Chapter 4

Cole was bewildered. Clair had just declared that Joseph was the most important person in her life. Why was she acting like a jealous woman who was deeply in love with him now?

He was about to respond when Joseph tripped and fell on level ground. Claire and Sienna no longer had time to hear his answer. They hurried over to help him up.

Tears welled in Joseph's eyes as he refused their help. "Both of you are injured, Sienna, Claire. Don't worry about me."

Then, he looked up at Cole. "Can you help me inside so I can rest for a while?" Before the latter could respond, the former walked over and leaned his entire weight against him.

Cole instinctively wanted to shove him away, yet he was simply too exhausted to muster the strength. He had no choice but to let Joseph lean on him.

The moment they crossed the archway, Joseph stopped Cole. The fragile, innocent expression he'd worn moments ago gave way to a taunting smirk. "Cole, you don't seriously think you can make them pay attention to you with these little tricks, do you? Well, I've got news for you—you can dream on!"

Cole had no idea what kind of act he was putting on this time. He was about to part his lips when Joseph raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face several times.

"I'm sorry, Cole. It's all my fault. Please don't hit me!" he wailed. "I won't steal your older sister and childhood sweetheart away from you again. Please have mercy on me!"

This loud racket soon alerted Sienna and Claire, who were only a few paces away. The two of them sprinted over, and the first thing that came into their view was Joseph with red handprints on his face, weeping pitiably.

Sienna flew into a rage and charged over, shoving Cole away with all her might. He was completely drained to begin with. Hence, he lost his footing and crashed headfirst into the flower bed. In an instant, blood streamed down his forehead.

Claire shot daggers at him and, without the slightest hesitation, berated him, "Joseph's an orphan who had a tough life for more than a decade, Cole. Even after joining your family, he's just an adopted child. Growing up, you've had everything handed to you on a silver platter, so why do you insist on picking on him?

"I've already looked into it. The Lamberts are already preparing the wedding ceremony as we speak. He has to marry a woman in a vegetative state in less than two weeks. Do you really have to compete with him over this, too?"

"Don't go easy on him, Claire. He's getting more and more out of hand! Cole, this isn't the first time you've gone after Joseph.

"Years ago, we could've excused your behavior as you being immature, but now, he's about to marry a woman in a vegetative state, and you still won't leave him alone? How did I end up with a brother as vicious as you?"

Cole thought he was numb to the pain. However, after hearing them hurl such vile accusations at him, hurt, sorrow, despair, and anguish surged through him. It hurt so much he could barely breathe.

At long last, he snapped. "I didn't lay a hand on him! He was putting on an act earlier. There's a surveillance camera right there. Go check the footage—"

Before he could finish, Joseph buried his face in his hands, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Sienna, Claire, my face hurts so much! Will I be disfigured? Also, whose wedding were you just talking about? Where am I going?"

After hearing that, both women's expressions changed drastically.

Claire was the first to snap out of it, wrapping her arm around his. "It's nothing. I'll take you to the hospital right now!"

Sienna chimed in. "You must've misheard us, Joseph. I'll find the best doctor for you. I promise you won't be left with a single scar!"

When the sound of their footsteps faded into the distance, Cole could no longer hold back his tears. He tightened his grip on his prayer pouch.

"You've got it all wrong. Both of you were dead wrong, Sienna, Claire. The one who's marrying into the Lambert family is me!" he thought to himself.