Chapter 3

I laughed. A bitter, angry laugh.

“I suggest you get your head checked. If I’m not mistaken, Willow is twenty-five this year, a few months older than me, right?”

“First, I hate man-children. Second, I hate manipulative parasites who steal from people. And she’s both.”

My words stung Willow, and tears immediately streamed down her face.

“Brandon will spoil me no matter how old I am, you’re just jealous!”

“You’re not even married to Brandon yet, what right does an outsider have to Harrison family property? *You’re* the shameless one!”

Willow was nominally an adopted daughter of the Harrison family, but in reality, she was more like a glorified housekeeper. Brandon had once campaigned to make Willow a true heiress, but Grandpa Harrison firmly refused, so he had to drop it.

Because of this, he felt guilty towards Willow.

Now, seeing her upset, he looked truly pained.

He frowned.

“Willow is different from you. She doesn’t have parents, she only has me. Grandpa refused to let her change her name, that’s why she has no sense of security…”

I cut him off, offering a suggestion.

“You want Willow to be recognized? Easy.”

“If you marry her, I’ll gladly give her this necklace. Consider it a wedding gift from me.”

I unclipped the necklace from my neck and extended it to Willow.

Willow’s eyes widened in disbelief, then undisguised glee. She reached out to take it.

“No!”

Brandon snatched the necklace away, clutching it tightly in his fist.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Willow is just… just my adopted sister. You’re the one I want to spend my life with!”

“She’s family, but you’re my love. Don’t say things you don’t mean, or I’ll really get angry.”

Staring into those supposedly loving eyes, I felt no emotion except disgust.

Not wanting to waste another second, I turned and walked away.

Ignoring whatever Brandon was still saying behind me.

Stepping out of the airport, a discreet Maybach pulled up in front of me. The driver got out and opened the door.

“Madam, Mr. Harrison instructed me to pick him up later. Shall I take you home first?”

Devin had been away on a business trip for two weeks. Grandpa knew he was returning today and specifically requested dinner at the family estate tonight.

Suddenly, someone pushed past me and quickly got into the car.

Willow settled herself, then sneered.

“Didn’t you say you were married? Why are you still hitching a ride in *our* family car? Go take *your* husband’s car!”

Willow recognized the Maybach; it was Devin Harrison’s.

Brandon evidently recognized it too, looking pleasantly surprised. After all, his uncle didn’t usually bother with such trivial matters.

He sat next to Willow, buckled her seatbelt, then turned to me.

“You can sit in front. Willow is used to sitting next to me. I’ll have the driver drop you off at the Hayes estate first.”

“No need. I have my own car. Driver, please take them back to the estate. I have other plans.”

I pulled out my car keys, pressed unlock, and a Lamborghini Veneno in the distance flashed its lights twice.

Seeing me drive off in a supercar, Willow’s eyes glinted with jealousy.

Brandon sighed.

“She specifically came to pick me up, she must be upset I didn’t get in her car.”

Then he asked the driver,

“Did Uncle send you to pick me up?”

The driver answered truthfully.

“No, sir. I’m here to pick up Mr. Harrison.”

The air hung heavy for two seconds before Brandon spoke.

“…What a coincidence. So where is Uncle?”

“Flight delayed.”

I went to the spa, enjoyed a luxurious treatment, and only headed back to the estate when it was almost dinner time.

The moment I stepped out of my car, I saw two figures kneeling stiffly, like wooden stakes, right at the front gate.

Turns out, after the driver dropped them off, Grandpa Harrison, upon hearing it was Brandon and Willow, immediately slammed his cane to the ground and refused to let them in.

“Get out! Why didn’t you just die in Africa? What are you back for?”

Brandon gambled on Grandpa’s soft spot, dropping to his knees at the door. Willow, to accompany him, also knelt.

Seeing me arrive, Brandon stood up and blocked my path. His previously dejected expression vanished, replaced by a smile.

“I knew it, you couldn’t stay away.”

“Did you hear Grandpa was punishing me and rushed over in a panic?”

I grimaced and tried to walk around him.

But he blocked me again, putting on a pretense of concern.

“Don’t go in. Grandpa’s still fuming. I’m afraid he’ll take it out on you.”

Willow had approached at some point. She pointed a finger at my nose, her voice accusatory.

“Are you still holding a grudge about Brandon ditching the wedding for me?”

“You’re the one stirring trouble, aren’t you? Grandpa usually dotes on Brandon, why would he refuse to let him in?”

“You’re just here to gloat!”

With that, she lunged at me, trying to grab me. I sidestepped, and she face-planted onto the ground.

Willow landed hard, scraping her knee, and tears instantly flooded her eyes.

Brandon pursed his lips, his smile fading. He immediately knelt to check Willow’s injury.

Seeing she was fine, he skillfully scooped her up in a princess carry and consoled her for a long time until she finally started to smile through her tears.

Only then did Brandon remember me. He sighed.

“Alexis, you’re acting so unlike yourself.”

“Willow never means what she says. If you’re going to marry me, you need to learn to be more tolerant of her.”

“Just apologize to Willow this once. In the future, I hope you can change your attitude.”

What?

My vision swam. I sneered.

“Should I also offer some compensation to soothe her wounded heart?”

A flicker of greed flashed in Willow’s eyes.

“I need a car for getting around. That one you drove today is barely acceptable.”

A Lamborghini Veneno. Limited to 3 models worldwide, worth $23 million each.

Willow really had some nerve.

Brandon started making decisions for me again.

“It’s rare for Willow to like something, so just give her the car. Consider it compensation for hurting her.”

I stared at him, my voice flat.

“You’re truly something.”

“What?” Brandon didn’t catch on.

“I said, you’re sick.”

I shoved Brandon aside and walked straight into the house.

“Stop right there!”

Brandon realized he’d been played. His face was livid, and he threatened, his voice sharp.

“Alexis Hayes, I’m telling you now, if you don’t apologize to Willow, you can forget about marrying me, forget about stepping foot into my family’s house!”

*CRASH—*

Suddenly, a cane came flying out, striking Brandon squarely on the head.

From several feet away, Grandpa Harrison’s booming voice, surprisingly strong for his age, echoed clearly for everyone to hear.

“You imbecile! Do you even know who that is?!”