The Divorcee Who Shines

Chapter 174 Brother

“I'm outside right now. Can I call you later tonight?"

Ranita's voice sounded light as if carried by spring breeze.

Her heart raced up into her throat; she hadn't expected Jedidiah Bowman would call since they hadn't talked much since he left Kurima when she arrived there.

Jedidiah made a sound of agreement which also sounded very tender over their conversation line, "Sure! Then let me give you a ring later tonight instead."

"Okay," replied Rantia quickly before hanging up without any time left for reflection or contemplation.

But then suddenly Brenson hooked his arm around Rantia's neck from behind asking curiously into earlobe, "Who is that? Why are you calling him brother?"

This sudden action made Rantia stiffen up immediately...

Brendon leaned in close, his solid chest pressed against her back, warm and carrying the familiar scent of Fiery Red Ginseng perfume. It was the fragrance he had been wearing lately, and Ranita's heart skipped a beat or two in response.

"Hmm?" Brendon raised an eyebrow, turning her body to face him. "Can't tell me?"

Ranita lowered her long lashes, smiling faintly as she thought of something. "Brother," she said softly. "A brother who has been very good to me."

Her eyes shone with emotion.

Brendon felt a pang of sadness and unease.

"Where did you get this brother from? Didn't you say your parents are the only relatives you have left in the countryside?" Brendon looked at her with dark eyes that seemed to be weighing the truthfulness of her words.

There were many things involved here.

Ranita didn't know how to explain it all. She just said casually, "A relatives brother.”

"Really?" Brendon asked skeptically.

Ranita felt upset about it all.

"What if not?"

"Ranita... we're not officially divorced yet... don't go around causing trouble.” Brendon's expression was cold now.

Typical male behavior - even someone like Brendon couldn't avoid it. Ranita replied lightly, "Miss Murphy isn't your sister either but she calls you “Brother all the time."

“Brendon, I have something else I need to do," Ranita pushed away from him and went back into their private room.

Steve was chatting with Chris when Ranita returned; they both smiled at her warmly when they saw her come back in. Both men were handsome enough that their combined smiles made for quite an attractive sight.

It helped ease some of Ranita's worries — there were more than one cool and charming guys out there besides Brendon — she needed to learn how let go sometimes too! Not that anything would happen between them anyway; after all they were both friends with Brendon! "We were just talking about where you disappeared off too," Chris said as he handed over a cup of warm water.

“Thank you!" Ranita smiled politely before lowering her voice slightly, “I ran into someone outside."

Upon hearing this, Steve and Chris understood. Neither of them was the gossiping type, but when it came to Ranita, Steve couldn't help but ask one more question, "Is it Brendon and Shannon? Shannon has always been clingy since childhood, and now that she's grown up, she still has no sense of boundaries. If you can't stand it anymore, just confront her directly.”

"You are still legally Brendon's wife," Steve said, and Ranita’'s expression softened into a smile like a detailed painting. She replied, "Thank you, Dr. Pearson. You're very kind."

Steve received the compliment with some disappointment but quickly recovered and said, "Don't thank me... I actually think your temperament suits Brendon well. What do you think, Chris?"

Chris held the warm porcelain cup in his hand and gazed at Ranita without saying anything.