active

fbweb.moboreader.net

Learn more

VIDEO

Read next chapter

https://fbweb.moboreader.net/61215322-fb_contact-enad50_2-250126-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=331118&accid=233925549638247&exdata=A678935AF88E7C33686CF64B02AED8096178B831482E8CD7

Fun Novel

https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/475959534_1148011026239619_5553530859866933854_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_V-wKy7I4kwQ7kNvgHuh69W&_nc_oc=AdgvJHkTEo86hKjseMzuBbLa1t8TLyXpY_RLy1DdJvSQvqastJJN2Ep4NHndNIfh57KdWdIweXZONyL-vkFIlChY&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AyNGs21jXm_SeI9D9RPv4sV&oh=00_AYCykINuJ2YA4OrOCvMLcfUcIiFxq7kq3qpio3ybhhfjnA&oe=67CBAF4B

PERSON_PROFILE

Ever since my father passed away, Richard had taken on a brotherly role in my life, but he often disapproved of my closeness with other guys.
Every time I found a boyfriend, Richard scared them off.
I complained to my friend, "My brother is stricter than my mom!"
Sandra handed me a bag of chips and thought for a moment.
"Could it be that Richard likes you? You guys aren't even related by blood."
Since then, I deliberately distanced myself from him, but during the New Year, he suddenly brought home a girl.
"Tricia, call her sister-in-law."
=====
Richard was only a year older than me, but he had always used his role as an older brother to control me. When I was younger, he'd scold me for skipping classes. As I grew older and started dating, he still interfered.
One time, my friend joked, "Maybe Richard likes you? You guys aren't even related by blood." Since then, I had tried to keep my distance. But during the holidays, he suddenly brought a girl home.
"Tricia, this is my girlfriend. Say 'Hi'." That night, I locked myself in my room and cried uncontrollably.
He pulled me out from under the covers and gently wiped away my tears. "You could find a boyfriend to annoy me, but I couldn't do the same to you?"
Lately, luck hadn't been on my side. Every time I found a boyfriend, Richard scared them off.

I complained to my friend, "My brother is stricter than my mom!"

Sandra handed me a bag of chips and thought for a moment.

"Could it be that Richard likes you? You guys aren't even related by blood."

It was true. My dad and his dad had been old friends, and ever since my dad passed away, his family had been taking care of us.

My mother had always told me to treat Richard like a real brother.

Even though we weren't related by blood, he was more responsible than any real brother.

Back in school, he would watch me do my homework every day and even lecture me if I skipped class.

He was only a year older than me, but he had always acted like an adult.

Whenever I did something wrong, he'd scold me faster than my mom.

"Tricia, that's not polite. Don't do that." "Tricia, don't talk badly about people behind their backs."

The thought that he might like me sent chills down my spine. "Don't say that! You're going to give me nightmares!" After leaving Sandra's house, her words kept echoing in my head, as if they had put a spell on me.

That night, I dreamed that Richard cornered me at the stairwell, gripping my chin and ki*sing me forcefully. "Who said you could get a boyfriend?" I woke up in a cold sweat, terrified, and immediately blocked his number.

Thankfully, I was about to start my internship and wouldn't be home much longer.

When I opened the door the next morning, Richard just happened to be walking by.

Instinctively, I stepped back and slammed the door shut.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his cold, piercing stare. It felt like a blade cutting right through me.

Later that evening, we went to his apartment for dinner. In front of everyone, he asked why I had blocked his number.

I stammered, unable to come up with a reason, and had no choice but to unblock him.

"I must've clicked the wrong button..." Trying to appease him, I offered him a piece of chicken with a flattering smile. "Richard, you look so thin! You should eat more meat." But something I said must've annoyed him because he even moved his plate farther away.

"No need."

I had found my internship on my own, even though Richard strongly opposed it and insisted I join his company.

But this time, I stood my ground and firmly refused.

I was too afraid that if we spent too much time together, something would happen.

The apartment we were living in had been rented by Richard, thinking I'd work at his company and we'd commute together.

But after starting my job, I found a new place to avoid seeing him as much as possible.

My mother would text me every day, asking what I wanted to eat. She'd have the servant cook it and then deliver it to me.

I'd give her a whole list of dishes, but Richard was always the one who showed up at my door.

I almost slammed it shut again.

But when I saw the angry look in his eyes, I stopped myself.

I forced a smile and took the food container from him. "Richard, I've missed you." He ignored me, walking around the apartment to inspect the place.

