Chapter 4

Lulu’s POV

“Found you, little sister.”

I stood barefoot in the mud, staring at the handsome stranger in front of me. Little sister or had I misheard him?

Ivelle had no brothers in the novel. At least, none that I remembered. She was an only child.

The man removed his sunglasses, and I was immediately stunned by his cold, dark eyes and their intensity. 

“My name is Enzo Armani,” he said. “I’m your biological brother.”

I blinked still unsure of what the fuck was happening .

“I’m sorry,” I said slowly. “Did you just say Armani?”

He nodded.

As in the Armani family? The same Armani family known for their old money dynasty. They owned half the country’s businesses and could make government officials answer their phones before the first ring?

Enzo walked closer. “You were kidnapped twenty years ago when you were a baby. Our family searched for you everywhere, but whoever took you erased every trace of your existence. We finally found a lead, and it brought me here.”

I stared at him.

“Do you have proof?” I asked.

One of his eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. Maybe he expected tears or an emotional embrace. The whole dramatic mumbo jumbo. 

He held up a folder and passed it to his bodyguard, who immediately passed it to me. Inside the folder were photographs of a baby wearing a tiny gold bracelet and copies of police reports. There were also medical records containing my birth details. At the bottom lay a DNA report.

I read it twice. Yep, the result was authentic. I was officially an Armani.

A blue System screen appeared in front of me, then it flashed red.

CRITICAL PLOT DEVIATION

UNWRITTEN STORYLINE DETECTED

Unexpected Character: Enzo Armani

Host's identity and family status have changed.

I nearly dropped the report. I had accepted the divorce, bought the resort, invested in the tech company, and secured the oil. How the hell had these decisions summoned a long lost billionaire brother out of nowhere. 

Wonderful, Lulu. You’re definitely fucking with the original storyline now. Even the system is losing its shit. 

“Are you all right?” Enzo asked.

“Define all right.” I sighed, silently hoping this was the only weird shit I had to go through the whole day.

His expression changed as he turned to his guards.

“Get the cars ready. Then have the legal team secure this property, contact the relevant government departments, and ensure nobody interferes with the drilling operation. Also double the security around my sister.”

The guards moved into action instantly. I watched him give out orders that would have taken an ordinary person weeks to arrange. I couldn’t help feeling an inappropriate spark of admiration for the man.

“Come with me,” he said, holding out his hand. “We’ll discuss everything somewhere safe.”

I accepted his hand. Enzo took me to the Armani estate, which had enough marble to build a small city. It was the kind of place that would make rich men decide they had to get richer. 

A personal stylist presented me with a collection of designer outfits. A financial adviser reviewed my assets and possible sure hit investments. A head of security introduced me to a team of elite bodyguards fully at my disposal.

I was going through a selection of designer dresses when my phone vibrated. I barely looked at the screen when the system's blue glow returned, drawing my attention. 

REBELLION OPPORTUNITY DETECTED

Primary Targets: Jasver Chadwick and Liora Gwendolyn

Available Event: Live Corporate Press Conference

This was an interesting development. I turned my attention to the news feed I’d received on my phone. Jasver was hosting a live press conference to announce a major real estate development. Liore was there beside him like a personal tattoo. 

The headline announced that Liora would become the new face of Chadwick Corporation. I almost laughed.

The project was supposed to be built on a massive land beside my resort. Jasver had been counting on buying it for months. According to the original storyline, the development would become one of his company’s most profitable businesses.

Unfortunately for him, the property was no longer available because I’d bought it ten minutes ago before sipping my second martini.

I looked up at my stylist. “Which dress makes a woman look like she can destroy a powerful corporation without raising a finger?”

She hesitated but we both pointed to a black Armani gown. It was the kind of dress women wore when they needed chaos. 

Twenty minutes later, I stood in front of the mirror admiring my curvy body in the gorgeous dress. I looked nothing like the desperate wife who had begged Jasver not to divorce her.

I turned toward Enzo, who was waiting by the door.

“Let’s go ruin a party.”

His smile was just as dangerous as mine.

“After you, little sister.”

