Better Brother, Better Life のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 411 - チャプター 420

"I've lectured you many times, but you never listen. Is that my fault?" Ian narrowed his eyes. He didn't give Jacqueline the comfort she was fishing for. His tone stayed flat, almost emotionless. "Just because you like Gideon, you expect him to like you back. On what grounds?"Ian had no choice but to force Jacqueline to face reality again and again. "If you two were ever going to happen, it would've happened by now. But all these years, Gideon has treated you like a stranger. You should've given up long ago, but you refuse to. Who's the one who ends up hurting? You."When he saw the ugly look on her face, he ultimately tried to soften the blow. "You have to know your limits. For things that you can't force, the healthiest option is to learn to let go. Otherwise, your whole life gets eaten up by wanting what you can't have."Jacqueline, you need to remember that you come first in everything. No matter how great Gideon is, if chasing him makes you miserable, then he's not worth it."

Gideon found a flawless excuse to change the subject. "I heard from Natalie that you're quitting. Why didn't you tell me?"Phoebe's surprise vanished instantly. "I didn't get the chance. When I woke up the next morning, you were already gone."She explained her reason for quitting. "It's about my career path. From now on, I'm starting something with Alexandra. She's waited three years for me. We're going to build this thing together."They would focus on hustling and making money.Ever since the divorce, Phoebe had poured all her energy, time, and focus back into herself. She was rediscovering what she loved, itching to try new things, and buzzing with so much drive that she could barely contain it. Her energy felt endless.It felt better than anything she'd ever experienced before. Her body was literally telling her that she and Connor had never been right for each other."Mr. Blackwood, I spent a full three years at your company. Looking back, it's kind of wild how things have

Phoebe comforted Joseph. "Don't worry. Mr. Blackwood won't think badly of you."Gideon watched her, not sure how to feel. She'd ignored him and focused on soothing Joseph… He casually clenched his hand once and looked at Joseph with cool detachment.Joseph didn't dare meet Gideon's eyes, but he still sensed the danger. It was like being stared down by a predator, and he instinctively sidestepped a little. "R-Really? He won't?"Phoebe could tell that Joseph was genuinely terrified of Gideon, which was completely normal. After all, Gideon was a powerful CEO with an overwhelming presence and unreadable thoughts. Most people would be scared of seeing him.She glanced at Gideon, signaling him to ease up and stop staring at Joseph. The pressure was too much for the latter to bear.Gideon still wasn't sure how to feel. His lips pressed together even tighter. He hadn't said or done anything, so why was Joseph acting so fragile? And Phoebe was actually buying the act.Phoebe walked over t

Phoebe grabbed Joseph's shoulder and pulled him up. He immediately turned his head away, not daring to meet her eyes. He looked nothing like that flirty, smoldering guy from his male escort gig. Right now, he seemed painfully shy and scared of being a burden. He tiptoed around like he might break something."I believe you. Come on, let's go," Phoebe said.Gideon's gaze dropped to where her hand rested on Joseph's shoulder. He stepped over and firmly pulled her hand away, flicking a casual glance at Joseph as he did so.She looked down at her hand, which was now in Gideon's, then up at him. He felt her stare and shifted his eyes to meet hers. She caught a faint flicker of displeasure in his gaze.Why did he seem… subtly hostile toward Joseph? Normally, he wouldn't even register a kid like Joseph, let alone let it actually get under his skin. What was going on?Gideon let go of Phoebe's hand.Joseph was so startled that he stumbled backward. The dirt road hadn't been paved and was

Gideon caught the fleeting smile on Phoebe's face. He just couldn't approach anything involving her rationally anymore. Emotion took over completely, as it had with that oil painting. And Joseph was another example…Joseph was nothing. He was just some kid sniffling in the backseat. Gideon still felt a prick of jealousy, though.But the second Phoebe showed him even a fraction of that same care, Joseph became irrelevant. It was the same with how, after not seeing her for a whole week, the dark cloud hanging over him vanished the second he laid eyes on her again. He didn't even bother wondering why he'd been in such a foul mood for seven straight days.As long as she was nearby, he changed. His heartbeat would stutter now and then. Even something as small as her asking if he was okay left him feeling faintly buzzed.…Phoebe was in a hurry, so she drove fast. She was steady as hell, though.In Joseph's eyes, her hands were calm and precise on the wheel, and she looked completely i