When Catherine got angry, Oliver burst into laughter.
Yet, there was still something missing.
Luke knew the reason.
“I’m not feeling well today, so I’m sorry, but I’ll have dinner separately in my room.”
‘…Not feeling well.’
She said she was completely fine just this morning and even cheekily suggested sharing the same bed. What a strange woman.
‘Maybe she’s scheming something.’
Tap, tap.
Luke pondered, tapping his index finger on the table. Catherine, seeing her son like that, pointed it out with a sharp eye.
“Don’t tap the table, Luke.”
“…Mother. I’m thirty years old.”
“So what? I’m over sixty!”
“Oh, yes. You must be pleased with being old.”
“What did you say?”
It was a mundane back-and-forth.
Oliver spoke next to her with an awkward smile.
“Haha… Hyungnim, really. Don’t say anything too harsh to Mother.”
“I haven’t said anything particular, have I?”
As Luke spoke nonchalantly with a casual gaze, Catherine suddenly stood up.
“What do you mean you haven’t said anything! You brat!”
“Oh, Mother, please calm down. The kids might hear.”
“The kids haven’t even arrived yet. What’s all this talk about kids?”
“Oops.”
At that moment, the restaurant door opened, and Bonita peeked inside. Holding the door with her small hands, she looked at Oliver and discreetly stepped back.
“Should I go out again…?”
“No!”
“Bonita!”
Catherine and Luke shouted almost simultaneously.
“Hmm. We were just discussing whether to go look for you since you didn’t come. Come on in.”
“Yes.”
Bonita took a few steps into the restaurant.
However, there was no boy following her. Oliver, who was shaking a wine glass, looked down at Bonita and asked.
“But, where’s Bentley? It seems like he didn’t come with you.”
“…….”
When Bentley’s name came up, Bonita tightly sealed her lips.
Oliver’s hand holding the glass tightened. However, his face still wore the same smile.
Luke casually remarked.
“He might be in the restroom or something.”
“Ah… that could be it.”
Oliver smiled gracefully and turned his head towards Bonita.
“Is that right?”
“…….”
Bonita hesitated.
If she told the truth about the fight, the atmosphere among the adults might become unpleasant. She didn’t really care how this person Oliver, whom she just met today, would think, but she didn’t want to see Luke or Catherine sad or disappointed.
However, she also didn’t want to tell a lie.
“Bonita?”
She heard Luke calling her.
The tone was very gentle and soft, but Bonita felt burdened, thinking it was a request for an answer.
‘Did I have to endure it there?’
Bonita reflected on what had just happened and lowered her head inside.
‘But it’s not my fault that the fight happened!’
The one who made her angry in the first place was on that side. So, the fault for the fight lies with Bentley, not her.
But running away like this and making herself uncomfortable was not like her.
Bonita grew to dislike the newly appeared “cousin” even more.
“Maybe… he’ll come down soon.”
Not wanting to tell a lie and unwilling to reveal the truth, Bonita sat down, blurting out something vague.
‘Mom is not here.’
The place where Aria usually sat was now occupied by a slightly uncomfortable-looking adult man.
He suggested calling him “Uncle” to make himself comfortable, but Bonita didn’t particularly feel like getting close to him. So, Bonita decided to just call him “Delphinium Jajak,” whatever that meant.
Either way, she wouldn’t say it out loud. Just a decision inside her mind.
As Bonita made up her mind, the restaurant door opened again.
The person who came in was, of course, Bentley.
“Uh, I’m sorry for being late.”
The boy entered cautiously, his expression showing utmost apology.
Oliver furrowed his eyebrows and scolded him.
“Bentley! What on earth made you so late?”
“I’m sorry, Father. I suddenly had to use the restroom. Moreover, I got lost on the way because the layout of the mansion is complicated…”
“The Duke’s mansion is indeed quite spacious.”
Luke reassured the boy with an affectionate tone.
“No need to apologize. You must have been hungry from the journey, so come in quickly.”
“Thank you, Uncle!”
Bentley smiled brightly and approached the empty seat. Luke looked at his nephew with a proud expression.
Seeing the two, Bonita’s mouth dropped open. How could they lie so blatantly without batting an eye!
?
Sensing Bonita’s intense gaze, Bentley playfully tilted his head, then soon discovered Bonita’s astonished face. He raised the corner of his mouth in response to her shocked expression.
Bonita’s eyes widened.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
