The Party Trap

I needed more than guesses.

Julian was too controlled.

He rarely let useful thoughts slip.

So I organized a welcome party and invited everyone from our high school who had entered the same university.

Everyone except Julian.

I knew he would come.

He did.

Late.

Calm.

Uninvited.

Hunter’s smile disappeared at once.

“Iris didn’t invite you. Why are you here?”

The whole room watched.

Everyone knew Julian had once been my boyfriend.

Everyone also knew he had somehow become my brother.

Most of them disliked him now.

They thought he had manipulated me.

They were correct.

Julian ignored them and walked to me.

“Who says she didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t,” I said immediately.

The room believed me.

Julian smiled.

“Iris, I know I didn’t serve you well last night, but you don’t need to humiliate me like this.”

The room froze.

“What?”

My face burned.

He continued, tone gentle and shameless,

“Tonight, I’ll try harder. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.”

“You—”

He kissed me again.

I pushed at his chest.

He held me tighter.

By the time he released me, everyone had found excuses to leave.

Including Hunter, heartbroken.

Only Julian and I remained in the private room.

He sat back on the sofa, pleased with himself.

“Iris, you were cruel tonight. You wanted them to mock me.”

Of course he knew.

Old fox.

I smiled sweetly.

“When did I humiliate you? Brother, Father values you so much. I didn’t invite you because I didn’t want to distract you from company work.”

His eyes softened for half a second.

Then sharpened.

“You’re still testing me.”

I said nothing.

Later in the parking lot, Julian took my keys.

“You drank. Don’t drive.”

I leaned into him suddenly, pinning him against the car door.

“Brother is so considerate.”

His hands braced against the window.

His body went rigid.

She’s too close. What is she trying to do?

Interesting.

So he could be nervous too.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“You spent three years chasing me. You kissed me. Tell me, did you truly see me as your sister?”

His breathing changed.

At last, his thoughts broke through.

I can’t let her know I’m not her brother.

Even if I love her, I can’t ruin the plan.

My smile froze.

There.

Finally.

“Don’t want to answer?” I whispered.

He looked at me warily.

“That’s fine.”

I leaned closer.

“Then tell me. Why did you enter Jiang Group?”

His thoughts raced.

She knows I’m meeting the partners?

Does she know the plan?

If I say nothing, will she hate me again?

Business partners.

Plan.

I had enough.

The next morning, I ordered an internal review of every partner Julian had contacted.

Sure enough, he had met several in private.

At the same time, I discovered Father had quietly transferred thirty percent of Jiang Group shares to Julian.

I took the photos and documents to Father’s hospital room.

“Dad,” I said, placing them on the blanket, “do you still not understand? Julian is not your son.”

Father refused to believe me.

Julian’s mother was ill, he said.

She needed expensive treatment.

Julian was filial.

That was why Father promoted him and gave him shares.

I nearly laughed in rage.

I had seen his mother last week.

Playing mahjong.

Loud.

Healthy.

Very much not dying.

When I left the hospital, Julian waited beside my car.

“You investigated me,” he said.

“Yes.”

“And showed Father?”

“Yes.”

He smiled.

“Even if you know something, you can’t stop me.”

His thoughts, however, were softer.

This foolish girl insists on getting involved. What am I supposed to do with her?

I stared at him.

Revenge.

That was his purpose.

So I gave him something more frightening.

“I’m going to find a husband,” I said.

His expression shattered.

“What?”

“To stabilize my position as heir. I need a husband strong enough to fight you.”

He grabbed my shoulders.

“No.”

His thoughts screamed.

She wants to marry someone else?

Just to fight me?

Without her, what meaning does revenge have?

There.

Revenge.

And love.

Finally, both cards on the table.

“I said,” I repeated, “I’m going to marry someone else.”

“I won’t allow it.”

“On what grounds?” I asked. “Because you are my dear brother?”

His eyes burned.

“Because I am not your brother.”

I secretly pressed the recorder in my pocket.

“And?”

“Because I want to marry you.”

His voice was steady.

His hands were shaking.

For the first time since the birthday dinner, Julian Yun told me one truth.

Naturally, I recorded it.