Noah massaged his temples as soon as he ended the call. That woman Luo would soon be the death of him. He was surprised to see how she dared to spend his money like there was no tomorrow?

  "Why do I feel like it's a liability in taking her in?" he irritably murmured when the woman had not proven herself and done a single profitable thing yet in his firm.

  "Be my wife? Ha! In her dreams!" he hissed, thinking about her words on the phone, still with eyes closed.

  "Who is it?" he heard his sister excitedly ask him. He opened his eyes to see Brione standing in front of him, excited to know whom he was talking about.

  Brione was the only woman who could go in and out of his office without his secretary informing or asking him for permission.

  Noah looked at her and saw Brione grinning at him as she comfortably took her seat on one of the chairs in front of his table.

  "So who is that woman who is gonna be your wife, big bro?" Bione asked, still with a teasing grin.

  "Why are you suddenly here, huh?" Noah asked, ignoring Brione's teasing.

  Brione pouted her lips and said, "Treat me to a nice lunch. I'm starving…"

  Noah sighed and then stood up and said, "Alright, let's go."

  Brione quickly encircled her arm on her doting brother's, wondering how he would react once they arrived at the restaurant.

  They soon arrived at the restaurant of Brione's choice and entered a private room that was pre-booked for them. Noah's face darkened as soon as he stepped inside the room, seeing his father was already sitting inside with their stepmother by his side.

  "What is this?" Noah grunted and gave a sharp look to Brione.

  "Noah son… Please… Can you just sit here and have at least one proper meal with us?" he heard his father pleaded.

  He never showed himself in front of his father, ever since that day he picked his father up from the airport with Brione, he kept avoiding him and his father knew if he wanted to see him only Brione could let that happen.

  Noah also tried sometimes to let go things, but he could not really tolerate to stay even for an hour, seeing the face of that woman around him.

  "Please big bro…" he heard Brione whisper as well. Noah looked at the begging eyes of his little sister and sighed.

  He didn't have the ability to disappoint his sister for anything and so he let Brione pull him to a seat, but he did not bother to look at that woman's direction and neither did he greet her at all.

  "It's nice that you can join us for lunch Noah." he heard his stepmother whisper and as usual he only acted as if he heard nothing and treated her as air. He also knew his stepmother was already used to his coldness, but she still tried to strike some conversations with him time and again.

  "Yes… Let's all begin and enjoy this meal together. It's been a while since I got to dine with my daughter and son like this together as a whole family, since both of you are too busy to find time anyway." Senior Yu commented as he held Marlyn's hand and gently squeezed it, with his eyes asking for more understanding towards his son.

  Marlyn gave her husband a reassuring smile and a nod. It had been so many years and yet until now Noah did not acknowledge her as a part of the family. He was vocal against her from the very start and always believed that she was the one responsible for his mother's death.

  She could understand how he felt because she was partly responsible for what happened to his mother. She, in her past, had added a lot of salt in her wounds, bringing her to her death earlier. She did not realise what she was doing at that time, but now when she looked back she did have some regrets in her heart now.

  She had tried her best many times, to reach out to him and try to make him like her a bit, but every time she did it felt like the hatred in his heart was only growing more. He had no trust in her and was watching her every move, and she was aware of that…


  Marlyn quietly heaved a sigh and smiled at Brione. "It must have been hard to be a superstar dear. I often see you on the television and I'm really grateful that you could find some time in your busy schedule to be with us. I hope you will not over exhaust yourself mydear"

  Noah scoffed at that… How he hated whenever that woman spoke and acted like she was truly concerned about them both.

  "How about you asked the same to your own blood, huh?" Noah sarcastically interrupted and he felt Brione's hand on his arm.

  Brione smiled at their mother and said, "thanks auntie. Big bro is actually taking care of me. He's in close coordination with my manager so everything is to my advantage."

  Then Brione changed the topic to ease the awkward atmosphere inside. She saw this coming and told her father that big bro would still not budge but yet her father insisted on this family gathering, hoping to be with Noah and her together.

  She too was a bit confused why her brother was overreacting but then she thought there was something more to it that she was unaware of. She already asked their father but he said there was nothing for her to worry.

  Yes, her big bro could be moody at times but being angry with someone for a long time like that, she knew there has to be a deep reason. She had nothing against Marlyn since the latter had been nice to her ever since she became her father's wife.

  Marly showed nothing but kindness both to her and her brother Noah. Even though Noah was not good to her, she remained calm and would always have a kind look to her that she often felt bad for and would end up scolding her big bro.

  Noah's father on the other hand could not scold or reprimand Noah every time because he himself also felt guilty and thought he had made a mistake that was why his son looked at him differently than before. Noah has told him once that his respect for him was long gone.

  His every word cut him deeply and he was guilty but years passed already and he was hoping that Noah could forget the past and move on to the present and future.

  After a few bites, Noah stood up and said, "I'm done Brione and am leaving. I'm a busy person so I hope not to be pulled out like this again, in this kind of useless meeting Brione."