelia’s emotions. However, he couldn’t believe that the gloomy lady had given Chaylen a smile that he had never seen before. Not only that, but Chaylen even kissed the back of her hand!
If Justine could not cut Ophelia’s hand, then he thought of smashing the lips which Chaylen used to touch Ophelia’s skin. Jealousy drove Justine crazy for a moment. He was so envious because he knew that he couldn't do that with Ophelia.
Actually, Callix already knows the answer. He knew that Justine wanted to get power and work damn hard, not because he is greedy, but because he longed to have something in his hands. A sin that would make other people be disgusted.
“This is my second warning. Don’t touch your brother again,” Callix said, clutching his hands above the desk. “And as for Ophelia, she will be wed to the CEO of Jack&John.”
“Father…”
“But they might get divorced soon,” Callix added, which somehow comforted Justine. “This is only political union. I heard that the CEO of Jack&John hates useless people. Even if your sister is the most beautiful woman, I bet that he might throw her away someday too.”
“What?!” Justine suddenly erupted. “Are you saying that you will sell her virginity for money and then take her back once she was thrown away?!”
Callix looked at her with shock, his eyes widened as his son once again blew up in front of her in rage.
“I am telling you to work hard before that happens,” Callix encouraged.
“No! I won’t let that happen! I will make sure this wedding won’t work!”
Callix was left speechless as he continued to stare at him in a dumbfounded manner. Justine left the office, and Callix watched how he behaved.
“That s*n of a b*tch,” Callix murmured while glaring at the door.
Meanwhile, when Justine walked out of the office, he saw his sister Caroline. She was standing near the door, as she was on her way to meet their father.
Breathing sharply, Justine glared at her and asked, “Since when did you f*cking listen to our conversation?”
Caroline smiled at him.
“Ever since you asked dad to stop sending Ophelia into an arranged marriage,” she informed him lightheartedly, as if hearing this made her feel perfectly delighted.
Justine looked down on her sister, who never cared whatever happened to the people in the mansion. Then he said, “If I hear a single word from you about this, prepare to die.”
He walked away and left Caroline alone in front of their father’s office. When Justine left, Caroline turned around to see his back and smirked.
“Disgusting b*stard,” Caroline murmured. Even though she pretends unbothered, she knows what kind of feelings Justine has for their little sister. And that is enough for her to come up with a plan.
*************************** ***********************
When Ophelia heard from her father that she would get married soon, she admitted that she had forgotten something really important.
If a person is weak, then others will find a way of how to benefit from that person.
‘And that is marriage,’ Ophelia thought before clicking her tongue.
She was walking in the hallway, thinking how the hell she can stop being sold like that.
‘It’s not been that long since I worried about how I should deal with the mafia boss who’s pretending to look like a pushover. And now, there’s a marriage talk?’
“Hah!” Ophelia scoffed while shaking her head.
She wanted to crack her brain open to look for a way. But she realized that before planning on how to break the coming engagement, she had to take care of Chaylen’s wounds and bruises.
“If he realized that Justine beat him because of me, he might hate me,” Ophelia whispered.
Her eyes widened. If Chaylen hates her, then it is a clear red death flag! She had to help him and show that she was sincerely worried about him.
‘Still, I could not believe that he would use the same technique that I did,’ Ophelia said inwardly.
She thought that as the mafia boss, Chaylen would act tough and strong. But he rather chose the most convenient way not to get attention.
‘Unlike me who only wanted to survive and flee, he has more dangerous plans,’ Ophelia thought while nodding her head. Then, she stopped walking when she saw a maid holding a bowl with a towel and warm water.
Guessing what they were for, Ophelia approached the maid.
“Wait!”
The maid looked back. When she saw Ophelia, her eyes widened. This was the first time Ophelia talked to her. It cannot be considered a conversation since Ophelia only said one word. Still, it was surprising.
“Yes, miss Ophelia?” the maid asked while holding the bowl.
Ophelia stared at the bowl in her hands. Then, she asked, “Are you going to bring that to my brother?”
