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.

Enough Is Enough

I shot a glare at Karl as I paid. He simply took the bag from the shop assistant and thanked her, then he turned to me.

"Let's go upstairs, shall we?"

Just as I was about to refuse, he wrapped his arm around my waist and urged, "Come on. We don't get to do this every day. Consider this a chance to unwind."

By the time we finished browsing, we had bought quite a few things. Karl did most of the picking while I paid. He seemed to be having way too much fun with it.

"Babe, do you think my wife would like this dress?"

Though our close proximity made my heart race, I rolled my eyes and momentarily pushed thoughts of Sean aside.

The sales assistant had been showering me with praise about how great the dress would look on me, but Karl's comment immediately left her blushing and at a loss for words.

I flashed her a helpless smile. Just as I was about to dismiss her, Karl caught my hand and began caressing it.

"That's enough."

"Don't be mad," he replied. "Just help me pick out a few more outfits for my wife, and tonight, my time is all yours."

Thankfully, his phone rang just in time.

I let out a breath of relief. "Who is it?"

"At least wait till I leave before you start gloating," he quipped, ruffling my hair before answering the call.

"Dad? What's up?"

As I had the sales assistant wrap up the clothes Karl had picked, I heard his father bellow over the phone, "You haven't been to the office all day! What could be so important that you'd skip an entire day of work?"

"Does spending time with your daughter-in-law count?" Karl responded indolently.

"Spending time with you—"

His father's voice trailed off before he recollected himself and continued, "In that case, enjoy yourself. But when will you bring her home? Your mom and I can't wait to meet her!"

"We'll see. Oh, I gotta go now."

Twirling his phone in his fingers, Karl turned toward me. "You heard him. When are you going to say yes?"

My cheeks burned as I shoved him away. "Just go back already."

"You heartless woman," he muttered, standing up. "Let's get you home first."

…

As if Isobel had indoctrinated him, Sean was relentless this time. He refused to give up on the villa. He bombarded me with messages, acting like it was rightfully his.

Even Grandma started showing up every few days, ruining the good mood I had after spending a day out with Karl.

"It's just a house. Why not give it to him and be done with it?" Grandma coaxed, trying to reason with me. "Sean is the only heir of our family. Sooner or later, you'll still have to rely on him. Why make things difficult now?"

"Grandma, that's not quite right," I responded with a stiff smile.

Deliberately ignoring my implication, Grandma continued, "You're going to get married eventually… Only Sean will remain in the family."

She was such a traditionalist that she saw a married daughter as an outsider and considered a woman running a business almost disgraceful, as if defying the natural order. After contemplating for a while, I decided it was time to clear things up.

"But that house is mine," I said. "Whether I marry or not, it's still my personal property."

As though I had hit a sore spot, Grandma scowled and chided, "Sasha, you're a woman. Aren't you afraid that people will laugh at you for being in charge of the company?

"It's unheard of to have a woman running a company forever. Sean's a man, so he's naturally better suited for it. He was young and clueless before, but now that he has grown up and is about to get married soon, you should hand over the company to him. Only then can the business truly flourish.

"Don't worry. We've seen how much effort you've put into running the company all these years. We'll make sure you get what you deserve."