The press conference had already started when we got there. Reporters crowded the entrance struggling to get exclusive footage. 

The moment we stepped out of the car, the Armani insignia appeared. Reporters rushed to us but Enzo’s guards created a path in the middle of the chaos. Cameras flashed around us followed by overlapping questions.

“Is that Enzo Armani?”

“Who’s the woman with him?”

“Is she his fiancee?”

Jasver was still talking with Liore by his side when he looked up and saw me. His smile faded.

The microphone fell from his hand and hit the stage with a loud crack that boomed through the auditorium. Liora turned to stare at him, confused, then followed his eyes.

Let’s get those rebellion points, shall we? I walked straight to the stage, took a microphone from a stunned reporter and immediately stole the spotlight. 

“Good afternoon,” I said, facing the cameras. “I’m Ivelle Armani, and I’d like to congratulate Chadwick Corporation on today’s announcement.”

Jasver stared at me, his eyes burning.

“Unfortunately, I have some disappointing news.” I said, trying to sound genuinely disappointed. 

The reporters rushed forward like sharps smelling blood.

“Today, my company bought the land needed for the proposed Chadwick development. The property is no longer available for purchase or negotiation.”

The auditorium went silent for half a second then it erupted. Every reporter had a question to ask and the camera flashes made the room glow. 

Liora looked like someone had poured boiling water down her back. Her eyes grew wild as she stared at Jasver hoping he could say something to stop me. 

“She can’t do that!” she screamed, then turned to me. “You can’t do that.”

“You stole our project!” She yelled pointing a finger at me.  

“No, sweetheart. I purchased land that was available for sale.”

A few reporters laughed. Liora’s face turned red. Jasver finally moved. He got up and walked to where I stood. His eyes went over my dress before shifting to Enzo, who was standing behind me.

“I see you’ve found yourself a new sugar daddy.” Jasver said with a mocking laugh. 

He really had a talent for making himself look stupid in public. I wondered what Ivelle saw in the rich piece of shit. 

“If you think putting on an expensive dress and staging this little performance will get my attention back, you’re dreaming,” he continued. “You always did enjoy embarrassing yourself for my sake.”

Liora slithered beside him. “Honestly, Ivelle, this is pathetic. You disappear for a few days and suddenly show up with a rich man. Must have whored yourself completely to make him bring you here?”

The reporters turned their cameras to us. Enzo’s expression switched to something dangerously cold. I lifted one hand to stop him just as he took one step.

“I’ll handle this.”

Jasver laughed. “Look at that. Your sugar daddy is trained to obey.”

Liora smirked, beaming with confidence. “Maybe she thinks sleeping her way into money makes her better than everyone else.”

The room went quiet enough for me to hear the cameras clicking. I looked at Liora then slapped her hard before she could process her next thought.

The sound echoed through the auditorium speakers. Her head snapped backwards at the impact, one hand cupping her cheek. She could only stare at me for a moment, stunned.

Jasver’s face burned with fury. “You—”

He raised his hand to hit me but he never reached me. Enzo moved so fast I barely saw him cross the distance. His foot rammed into Jasver’s chest. He crashed onto the stage floor.

The auditorium erupted into chaos. Jasver lay on the floor gasping, while Liora dropped beside him, screaming his name.

Enzo adjusted his cuff as though kicking a billionaire across a stage was an ordinary item on his afternoon schedule.

I smiled at him. “Thank you, brother.”

“Anytime.”

The System chimed. I looked up to see the familiar blue screen. 

REBELLION EVENT COMPLETED

Public Disruption: Successful

Reward Assessment: Pending

That’s more like it. I smiled, feeling a hot wave of satisfaction. Who said revenge didn’t taste sweet didn’t have healthy taste buds. I wasn’t done feasting.

I turned back to Jasver, grabbed the microphone, and smiled down at him.

“If you value your company’s reputation, Mr. Chadwick, I suggest you listen carefully. You and Liora will get down on your knees right now, in front of every camera in this room, and apologize for what you’ve said and done to me. Now.”

Liora stared at me in horror. “What?!”

I tilted my head, grinning at her. “Did I stutter?”