Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother

"So, she's the bastard child that the Taylors refuse to acknowledge." Queenie scoffed.

"Yup." Andrew nodded and added, "Later, the grandmother fell ill. The heir brought Jasmine and her mother to take care of her. It successfully painted a good picture of them. As for Jasmine, she's rich and taken care of. But she's not acknowledged by the Taylors."

"Why not? She carries their bloodline, after all," I asked, confused.

"Luna, there's a hierarchy in this society. The more prestigious your family is, the more they care about their image. After Jasmine's mom gave birth to her, she continued to lead an unruly life. She even dated a gigolo, and that was scandalous.

"After the Taylors moved to the north, while their former glory was long gone, they wouldn't accept a sleazy woman into their family. She'd bring dishonor. So unless a miracle happened, Jasmine can lead a comfortable life, but she can never get rid of the stigma on her."

No wonder none of her relatives came to visit her when she was injured. I understood now.

"So, she grew up without the love and care from her family. I feel sorry for her." Like me, Queenie was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. She felt sad upon learning how Jasmine's parents never gave her any attention.

"Behind every villain, there's a tragic story. But her underhanded tactics befit her status as a bastard child."

I nodded, agreeing with Andrew. While I felt sorry for her, that didn't mean I would forgive her easily. Queenie and Andrew returned to the kitchen to cook while I spaced out on the couch alone. After Colin got changed, he came out and saw my jealous expression.

He glanced at the phone in my hand and sat casually next to me. "What's the matter?"

I couldn't be asked to deal with the living ball of pheromones, so I sat farther away from him, creating distance between his pinewood scent and me. Then, I tossed his phone to him. "Read the messages yourself."

Colin did what he was told, and his expression darkened. He had been sulking a lot lately. I then said passive-aggressively, "Look, she's so devoted to you. You must see her because she saved you and she has been loving you for so long."

Colin sniffed. He seized my jaw with his fingers and leaned closer with a mirthless smirk, his lips almost touching mine. I could smell his mouthwash. "I smell jealousy."

Did he have to get this close to talk to me? Frustrated, I dodged backward and pushed him away with my right hand. "Don't change the topic. Reply to her now. She's dying to get your texts. She hurt her legs from saving you. Let's not break her heart too. Go on, don't keep her waiting."

Colin was amused. He tried to catch me with his hand, but I evaded it skillfully. "You're making things up again. I'll punish you."

...

The loud ruckus we made startled the two inside the kitchen. Queenie and Andrew hid behind the door to eavesdrop on us. Little did they know, the door separating the kitchen and the living room was made of glass. Colin and I could see clearly what they were doing.