Catherine felt Sean's arms slide away from her side, and she leaned against the wallpapered wall to steady herself. Sean strode across the room and grabbed Iris by the wrist. Iris' face flushed with anger, and she tried to pull her hand away.

"Ow, Sean, you're hurting me," she complained.

​​

"I'll let go when you apologize to Catherine," Sean said.

"Well, we both know I'm not going to do that," Iris said. "I can't believe you're taking her side. I'm your sister, Sean. I know we don't always get along, but you have to listen to me. We're family."

"Catherine is my family now," Sean said. "And she's yours too."

"She's not," Iris sniffed. "She's your wife—or will be until you get bored."

Sean glared at her, "I'll only say it once more. She's part of the family now."

"Hmph, whatever spell she has you under doesn't work on me," Iris said. "And I'm not going to pretend that everything is fine just because you want me to. As your sister, it's my job to look out for you and protect you from women like her—I'm not going to stop just because it bothers you."

"Well, you have a choice then," Sean said. "You can gain a sister-in-law tonight, or you can lose a brother."

Iris' eyes widened, "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you accept Catherine or you lose me," Sean said, his voice hard and flat.

Catherine watched it happen as if she were watching a strange play she couldn't quite understand—none of it seemed real. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brad and Leydon watching the scene with awkward expressions. She turned back to Iris and Sean. Sean still held his sister's wrist in his hand, and Iris' eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"Leave her alone," Catherine said, surprising herself.

"What?" Sean asked.

"She doesn't want me to be part of the family," Catherine said. "And after today, I don't want anything to do with her either. What's the point of forcing her to pretend she likes and accepts me? No matter how you insist, she's not going to change her mind or her feelings."

Sean looked at Catherine in confusion, "Well, she should apologize at least."

Catherine shrugged, "Of course she owes me an apology, but I don't want one if it's not genuine—and it's never going to be genuine."

Sean frowned, "What?"

"I've had a long day," Catherine said. "I just want to take a shower and lie down."

Sean ignored her, "Bring them in," he shouted.

Four men entered the room, looking uncomfortable. They were all well over six feet tall in the same black uniforms and had the same pained expressions. Catherine immediately guessed that they were the four guards who had attacked Geoffrey. Iris' eyes widened when she saw them, but she didn't say a word.

"Speak," Sean ordered.

The man on the far right cleared his throat, "Miss Blair ordered us to attack Mrs. Blair's bodyguard. She said we had to make sure that Geoffrey wouldn't be able to follow Mrs. Blair or find out where she'd gone."

"Next one," Sean shouted.

Looking relieved, the four guards filed out of the room, and Glen entered. Iris' lips curled into a small smile, and she exchanged a glance with her loyal guard.

"This afternoon, I received a call from Miss Blair," Glen said. "She was in a panic—she told me that your wife kidnapped her, pulled a knife on her, and forced her driver out of the car. I came to look for Miss Blair and tracked her to the airport, where we happened to run into Marco. Now Mrs. Blair was violent and crazy—I had to handcuff her in order to protect Miss Blair, but even then, she was violent."

"You're lying," Sean said, his voice flat. "Go back to my brother's house. I'll talk to him about your punishment later."

"I'm not lying," Glen said.

Sean glared at him wordlessly, and Glen bowed his head and left the room. Iris chewed her lower lip and looked at Brad and Leydon. Both Brad and Leydon looked like they'd rather be anywhere else in the world.

"Levi," Sean shouted.

Levi entered the room, his face pale and his eyes wide, "It's my fault."

"Explain it," Sean hissed.

"I—I—" Levi stammered.

Sean stalked across the room. In a single fluid motion, he clenched his hand into a fist, pulled his arm back, and punched Levi square in the face. Levi staggered backward, and Sean advanced again, raining blow upon blow down on Levi.

"You're fired," Sean said, panting. "I don't need a traitor."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Blair," Levi moaned.

"Don't speak," Sean said. "You betrayed me. I trusted you, and you betrayed me. And for what? What did they offer you?"

"Nothing," Levi groaned. "Glen asked me some questions, and I answered them. He's been with your family for such a long time—I thought it was harmless."

"Who authorized you to make that decision?" Sean asked. "I pay you to keep my affairs private, not to blab them to my family or anyone who asks. Did you know her plan?"

"No," Levi said. "I didn't—not really. Well, Glen asked me to disappear for a few minutes, but I had no idea they were going to kidnap your wife. I swear."

"You had no idea, yet you disobeyed my direct orders without a single question?" Sean asked. "Your story doesn't add up."

"Okay," Levi admitted. "I thought it was another test—like when you had Marco call her. When Glen told me the idea, he said it was just to test her, and I believed him. I just wanted to make sure she was loyal to you."

"Did I ask you to do that?" Sean asked.

"No," Levi muttered. "It was stupid. Just stupidity. But I had good intentions."

"Well, unfortunately for you, I have no need for stupidity in my staff," Sean said. "You're fired."

Levi's eyes widened, "Please."

"Fine, go to the Northwest Company for all I care," Sean snapped.

"Not the Northwest Company," Levi begged.

"Well, take it or leave it," Sean said. "Since you like making your own choices so much, I'll let you choose this one too."

He turned and walked back toward Catherine, who was shivering. His hair was disheveled, his knuckles were bruised, and his eyes were filled with frenzied violence. He blinked, and for a moment, she thought he looked sad. But then the mask of rage descended back over his features, and she wondered if she'd imagined the regret in his expression.

"Alright, Iris," Sean said. "I've listened to several versions of this story now. Is there anything else you want to add?"

Iris' eyes flashed, and she didn't say a word. Sean stalked toward her and grabbed her by her shoulders.

"I thought you wanted me to know all the facts," he said. "Have you suddenly changed your mind?"

Iris trembled, and Brad rushed over.

"Come on, Sean," Brad said. "Let her go. You're scaring her."

"Stay out of this, Brad," Sean snapped.

"She's your sister," Brad said. "Don't forget that."

Tears streamed down Iris cheeks, and her shoulders shook in silent sobs.

"I'm sorry, Catherine," she said, her eyes flashing with hatred.

**************************************************************************************************

Dearest Lovies,

As the Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching, allow your humble author to share with you my tradition. You might all wonder about my nationality, I'm a proud Chinese human who can speak fluently five languages, including English, behind those few novels I've posted on this platform lies a creative and wild imagination.

So, as part of my tradition, every year, we celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year; 2021 is a year of the OX. Festive decorations and abundant foods were our way of expressing year-round gratitude. Therefore, before the 12th of this month (Friday), allow me to greet you in advance, Gong Xi Fa Cai 2021!

May this year of the OX bring abundance to our lives. On Friday, I will once again give a generous mass release as a gift.

Stay safe and spread love! You can follow me on Instagram cause I often posted a sneak preview of my running novels chapter.

Instagram Account: @annashannellin

Love lots,

Anna Shannel Lin