For Sean's Sake

On the weekend, Sean brought Isobel back home to meet Grandma.

"Sasha." Sean came downstairs. "Izzie wants to try some of your homemade bread. Can you bake some for her?"

"Sure," I said, setting aside my work.

As I rolled up my sleeves and headed to the kitchen, Sean beamed at me. "Sasha, you're the best."

"Of course." I flashed him an indulgent smile.

Since our parents passed away, it had always been the two of us. We were the closest family we had, and I had always pampered him.

I took some eggs from the fridge while Sean lingered beside me instead of leaving right away. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Sasha, will you give me anything I want?"

The kitchen fell silent.

He went back to his bubbly demeanor again after a few seconds. "I heard a car outside. It must be Grandma. I'll go greet her!"

He left. After what felt like ages had passed, I sighed.

By the time the bread was ready, dinner had already been prepared. Isobel came downstairs and linked arms with Grandma, saying, "Agnes, I have good news for you."

Grandma, who had been quite unhappy with Sean's choice of girlfriend, suddenly burst into laughter after hearing Isobel whisper in her ear.

"That's wonderful! That's some great news, indeed. Hurry up and sit down—don't tire yourself out."

"Agnes, I'm fine," Isobel replied gently.

Placing the freshly baked bread in front of her, I said, "It's still quite hot. Let it cool before eating it."

Yet she didn't seem to hear me. She continued chatting with Grandma instead.

"Agnes, can I come visit you whenever I'm free?"

"Of course! I'd be happier than anyone to have you here."

Feeling somewhat awkward, I simply withdrew my hand and sat down.

Now that Isobel had Grandma wrapped around her finger, she finally turned toward the bread in front of her. Disgust filled her expression as she screeched, "This is way too greasy! Who put this here? Don't they know that pregnant women can't indulge in sweet stuff?"

Since Grandma's future great-grandchild was involved, she immediately got all worked up and slammed her hand on the table. "Who put it here? Do they want to get fired?"

Just then, Sean walked in and caught only the tail end of the conversation.

"Sasha baked it for Izzie. What's wrong, Grandma?"

Grandma swerved toward me with a distant look in her eyes. "Sasha, Izzie is pregnant now, and she can't stand sweet or greasy food. Don't serve this kind of food from now on."

Sean tried to interject, saying, "Grandma, I was the one who—"

"Sean, I feel like going for a walk," Isobel suddenly said. "Will you come with me?"

"Sure." He turned toward Grandma and me. "I'll take Izzie outside for a bit."

He gave me an apologetic look, and I returned it with a smile to reassure him I was fine. As I turned around, I caught the triumphant glint in Isobel's eyes.

I frowned, fully aware that she had framed me on purpose. But for Sean's sake, I held back.

It had been ages since Grandma last received wonderful news, and she couldn't stop smiling.

"Sasha, please don't ever do this again," she chided. "A woman has to be extra careful during the early stages of pregnancy. You're Sean's sister, so you have to take care of them. Won't you have to rely on them too when you get old?"

What she said didn't sit well with me, but considering her old age, I said nothing.

"Let's go, Grandma. I'll take you back."

…

I had been so busy that the next time I saw Sean was in my office.

"What a rare guest," I remarked with a chuckle.

Scratching his head, Sean said, "I happened to pass by with Izzie, so I figured I'd drop in. I didn't expect the new building to be this luxurious… Sasha, does the whole building belong to us?"

Once My Brother

"We also have other companies," I replied.

"That's great," Sean remarked. "I heard this area is really expensive. By the way, Sasha, I'm planning to work at the company once Izzie's pregnancy is stable. What position can you offer me?"

I called Ellis Wood, my secretary, through the intercom and asked her about the available vacancies.

As soon as Sean heard the positions Ellis mentioned, his expression hardened.

"Sasha, I'm your brother, aren't I? It'd be embarrassing if people find out I'm holding such a minor position," he said, his amused tone belying his embarrassed expression.

After signaling Ellis to leave, I replied, "You've never been involved in company matters, so it's best to start with the basics. That way, it'll also be easier for me to promote you later."

"But you immediately became the head of the company back then," Sean blurted out. "Since you're doing so well, why can't I?"

"Sean, things are different now," I replied. "I had no choice but to take that position back then. But now, there are so many employees relying on their salaries to survive. If the people in charge make one wrong move, those employees will be the ones to suffer."

Worried that I was being too harsh, I softened my tone and continued, "I'll arrange for someone to mentor you. Once you've learned and gained experience, no one will doubt you when I promote you in the future."

"Fine," Sean reluctantly agreed. "I'll leave you to your work, then."

Watching him leave, I pressed my forehead and sat down.

"Ms. Carrington, you're having a headache again," Eliis remarked as she entered and poured me a glass of water. "Mr. Carrington is really awful… You're already struggling to hold things together at the company, yet he's still trying to make things worse for you."

I took a sip of water and said nothing.

