Chapter 3: Where is the "Little Sister" From?

Inside the dark room, Clara opened her eyes.

She walked into the shower and turned on the faucet, letting the warm water splash against her face.

In Veridia, the Vance family held absolute power.

However, the family was plagued by severe internal strife, divided into the Main House and the Branch Houses.

"The Branch House is becoming increasingly bold. Their desire to overthrow the Main House is now out in the open."

Alistair's face was blurred behind a veil of cigarette smoke. Silas and Julian were both from the Capital, and their family businesses were rooted there.

However, the Knight family had recently expressed interest in developing the tourism industry in Veridia, which was why Alistair was sharing so much.

"We all know that. You're the crown prince of the Main House. Your parents were afraid the Branch House would swallow you whole, which is why they raised you here in the Capital."

Silas spoke softly. He and Julian had known each other since childhood due to their families' connections.

As for Alistair, he had been "picked up" by Julian.

They all loved racing. Once, the brakes on Julian’s motorcycle failed, and he had to bail, rolling down a hillside.

At the bottom of the slope, he found Alistair.

At the time, Alistair was covered in blood. The Branch House had tampered with his bike, causing him to crash down the mountain along with his machine.

"But I’m truly curious—is everyone in the Branch House that cold-blooded and ruthless?"

Alistair thought of something, and a mocking arc curved his lips.

"The head of the Branch House has an only daughter who lives a life worse than a dog's."

"I heard her training started at age five. She slept on the floor at night and fought life-and-death duels against men in the boxing ring by day."

These words made Julian look up, staring at Alistair in shock.

"How can parents be such monsters in this world?"

"If he wanted a son, he could have just kept trying. Why torment a girl like that?"

Alistair let out a short laugh, stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Coincidentally, the day after his daughter was born, my father accidentally kicked him. He’s been infertile ever since."

Julian: ...What kind of "coincidence" is that?

"This is the development plan. My dad insisted I give it to you today."

Silas slammed the document onto the table, rubbing his temples with an expression of agony.

They had been talking for two hours, but Alistair had been spacing out the entire time, while Julian’s head was buried in his phone.

Silas saw they weren't in the mood to talk anymore. Just as he was about to suggest they call it a night, a girl in a white dress was pushed toward them.

Her ankle gave way, and she collapsed into a kneeling position right in front of them.

Alistair, who had been dazed, moved instantly, the veins on his temples throbbing.

Julian, whose head had been buried in his phone, also looked up, dropped his phone, and rushed over.

Only Silas remained bewildered.

"Clara? You're Clara, right?"

Julian knelt on the ground, looking at Clara with intense nervousness.

He felt nothing but guilt toward this sister.

Compared to the sister who had been raised in luxury at home, this sister had lived a miserable life in Veridia. He had heard she had to push a cart to sell street food after school and was often targeted by thugs.

"I'm fine."

Clara looked up, her eyes full of suppressed emotion meeting Julian's.

"You are..." Clara seemed to be struggling to recognize him, then cried out with a mix of joy and restraint: "Brother?"

That single word, "Brother," made Alistair sit back down, his expression turning terrifyingly dark.

Julian’s eyes widened with surprise. He then turned to glare at the men and women who had just bullied his sister.

"We’re sorry, Young Master Julian! We didn't know she was your sister. We’re so sorry, so sorry!"

Before Julian could even lift a finger, the group apologized and scrambled away.

"Since when did the Jian family have another sister?"

Alistair’s voice was icy—so cold that Julian felt a shiver.

"You’ve been away for the last two months, so I didn't have time to tell you."

Julian tried to explain as he helped Clara stand up.

Alistair had a "talent" for removing clothes; even now, her white dress didn't have a single wrinkle.

However, Clara’s knees were slightly red.

Alistair stared at Clara. She kept her head down, not daring to look at him. Whether she was afraid because of what had just happened or because she had lied to him was up for debate.

"Come, Clara, sit next to me."

Julian took a throw pillow from the sofa and placed it on Clara’s lap to prevent her from being exposed.

Alistair watched as Clara’s hand rested on Julian’s knee, her thumb even giving it a slight rub. A surge of fury rose in his chest.

Everything about this scene was an eyesore.

"Damn it, how dare they bully my sister? Look at how bruised her knees are..."

Julian looked heartbroken, while Clara looked guilty.

She stole a glance at Alistair, only to meet a gaze that was a chilling blend of indifference and mockery.

"So, tell me. What do you mean by 'biological sister'?"

Alistair watched Clara bow her head like a kitten, his tone dropping another two degrees in temperature.

"A month ago, Mia got into a car accident and needed a blood transfusion. That’s when we found out she wasn't actually part of our family."

"It made my dad think my mom had an affair. He knelt outside her door all night before he realized he was wrong."

The corners of Silas's mouth were harder to suppress than an AK-47.

"Later, we checked the hospital records and finally found my real sister."

Although everything sounded logical, Alistair felt something was off.

"Where is the 'Little Sister' from?"

The words "Little Sister" were spoken with a heavy dose of flirtatious mockery.

Clara looked up at him: "Veridia."

Alistair: ?

Alistair’s brow furrowed. It was his first time seeing such a frank undercover agent.

"Clara suffered a lot in Veridia. Now that she's back, my parents and I are going to make it up to her."

Julian stroked Clara’s smooth hair.

"By the way, Alistair said he saw you here at the bar today. Why did you come here?"

This place wasn't exactly hidden, but that didn't mean a girl who just returned from Veridia would be able to find it.

"Oh, I came because I received this text message."

Clara took out her phone and opened the messaging interface.

"This text told me to meet you here. It said you were busy and told me to come find you on my own."

Julian took the phone. His brow tightened as he read the message. After noting the number, he handed the phone to Alistair beside him.

Alistair had seen this phone before. It was because of his previous inspection of her phone that his suspicions about Clara’s identity had largely faded—until now.

"I need to use the restroom."

Clara spoke to Julian. Julian felt uneasy and wanted to find a woman to accompany her, but Alistair spoke up first.

"I need to go too. We'll go together."

Julian was surprised, but he was currently on the phone with his mother and couldn't be distracted.

"Okay. Thanks, Alistair."

Julian gave her a look, signaling Clara to stay close to Alistair.

Once they reached the restroom area, Clara was about to enter the ladies' room when Alistair grabbed her and dragged her into the men's room.

He didn't forget to place the "No Entry" sign outside the door.

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

Clara struggled, but she was pinned firmly against the wall by Alistair, unable to move an inch.

"I should be the one asking you that."

Alistair’s eyes narrowed, the danger within them clearly visible.

"Were you raised by the Branch House since you were a child, or were you recruited halfway, my little spy?"