Chapter 31
The eight men all wore different expressions.
Marvin quickly said, “Obviously, it was to protect you. The more brothers you have, the better. If anyone ever messes with you, we could teach them a
lesson they’d never forget.”
“Alright, quit making stuff up,” Patrick Vance, Sharon’s fourth brother, cut in, clearing his throat. “You know Grandma didn’t like Mom. She demanded that Mom must have enough children to carry on the family line.
“So our dad, who loved Mom more than anything in the world, just went ahead and made eight sons.”
“To protect Mom, right?” Sharon asked, already piecing it together.
d
She thought, “Dad loved Mom so much he had so many kids just to protect her. That makes sense. If only they were still alive.
Patrick said, “Don’t worry, Shari. We’ll protect you too.”
After all, their mother was long gone. For years, all they had were fading memories and old photographs of her.
Now, looking at Sharon, they suddenly saw a glimpse of their mother again and realized she was the blessing they had been waiting for all along.
Julian brought over a photo album. “Here are pictures from when you were born. You were barely a month old, tiny as could be, and crying nonstop.”
Marvin chimed in, “Yeah. Every time you cried, Dad would panic like crazy. He had no clue what to do with you.”
Sharon lowered her gaze, staring at the photo of a tiny baby surrounded by a bunch of little boys, and she thought, ‘This must have been what it was like when I was little.‘
She had always thought she was a kid Martin picked up off the street and adopted, always wondered who her real parents were, always guessed at why she was abandoned.
But now, none of that mattered anymore. She had a mom, a dad, and brothers.
As each photo was placed in front of her, the missing pieces of her childhood seemed to be stitched back together. She thought, ‘This is so nice.‘
That night, Sharon slept soundly and even had a sweet dream.
At dawn, she woke up, staring up at the Gothic–style ceiling–probably Jeffrey’s handiwork. She never would have guessed a scientist would be into something like that.
The soft, girly bed was Richard’s choice, all pink and cutesy.
She thought, ‘Maybe it’s only in the eyes of the people closest to me that I’ll always be seen as a little kid.‘
“Ms. Vance, are you up?” Joan had been quietly waiting nearby, giving her a little time before speaking.
Sharon sat up and stretched lazily. “Morning.”
“Good morning, Ms. Vance. Your clean clothes are ready.”
After getting out of bed, Sharon looked at Joan and said, “Richard told me last night that from now on, you’re mine.” Her pretty eyes were cool, and her tone carried a natural kind of dominance.
Joan’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly answered, “Yes, Ms. Vance.”
21:58 Tue, 27 May
Chapter 31
She thought, ‘Can Ms. Vance not say stuff that sounds so easy to misinterpret? I don’t want to get turned
Sharon asked, “So, are you absolutely loyal to me?”
Joan nodded. “Of course. My life is yours.”
Sharon questioned. “What exactly did my brothers go off to do? Why were they missing?”
Joan froze, her expression awkward. “Ms. Vance, your brothers specifically told me not to say.”
“But I’m your master now.”
“They’re doing it for your own good.”
Sharon turned around, her face serious. “I’ll say it one more time. I’m your master now.”
Joan hesitated and said, “Ms. Vance, but your brothers made it clear-”
“I don’t need a disloyal subordinate.” Even though Sharon was petite and delicate, her posture and tone didn’t match her looks at all. She gave off overwhelming pressure.
Joan finally caved. “They went to earn you an invitation to Oriston Academy.”
Sharon frowned. “Why?”
Joan answered, “Because that old bat Roxanne would never write you a recommendation. She’d definitely try to trip you up somewhere along the way. Your brothers didn’t want you to be wronged, so they took on bounty missions instead.”
Sharon blurted out, “What about the Baxter family?”
Joan cleared her throat. “Your brothers were pretty fed up with this arranged marriage. They already tried to call it off before you came back, but it didn’t go through.
“Ever since they were kicked out of the Vance family, they’ve kept their distance from those families. They
take favors or deals from any of them.”
Sharon roughly pieced things together. She could feel how much her brothers cared for her, but she didn’t know how to react to it. She didn’t understand why they couldn’t just talk to her first.
She had received an invitation from Oriston Academy when she was ten and turned it down more than once. One of the professors had even spent years trying to get her to enroll.
Sharon asked, “What’s the big secret about Oriston Academy?” She had always felt there was something mysterious about the place, like it was a school far more powerful than it seemed.
Joan answered, “The academy has a long history. House of Ivory has produced many famous socialites and leaders. It’s a perfect place for you to continue your education.”
Sharon asked, “What about House of Obsidian?”
Joan paused. “That’s the division that researches special species. Like the mutant lizard you killed at the parlor–it’s one of the creatures they study.”
“Where did those mutant lizards even come from?” Sharon had looked into it before, but there was barely any information available.
Most of the time, special people were sent to deal with these matters, like the ones from Oriston Academy she had run into last time. Outsiders had no way of finding out anything about those places. It was like they were locked up tighter than Fort Knox.
Joan sighed, “Well, Ms. Vance, before you decide to join House of Obsidian, I can’t tell you much. That’s the real world’s secret. Everyone in that division is a gatekeeper.
Chapter 31
“Your brothers actually don’t want you to join House of Obsidian at all. They just want you to graduate from House of ivory, find a husband who can marry into your family, and have him take care of you for life.”
“A husband who marries into my family?” Sharon had no idea what kind of expression she should be making, She thought, ‘Are my brothers serious right
now?
Joan said. “Of course. You’ve got eight brothers who spoil you so much. You’re gorgeous like a model, filthy rich, sitting on mountains of real estate. You’ll never have to worry about anything your whole life.
“Why should you marry some random guy, have his kids, deal with annoying in–laws, and stress about him cheating on you?”
She sounded completely righteous, her tone firm. “Your eight brothers spent seven days and nights discussing it. They finally decided to break off the Baxter family engagement and pick out a proper husband for you.
“They’ve already gathered all the photos and profiles–just waiting for y you to come back and pick one. Or a few, if you feel like it.”
Sharon fell silent, thinking, ‘They talked for seven whole days and nights just to come up with the idea of picking husbands who’ll marry into our family? And letting me pick more than one?
‘Are they planning to build me a harem or what? Anyone overhearing them would think they were discussing something serious.
She rubbed her temples. “I’m just gonna go downstairs and have brea
first.”
She thought, ‘That’s what really matters. Everything else they’re talking about crazy already.‘
When Sharon walked into the living room, she spotted her eight handsome, sharp–looking brothers sitting on the couch. Even though they looked a lot alike, their vibes and personalities were worlds apart, making it pretty easy to tell them apart.
Her oldest brother, Richard, had a scar across his forehead, a tall, muscular build, and a straight–up gangster aura.
Her second brother Wallace was the CEO of Dynamico Group, polished and commanding, with razor–sharp eyes.
Her third brother Julian was a high–ranking government official, always smiling
on the surface but keeping people at arm’s length underneath.
Her fourth brother Patrick was a famous award–winning movie star–handsome, charming, and elegant to the
core.
Her fifth brother Aaron Vance, sixth brother Marcus Vance, and seventh brother Jeffrey had similar vibes–quiet, cold, and completely expressionless.
As for their actual jobs, she wasn’t too sure yet, but it sounded like they were scientists and doctors.
Her eighth brother Marvin was a full–on playboy, always decked out in flashy, colorful clothes.
Sharon’s lips curved into a slight smile. “Good morning.”
All eight men immediately lifted their heads to look at her, their eyes lighting up.
AD
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