Ellis stepped aside and said, "Ms. Carrington, Mr. Yeager just called. He wants to have lunch with you."

"Cancel it."

…

Perhaps out of his dissatisfaction with the position I arranged for him, Sean spent five million dollars in just a few days.

Karl Yeager told me that Sean had custom-ordered a five-carat diamond ring at his store.

The next day, Isobel and Sean came to me. Carefully supporting Isobel, Sean announced, "Sasha, we're getting married."

"That's great! When's the date?"

"We don't want to wait until Izzie is showing, so we're planning to have the wedding next month."

"Alright. I'll be sure to give you both a big wedding gift."

"Thanks, Sasha."

As Sean faltered and fumbled with his next words, Isobel urged, "Say it. Hurry up!"

I smiled. "Is there anything else?"

Taking a deep breath, Sean asked, "Sasha, can you give me Beaugor Villa?"

I looked up in surprise, wondering if I had misheard.

"Izzie is still studying, so it'd be more convenient for her if we had that house as our marital home," Sean explained.

I was so infuriated that I barked out a laugh. "Have you forgotten why I bought that house in the first place?"

I wanted to stay somewhere near the company. After tiring myself out the whole day at the office, it was always almost midnight when I was finally done with my work. I just wanted to have somewhere near to rest.

Honestly, seeing my own brother side with someone else made me really upset.

We were both orphans and only had each other as family. After our parents passed, I worked so hard to secure our family business. To save time commuting, I bought a house near my company, and Sean was well aware of that.

"Sasha, can't you just buy another house? Izzie's in love with Beaugor Villa," Sean continued, his voice tinged with irritation.

His patience was clearly running thin as he bellowed, "Or you just can't bear to give it to me at all? You said you'd do anything for me. Was that a lie, after all?"

Demanding My House

I gaped at him. "Sean, is that really what you think of me?"

Tugging Sean's arm, Isobel looked particularly defiant as she stated, "Since Sasha disagrees, forget it. Never mind that she dislikes me, but to think that she's even reluctant to give you a house as your marriage gift! If it were me, I'd rather be without a sister like her."

Sean pressed his lips together, doubt flickering in his eyes.

My office door suddenly swung open.

Grandma marched in and chided, "I can literally hear you quarreling from miles away."

"Grandma, what brings you here?" Sean sidled up to her, eager to please her.

Grandma rolled her eyes. "Of course, I have to be here for the discussion of your big day!"

As soon as she settled on the couch, she began patronizingly, "Sasha, Sean is the only son of our family. We have to take his wedding seriously. I like Izzie, and since she's now pregnant, I figured it'd be nice to just get the wedding done properly next month.

"The fortune of the entire Carrington family belongs to Sean anyway. He's only asking for a house from you as his marital home, yet you're being so reluctant. That's quite inappropriate of you, isn't it?"

Isobel beamed. "Agnes, you're really sensible!"

"In that case, I have nothing else to say either," I said. "Just proceed with the wedding."

Sean began, "Sasha, about Beaugor Villa—"

"No way," I interrupted. "I'm used to staying at Beaugor Villa and don't feel like moving. But I have a few vacant properties just as good as this one. Pick one as my wedding gift to you."

While Sean seemed to falter, Isobel was unyielding.

"I want Beaugor Villa," she insisted. "The baby likes it too. Sasha, if you truly care about us, you wouldn't be keeping the best for yourself."

"Sasha." Grandma pressed her lips together, looking disappointed as she chided me, "You've really let me down."

Clinging to Grandma's arm, Isobel made a deliberate effort to appear compliant and chimed in, "Grandma, if Sasha doesn't want to, don't force her. I don't really mind where I live, but I just didn't expect her to be this heartless toward family."

She eyed my office, a hint of jealousy flickering in her eyes as she continued, "Asking for a house from her is already this hard… I can't imagine how impossible it'll be for Sean to take over the company from her in the future."

Thanks to her adding fuel to the fire, Grandma's expression immediately darkened. Sean parted his lips, staring at me as if I had stolen something from him.

A wave of disappointment crashed over me.

"Get out!"

"Sasha—"

I couldn't stand the sight of them any longer. Without hesitation, I had Ellis escort them out.

…

"You look miserable," Karl remarked, leaning against the counter with an emerald bracelet in hand. He held it over my wrist, his voice teasing. "Even going out with me doesn't cheer you up?"

"Just spit it out," I grumbled, already worn down by days of mounting frustration.

Karl clicked his tongue. "You women… When I was taking care of you, you weren't this impatient."

The shop assistant's eyes gleamed with curiosity, practically burning with gossip.

Seemingly satisfied with the bracelet, Karl said, "I'll take this. Please wrap it up."

"Of course, sir," the shop assistant said. "Please come this way to pay."

"She's paying." He pointed at me.

Seeing the shop assistant's bewildered expression, he explained with a charming smile, "Married men can barely afford a drink, let alone this. You know how it is."

The shop assistant's expression instantly turned to pure shock as if she couldn't believe how low my morals were.