Chapter 13: The Little Sister Belongs to Me

Watching the man hurry away in defeat, Mia cursed his uselessness under her breath.

She then turned her gaze toward Alistair and Clara, who were still locked in an embrace. She marched forward, seized Clara’s arm, and forced them apart with a harsh tug.

"Brother Alistair, it’s getting late. I’m taking Clara home."

Clara looked down at Mia’s fingers, which were digging deep into the flesh of her arm, and offered a gentle smile. "Sister, you’re hurting me."

"Huh? Oh... am I?"

Mia instinctively let go. Seeing the red marks blooming on Clara’s pale skin, she felt a sudden, awkward wave of uncertainty.

"It’s alright. I know it’s only because you were worried about me."

Clara smiled with saint-like understanding before turning to Alistair. "I’ll head home with my sister then. Goodbye, Brother Alistair."

Alistair held his glass, his long lashes partially veiling his lazy gaze as he watched Clara’s slender silhouette retreat. He let out a soft chuckle.

He then grabbed his jacket from the sofa and followed them out.

Mia drove like a maniac, blowing through red lights the entire way. Several cars were forced to swerve into the bushes to avoid her, leaving a trail of curses in her wake.

"Sister seems very angry."

Clara’s eyes shimmered with a cold light, yet her tone was remarkably soft.

Mia slammed on the brakes, pulling the car to the side of the road.

She rolled down the window and pulled a cigarette from her pack. Just as she put it between her lips, a slender hand reached over.

Clara took the pink lighter from her.

"What the hell are you—"

Mia’s shouting died in her throat. Clara had obediently flicked the lighter, the small flame gently toasting the tip of the cigarette. She looked incredibly sweet and docile.

"There."

Clara looked at her with a beaming smile, her silky hair swaying gently across her face.

When she looked up, she was as obedient as a puppy.

It wasn't until the ash burned her hand that Mia snapped out of it, cursing herself for being dazed by her own rival.

"Just sit back in your seat and stay there. Why are you looking at me? Who asked you to light my cigarette? Mind your own business!"

Clara let out a soft "oh" and sat back obediently.

Neither spoke again. After Mia finished her cigarette, she rolled up the window and restarted the engine.

This time, her speed was normal. Clara stole a glance at her, and seeing her expression had softened, a tiny smile played on the corner of Clara's lips.

Mia also stole a glance at her. Seeing Clara smiling secretly, she furrowed her brow in irritation.

What’s so funny? We're enemies; we should be at each other's throats! What is wrong with this atmosphere!

After parking in the garage, Clara and Mia entered the living room one after the other.

"Clara’s back? Did you go out with your brother?"

Clara shook her head with a smile, stepping forward to hug Mrs. Jian’s arm. "No, I went out with Sister. Is Julian not home?"

Hearing that Mia had taken her out, the smile on Mrs. Jian’s face faltered.

Mia walked up from behind and gave a stiff, formal greeting: "Mother."

"Mm. Go upstairs and rest, both of you. I'll call you down for a late-night snack in a bit."

Mrs. Jian’s tone was cold, but her expression softened significantly when she looked at Clara, even reaching out to gently smooth her hair.

Clara nodded with a smile. Mia followed behind her, but just then, Mr. Jian returned home.

"Mia! Get down here right now!"

Mia’s body stiffened. Clara turned to look at her, but only saw Mia’s rigid back as she turned to head back downstairs.

In the living room, Mr. Jian pointed furiously at his phone, which was playing the surveillance footage of Mia’s reckless driving.

"What exactly are you trying to do? The roads are full of cars, and you dare to floor the accelerator like that!"

Mia looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Are you scolding me because you're worried about me, or are you just worried about your biological daughter!"

Mr. Jian frowned in disbelief. "How can you think like that? I’ve told you—both you and Clara are my daughters!"

Mrs. Jian sat on the sofa, her face impassive. "If we didn't want you, we would have packed you up and sent you back to Veridia long ago. Do you think you'd still be the princess of the Jian family in this city otherwise?"

"But since Clara came back, your eyes are only on her! Where do I fit in? Am I even in your hearts anymore!"

"After what you did, how do you expect us to look at you!"

Mr. Jian had spent years in the ruthless business world; when his temper flared, even Mrs. Jian would back down, let alone Mia.

"The day Clara returned, if Alistair Vance hadn't saved her, perhaps everything would have gone according to your plan."

"The fact that we haven't kicked you out and are letting you continue to live in this house is the maximum amount of grace we can offer."

"Stop blaming others and look for the fault in yourself. At the very least, that's what your mother and I taught you back when you were our 'biological' daughter!"

Mr. Jian snorted coldly and headed upstairs.

Mrs. Jian shook her head helplessly and went into the kitchen.

Mia stood frozen in the hall, her tears making a mess of her makeup.

Clara sat in her room, but the sound of their argument drifted effortlessly into her ears.

[Wolf: Home safe?]

Wolf

was the contact name Clara had saved for Alistair. She typed a single character and sent it before heading to the bathroom for a shower.

[Lamb: Mm.]

Tsk, how cold.

Alistair looked at Clara’s reply with dissatisfaction. A single character—it was the definition of perfunctory.

It was completely different from how she acted in front of him.

But that was precisely why Clara held such a lethal attraction for him.

"Lamb?"

Silas Knight was sitting beside Alistair. In the dimly lit room, the phone screen was blindingly bright; it was hard not to notice.

"Did your mother never teach you not to peek at other people’s phones?"

Silas shrugged and took a sip of his drink, watching Julian play pool. "Who is Lamb? Why isn't it Sheep?"

"Boring. To me, right now, she’s a cute little lamb... or perhaps, a delicious serving of lamb chops."

With that, Alistair stood up to join Julian at the table.

Silas sat on the sofa for a long time, stunned. When he finally snapped out of it, he wrapped his arms around himself.

No matter who they are, the moment people fall in love, they become disgusting!

"Bring your sister to my place tomorrow. Or should I come pick you both up?"

Julian was standing at the table, chalking his cue. Hearing Alistair’s words, his eyes filled with suspicion.

"In all the years before my sister came back, I never once heard you offer to pick me up."

"Julian probably won't have time tomorrow. He’s already been booked by me."

Before Julian could react, a large hand slapped his backside.

"Are you insane? When are you going to fix that habit of hitting people's butts?"

Silas happily accepted Julian’s scolding. He leaned over for a shot, and only after seeing the red ball sink did he stand up.

"I’ve never touched anyone else’s butt."

Alistair, leaning over his own shot, smirked. "Then tomorrow, Julian, you're with him. The little sister belongs to me."