"Loving the Enemy" Chapter 8
She offhandedly grumbled that they were blocking the way and said they might as well just give her a card. The next day, a check for ten million was tucked into the door frame. After the checks totaled nearly a hundred million, Natalia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She finally sought them out.
"Dad, Mom, you’re going to spoil me."
Her mother shook her head with a smile. "It’s not us; your brother arranged all of this."
Natalia turned to Weston, a look of confusion in her eyes. Weston simply smiled, his tone tender. "You were away for so long that I had no way to express my love. Now that you’re back, won't you give me a chance to show it?"
Natalia felt helpless. "Brother..."
Weston ruffled her hair. "Alright. You just got back. I just want you to rest in the happiest mood possible. Once you’ve rested enough, I’ll take you to see the dance studio."
Natalia’s eyes lit up. "Really? Can I go right now?"
Weston nodded. "You can. But before we go, there is one thing we need to finish."
Natalia was confused. "What thing?"
Weston looked at her with a meaningful gaze. "Did you forget I said I was going to introduce you to your fiancé?"
Natalia’s expression changed instantly. "Brother, there’s no rush..."
Weston shook his head, his tone firm. "It is urgent. He is waiting for you at the dance studio right now."
With that, he took her hand and led her outside. Natalia felt a surge of panic, unsure of what Weston was planning. But before she could ask, she was ushered into the car.
As the car slowly made its way toward the studio, Natalia found herself growing unexpectedly nervous at the thought of meeting this fiancé. Sitting in the car, her fingers absentmindedly twisted the hem of her skirt, her heart feeling like a messy tangle of complex emotions.
Weston’s words kept echoing in her mind—"Your fiancé is already waiting for you at the dance studio."
"Brother, can you tell me... what kind of person is he?" Natalia finally asked, her voice tight with nerves.
Weston gripped the steering wheel, a faint smile on his lips. "Are you nervous?"
Natalia nodded. "Of course I am! This is a fiancé, not just some random friend."
Weston glanced at her, his eyes carrying a deep meaning. "He’s a few years older than you. His family runs a corporation. He has a steady personality and is easy to get along with. As for whether he’s handsome or tall..."
He paused, a teasing note in his voice. "I think he’s quite alright."
Natalia frowned, feeling that Weston’s description was somehow off. This image of a fiancé... why did it sound so familiar? But as for who he reminded her of, she couldn't quite place it.
"Brother, is he... someone I know?" Natalia asked tentatively.
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Weston didn't answer, only smiling. "You’ll know when we get there."
Chapter Fifteen
The car came to a slow halt in front of the dance studio, but Natalia suddenly gripped the car door, refusing to get out. "Brother, let’s wait a bit longer. I... I’m not ready yet."
Weston’s eyes darkened slightly, his tone carrying a firm, undeniable resolve. "No. He has waited a very long time for you. Now that you are finally here, he cannot wait any longer."
Natalia froze. "Waited for me for a long time? Does he... has he had a crush on me for a while?"
Weston didn't answer. He simply got out, walked around to her side, opened the door, and pulled her out. Natalia felt a surge of panic, but she was no match for his strength and could only follow him into the studio.
The moment she stepped inside, Natalia was stunned by the sight before her. The studio’s decor was designed entirely according to her tastes: spacious floor-to-ceiling mirrors, soft wooden flooring, and even a dedicated wall displaying photos of her dancing. It wasn't hard to imagine how much effort Weston must have put into creating such a perfect space for her.
"Brother, this is... amazing!" Natalia couldn't help but exclaim, the tension in her heart easing slightly.
Weston smiled. "I’m glad you like it."
He turned to leave. "I’ll go bring him in. Take a good look around and see if anything needs changing."
Natalia nodded. After watching him leave, she couldn't resist turning on the music and starting to dance to the melody. Her body spun lightly with the rhythm, as if all her troubles had been tossed aside. When the song ended, she realized Weston was already standing not far away, watching her with a smile in his eyes.
"Brother, when did you get back?" Natalia asked, feeling a bit shy.
Weston approached her, his voice tender. "Just now. You danced beautifully."
Natalia smiled, then remembered the business at hand, looking behind him. "Where is the fiancé? Didn't you say you were bringing him over?"
Weston looked at her, his gaze carrying a deep meaning. "He is already here."
Natalia blinked, looking around. "No, he isn't. It’s just you. Is he outside?"
Weston shook his head, his tone steady. "He is already here."
Natalia’s mind let out a loud roar, as if she had been struck by lightning. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Brother, are you saying... my fiancé is you?"
Weston didn't speak; he just watched her quietly, his eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.
Natalia’s mind was a chaotic mess, her voice filled with disbelief. "Brother, stop joking..."
Weston shook his head, his tone serious. "Nat, I’m not joking. You were young and didn't know, but I was adopted. I’ve been so good to you all your life—did you really not see that besides brotherly affection, there were other feelings involved?"
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Countless images flashed through Natalia’s mind instantly—
When they were kids, Weston always saved the best things for her. Whatever was delicious or fun, he thought of her first.
During her school years, Weston would personally pick her up and drop her off, standing up to protect her without hesitation whenever she was bullied by classmates.
Once, when Natalia participated in a dance competition, Weston cancelled all his work to stay by her side the entire time, cheering her on.
And every time she was sick, Weston would stay by her bedside, taking care of her meticulously and not closing his eyes all night.
After she went to the North, he would ask when she was coming home every time he called; the gloom and displeasure in his voice whenever she mentioned a boyfriend... It turned out none of it was her imagination.
Chapter Sixteen
"Brother, I..." Natalia’s voice shook, her heart in a total state of confusion.
Weston gently took her hand, his tone tender. "I didn't want to scare you, so I planned to wait until you grew up to confess. I never expected you to leave and stay away, making me wait all these years."
Natalia’s mind was a complete blank, totally unable to process this fact.
She whispered, "But brother, Mom and Dad won't agree..."
Weston smiled. "Before you came back, I already told them how I felt about you. They were very supportive. Actually, when we were small and our parents saw how much I doted on you, they already thought about marrying you to me."
Natalia still found it hard to believe, so Weston simply took her home to ask their parents face-to-face.
Sure enough, their parents' attitude was extremely supportive. They even said with smiles, "Nat, your brother has been so good to you since you were little. We are most at peace leaving you in his hands."
Natalia’s mind was a mess, and she had no idea how to respond.
Sensing her unease, Weston said softly, "It’s okay. We’ll go on dates from now on. I’ll let you gradually stop seeing me as a brother and start seeing me as a man."
"If you fall for me, we’ll get married. If not, I will go back to being your brother and continue to protect you."
Over the following days, Weston indeed kept his promise. From Monday to Friday, they went on dates every day, and with each one, Weston used his actions to slowly break down the boundaries in her heart.
On Monday, Weston took Natalia to a high-end restaurant. The decor was luxurious and elegant, the soft lighting creating a romantic atmosphere. They sat by the window, overlooking the beautiful city nightscape.
Being on her first date with her brother, Natalia was nervous and kept her head down. Weston considerately pulled out her chair and only sat down after she was settled.
Seeing her so nervous that she refused to look up, Weston couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth turn up. He said, "From now on, I’ll give you a sentence to repeat to yourself, and then you won't be nervous anymore."
Natalia was stunned. "What?"
Weston: "He isn't my brother; he’s the man who loves me."
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