"Tricia, I send you so much money every month, and this is where you live? Where's all the money gone?"

I hadn't touched a cent of the money he gave me. I didn't want to owe him or his family too much.

But I didn't dare tell him that. He'd just accuse me of treating him like a stranger.

Honestly, my mother gave me plenty of money every month too, but I had a habit of splurging on my favorite celebrities, so I had to cut costs elsewhere.

"I'm investing. High returns, you know." Being a fan was an investment, especially for a toptier star like Lanny--his merch was incredibly popular.

Once I got him out of my apartment, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I swore I'd never overindulge again!

Starting my new job, I often joined my colleagues for meals to fit in better.

Eventually, I ran out of money and had to call my mother for help.

She transferred $50, 000 to me but gave me a strict warning. "If you waste this money on a man again, I'm cutting you off."

Chapter 2 Richard's Furious Because I Spent Money On Another Guy
Her voice was so loud that my colleagues started giving me strange looks. I was exasperated. I had explained to her more than once that being a fan just meant liking a celebrity and spending some money on their endorsements.

But my mom never listened and kept scolding me. "Spending money on men is pointless! You should be the one letting them spend money on you, got it?"

Just as I was about to argue with her again, I heard a familiar voice on the other end of the phone. "Mrs. Reynolds, has Tricia gotten a boyfriend?"

Why was Richard at my home? Startled, I immediately hung up the phone.

The restaurant we picked was pretty popular, and we had to wait over an hour for a table. While we were waiting, a crowd suddenly started gathering. I glanced over and saw Lanny trying to make his way through the mob.

Well, no wonder the place was packed--it's a hotspot for celebrities, and fans love to flock to places like this.

Lanny saw me and headed my way, with a swarm of fans trailing behind him. It was a little intimidating.

Wearing sunglasses, he looked cool, but in reality, he was a total goofball. "Tricia, you're here at my restaurant? Aren't you worried Richard will get angry?"

Back in high school, Lanny and I were in the same class. He was great at math, and Sandra and I once went to his house to do homework.

He casually put his arm around my shoulder, like we were just buddies, and neither of us thought much of it.

But when Richard found out, he beat Lanny up.

Ever since then, the two couldn't stand each other.

I sighed helplessly. "If I'd known this was your restaurant, I wouldn't have come."

I was a fan of Lanny--I went to his concerts and bought his endorsements, but I rarely paid attention to his personal life.

One time, he recognized me from the stage and said he'd just give me a ticket next time, but I turned him down.

Being a fan meant spending my own money; otherwise, it was not called being a fan, it was just being friends.

Lanny handed me a membership card, saying I could eat at his restaurant for free from now on.

I took it, thinking that if my mom ever really cut off my funds, at least I'd have a place to get a free meal.

After dinner, I got home and saw Richard standing outside my door.

I instinctively tried to retreat, but he was quick and called out to me. "Tricia, come here."

For some reason, I always felt guilty around Richard. All I ever wanted to do was run away. "Richard, why are you here? Have you eaten yet?" He sneered, and despite it being hot, I felt a chill down my spine.

"If I didn't show up, how would I know you're out here spending time with some guy?"

I opened the door and explained that it was all just a misunderstanding. But he wasn't having it. He kept pressing, demanding to know who the guy was.

I refused to tell him, thinking if he found out I'd spent money on Lanny, he'd beat him heavily.

Then he gave me an ultimatum. "A kept man can't make you happy. Break up with him immediately."

As I stood up, the card Lanny gave me fell to the floor. I quickly bent down to pick it up, but Richard was faster.

He stared at me, eyes full of rage. "You don't even have money for yourself, and you're out here paying for his meals?"

I was speechless as he stormed out of the apartment.

Two hours later, Laurence, Richard's assistant, called me, practically in tears. "Tricia, what did you do to upset Mr. Stewart this time? I had just finished getting ready for bed when he called me back to the office to revise the proposal. I can't be on call 24/7!"

I often visited Richard at his office, so I had gotten close with his secretaries and assistants.

Since starting my internship, I knew all too well the pain of being forced to work overtime.

Besides, they always gave me useful information--I couldn't just leave them hanging.

I called Richard, and he picked up on the third ring, clearly still furious.

I was trying to think of a way to coax him without making it obvious, but he was impatient. "Say something." My mind raced. Flattery never failed.

"Richard, I heard you're still working overtime? You work so hard! With you in charge, the company is sure to thrive!" He didn't seem impressed.

