Chapter 427 Are You Kidding Me?!
"Sarah, I need to ask you something, and I want the truth," Brady said gravely.
"What is it? You're so serious all of a sudden."
Brady cleared his throat. "Did you sleep with Antonio?"
Sarah stood still, her face flushing a deep red. "What kind of question is that, bro?"
"Why can't you answer? You already have a child together. There's no need for embarrassment," Brady insisted, setting down his belongings with a stern expression. "We can't let that scoundrel take advantage of us. Men forget to cherish what they easily obtain!
"As a man myself, I know this all too well. Antonio, in particular, is the type who becomes arrogant once he gets his way."
Brady was pained by the thought of his sister raising three children abroad, all because of Antonio!
But Sarah had endured it all alone, and Brady was determined not to let Antonio regain control over her so easily.
"Men need to be kept in check," he added.
Sarah, mortified, could barely speak. "I get it!"
The embarrassment was too much. How could she admit such a thing?
"Just remember, don't let him take advantage of you again. Watch him closely."
Sarah nodded. "Don't worry, bro. I'm assessing the situation. Despite everything, some issues are unresolved, so I'm not rushing back to him."
Brady finally felt relieved, but he harbored a lingering concern: Antonio might exploit the situation, and Sarah shouldn't reconcile with him too hastily.
Meanwhile, Antonio, who was eavesdropping outside, seethed with anger.
'She's still testing me? How much longer will this take?'
He found himself at his breaking point, tormented by the nearness of his wife yet denied intimacy.
Brady's words had now stretched the divide between them to an impassable chasm.
The agony of having a wife but being unable to draw near to her was unbearable!
What hurt the most was that even after all they'd been through, he still hadn't passed her test.
Antonio was on the verge of tears, feeling utterly disordered.
…
At dinner, Brady's overbearing presence continued.
"Isn't it time for the kids to eat?" Brady emerged from the kitchen with his braised pork.
Antonio had wanted to assist in the kitchen to be near Sarah but found himself blocked by Brady at the door.
"Mr. Valencia, you should wait for the meal. Why dirty yourself in the kitchen?"
"This is my home. I can't let you do everything," Antonio protested.
"Am I not family anymore?" Brady challenged.
Antonio bit his lip. "Of course not. It's just that you're always so busy. Let's eat; you should rest."
"I'm not tired. Cooking for my sister and her kids is a pleasure," Brady said, placing the braised pork on the table.
Antonio could only watch, unable to even serve the food.
Sarah gave Antonio a reassuring look.
"Help the kids wash up. Stay out of the kitchen for now."
"Alright."
Antonio felt frustrated. If Brady weren't Sarah's beloved brother, he would have lost his temper long ago. However, he knew he had to make amends for his past actions, no matter how slowly he progressed.
Harper was amazed by the spread. "Uncle, you can cook so well! You made all this so quickly."
Antonio had never managed to cook so much before.
"When I was abroad, I had to be quick. I didn't cook most of it, but I helped and got used to the pace," Brady explained, affectionately ruffling Harper's hair.
"Uncle, can you tell me about animals other than polar bears? Do they really eat seals?" Harper's curiosity was piqued.
The other children gathered around, eager for stories about the animal rescue organization.
Brady was happy to oblige. "Yes, they eat seals, and fish too. It's all part of the ecological cycle."
"Are there really huge spiders and snakes in the rainforest? They seem so scary in movies," Ryan asked, eyes wide.
Brady chuckled, treating Ryan as one of his own. "The rainforest does have larger animals due to its rich environment."
"So, are there spiders with big fangs there?" Ryan pressed.
"Of course not," Brady laughed. "Movies use special effects. But if you want to see one, I could make a model for you."
"No, no, I'm good," Ryan hastily declined.
The children continued to bombard Brady with questions.
Sarah brought all the dishes to the table and joined the conversation.
Antonio sat at the edge of the table, observing the lively "family" scene, his sense of exclusion and dejection palpable. He picked up his utensils in frustration, but upon tasting the food, he nearly spat it out.
Was Brady just boasting?
Something was definitely off with this meal—it tasted worse than Antonio's first attempt at cooking!
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
