Chapter 71: You Are the Outsider

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: You Are the Outsider

Julian naturally knew what Evelyn meant.

And he really didn’t want Ms. Shea to know the truth. At least not right now. He needed someone like her to help him.

"Ryan, should we talk outside?"

Ryan Sterling glanced at Evelyn, and saw the worry in her eyes.

His thin lips pursed for a moment. Ultimately, he couldn’t bring himself to do something Evelyn didn’t want to see. "Okay."

...

Julian followed his younger brother out.

Once he was sure no one had followed them, he stopped. The fake smile he’d been wearing vanished, and his thick brows knitted together. "What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here!"

"Am I the one who shouldn’t be here, or is it you?" Ryan showed no trace of guilt at the accusation. In fact, he was even more indignant than Julian! "You and Evelyn are divorced. At best, Ms. Shea is your former mother-in-law! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to by coming here now!"

"So what if you know! The moment you and Evelyn got entangled, you stopped seeing me as your brother! Why should I care what you think?"

Julian scoffed. "Go and ask around! What kind of brother covets his own sister-in-law? After doing something so shameless, you have the audacity to question me!"

"You’re the one who abandoned Evelyn! Yes, I admit it—I’ve liked her for a long time. But as soon as I knew she wanted to marry you, I kept my distance!"

In fact, that was why Ryan had stayed abroad for so many years, never once returning home.

"If you were already keeping your distance, then why didn’t you stay away? Why did you have to come back! If it weren’t for you—"

"Even without me, Evelyn never would have stayed with you, unless she was a complete fool!"

Ryan cut him off.

Better to shatter any unrealistic fantasies Julian might be clinging to.

"She loves me!"

"That was before."

"You—"

Ryan stared straight at his older brother, his voice firm. "You once possessed something I would have given everything for, but you didn’t cherish it. You threw it away! Now she’s finally by my side. Do you think I’d ever just hand her back to you?"

’It didn’t matter that Julian was now trying to get Ms. Shea’s help. Even if he got on his knees and begged Evelyn, or begged me, it would be useless! This time, I will never let her go.’

"She’s not with you! The only reason Evelyn slept with you was to escape the death penalty. She had no other choice back then! Do you really think she’s yours just because you’ve slept together?" Julian sneered. "If that’s the case, why hasn’t she announced your relationship to everyone? Why hasn’t she told them you’re her man? Why is she hiding it from her own mother?"

"..."

"Right now, in Ms. Shea’s eyes, I am her son-in-law! And Evelyn is going along with it! But you? You’re the outsider. As far as Ms. Shea is concerned, you’re nothing but a guest!"

Julian was betting on the fact that no one would dare tell Ms. Shea the truth.

No matter how powerful or wealthy Ryan was, he would have to concede on this point.

It couldn’t be helped.

After all, it wasn’t like Ms. Shea could handle that kind of shock.

And whose fault was it that Ryan had refused back when Julian himself had suggested he marry Evelyn in his place?

He admitted he had done wrong.

But what Ryan had done wasn’t exactly honorable, either.