"If I didn't work my butt off, where would you get the money to spoil some guy?"

Seeing that talking wouldn't help, I bought some snacks and headed to his office.

When I arrived, the lights were still on, even though it was already ten o'clock. The tension in the air was palpable.

Before I even reached the conference room, I could already hear Richard's angry voice inside.

Chapter 3 I Thought Richard Liked Me, But He Brought Home A Girlfriend
"Did I hire you to sit around gossiping all day?"

"What kind of proposal is this? Is this your first day on the job? Take it back and redo it."

I knocked on the door but didn't wait for a reply before entering.

Everyone inside looked at me as if I were their savior, and I could see the gratitude in their eyes.

Richard was caught off guard for a moment--he hadn't expected me to show up.

I cleared my throat, walked up to him, and set the food down. "Richard, you should eat something. Mrs. Stewart said you haven't had dinner." He didn't move at first, so I grabbed his arm and guided him toward his office.

As I closed the door behind us, I gave the others an "OK" signal.

Richard's expression softened a bit, but he still looked like he wasn't in the mood to talk.

I brought him a bowl of noodles, and he didn't even leave a single bite of meat. He must've been starving.

"Richard, you need to take care of yourself. Work will never end. If you keep this up, your parents will be worried sick."

He looked into my eyes, and I saw a mix of emotions--too many for me to make sense of. "And what about you?" I started tidying up the takeout container, avoiding his gaze.

"Of course, I'm worried too. Why else would I come looking for you in the middle of the night?" My attempt to coax him worked. He picked up his jacket, slung it over his arm, and got ready to leave.

"I'll take you home. It's not safe for you to walk alone at night."

In the car, I avoided his eyes, pretending to look out the window at the passing scenery.

For several days, I didn't contact Richard.

My mom thought we were fighting and kept urging me not to be stubborn. "Don't be so willful. Richard is busy with work, and he still makes time to take care of you." I didn't know how to explain it to her, so I just stayed silent.

As work got busier, I pushed the matter to the back of my mind.

We spoke occasionally, but only about work-related things.

Eventually, he became distant with me.

I sighed with relief, but at the same time, I felt an odd emptiness inside.

Time flew by, and before I knew it, Christmas was approaching. The company gave us a holiday starting three days before Christmas.

Coincidentally, Lanny was holding a concert in Alodon, so I flew over to catch it and even took a photo with him afterward.

Lanny said we hadn't taken a picture together in years and asked me to send him one.

I did, and moments later, I saw him post it on Facebook.

"Great concert! Thanks to all the friends who came from far and wide." When I returned to Pheldence, it was Christmas Eve.

For some reason, I couldn't shake this feeling of unease.

Every year, our families took turns hosting the family dinner, and this year it was at Richard's house.

As soon as I walked in, I heard laughter coming from the living room.

I headed toward the sound and saw a gentle, elegant girl sitting on the couch.

She had long hair, was dressed in a luxury coat, and carried a limited-edition handbag.

Clearly, she was the same type of person as Richard.

The most important thing was that she was sitting next to him, with her hand linked through his arm.

Richard didn't even look at me. His attention was completely on her.

I felt an inexplicable surge of frustration and placed my things on the coffee table a bit too forcefully.

My mom shot me a sharp look.

"Tricia, can you show some manners? You just walked in, and you're already giving attitude."

Richard smiled--barely, but I noticed it.

Sitting across from them, their closeness felt glaringly obvious.

"So, what should I call you?" I asked the girl.

For the first time since I arrived, Richard actually looked at me.

"Tricia, this is my girlfriend. Say 'Hi'."

I didn't know what to say. Suddenly, I understood where that feeling of unease had been coming from.

Richard was in a relationship, and I was the one who felt the most hurt.

I quickly greeted her, but despite the feast in front of me, everything tasted bland and unappetizing.

Once I got home, I rushed to my room, buried myself under the covers, and let the tears flow freely.

I didn't know how much time had passed when I suddenly heard the door creak open.

I hastily wiped away my tears, pretending to be asleep.

Someone walked slowly to my bedside. I could feel his gaze on me as he crouched down.

He pulled at my blanket, and though I clung to it, I couldn't match his strength.

I opened my eyes to see Richard standing by my bed with a faint smile.

"Tricia, why are you crying just because I'm in a relationship?"

......

What happens next?

Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters
(Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app)

&3&

Fun Novel

https://www.facebook.com/100090881055588/

LEARN_MORE