Everyone knows what happened in the living room.
The chairman sent a maid to tend to Chaylen’s wound. However, when Ophelia asked the question, the maid was confused about whether she was asking Chaylen or Justine.
Because back then, it is clear that Justine warned Ophelia not to approach Chaylen anymore.
“Are you asking about Sir Chaylen or Sir Justine?” the maid asked at a slow pace.
Ophelia almost burst out laughing because of the question. She suppressed the laughs from slipping out and answered, “Brother Chaylen.”
‘Why would I care about that violent gangster who only deserved to be slapped?’ Ophelia continued internally. On second thought, she realized that both Justine and Chaylen are violent people. The only difference is that Chaylen has more chance of winning.
“Anyway, give me that,” Ophelia said, snatching the bowl from the maid. “I will go and give this to my brother instead.”
Ophelia smiled at her.
The maid’s eyes got even bigger, as if a Dinosaur would fit in.
“Have a good day at work,” Ophelia continued before she walked away. When she remembered that she didn’t know where Chaylen resided at, she looked back and asked, “Where is my brother’s room, anyway?”
Still processing, the maid blinked swiftly. Then she raised her hand and pointed in the direction.
“On the East Side. The last room on the left.”
“Alright. Thanks.”
Ophelia turned around and left.
There were many things which made the maid speechless. Ophelia not only smiled at her, but she even thanked her and said, ‘Have a good day at work.’
She couldn’t believe this.
“Is the rumor that the lady really changed is true?”
The news that the oldest son beat Chaylen had spread quickly among the servants. They weren’t shocked, in fact, because they somehow guessed that trouble would happen among the siblings once Chaylen moves in. What surprised them is that the frightful Ophelia saved Chaylen and fought against Justine.
“Did she lose her mind because of her arranged marriage?” the maid wondered.
She heard that people change when there’s something shocking happening in her life or if she’s planning to die. And so, the maids began to speculate about the reason behind Ophelia’s changes.
They weren’t that wrong.
Ophelia changed because she needed to change her approach. Not to die, but to live.
‘This is it. Calm down. You can do this,’ Ophelia said to herself while standing in front of Chaylen’s room.
Holding the bowl with two hands, Ophelia opened her mouth and called.
“Brother?”
She looked around and made sure no one was in the hallway. Ophelia stared at the door again and called Chaylen.
“Brother? Are you there?” It’s me, Ophelia.”
No answer.
Long seconds passed but Ophelia did not hear a thing from him.
‘Why? Doesn’t he want to see his savior? Or he thinks he might get into trouble if I approach him again? No. This can’t be. I need to win him over!’ Ophelia panicked while looking at the door.
When she was about to call him again for the third time, the door finally opened.
“S-Sister?”
Ophelia looked up and saw the man with the most pitiful gaze.
‘I could say he can win an Oscar award with this acting,’ Ophelia silently praised. She felt as if watching herself through his expression.
The only difference is that the man in front of him has different eyes, skin and hair colors. And that he’s very tall. But despite his large physique, he knows how to look pathetic and weak.
“W-What are you doing h-here?” Chaylen asked, staring at her with anxiousness.
Taking a deep breath, Ophelia gave him a smile that was as bright as the sun.
“Brother, you got hurt, right? So, I brought this,” Ophelia said cheerfully while showing the bowl in her hands.
Chaylen looked at the bowl. Then he asked, “Y-You will help me tend my wounds?”
“Of course! Can I do that?”
“It’s e-embarrassing but… will it be okay? I mean, to do that, you need to come inside my room.”
The smile on Ophelia’s lips vanished.
‘I need to come inside the room of a mafia,’ she realized. Then, she tried to be positive by thinking, ‘Well, we are acting s brother and sister. So, that does not matter.’
“What’s wrong? I am your sister,” Ophelia answered. “Hurry and let me in before the water gets cold.”
“Well, okay.”
Chaylen shyly opened the door for her.
He watched her go inside his room. And by the moment Ophelia took her eyes off him, Chaylen sneaked a grin on his red lips.
