Lahat ng Kabanata ng Better Brother, Better Life: Kabanata 421 - Kabanata 430

"Mr. Doyle, I swear I'll work my ass off! I won't let you down!" Joseph cried.Ted had seen people cry harder than Joseph when they landed a role. Without exception, they were all young and still pure at heart. That kind of personality was gold for acting, but whether Joseph could actually seize the chances he was given was another story.It wasn't just about acting well—he had to learn how to navigate people, too.Ted had been through storms and could remain composed in most situations. With young kids like Joseph, he had patience to spare. He said encouragingly, "Keep at it.""I will! I definitely will!" Joseph repeated it over and over, like a kid desperate for his parents' approval. Only after saying it a dozen times did he finally leave, dragging his feet the whole way out.He wanted to call his mother right then and there to tell her he'd landed his first role with actual lines and character development. However, he held off. If he heard her voice, he would probably break do

Starting an entertainment company was no small feat, but Phoebe actually thrived on the challenge. Diving into new territory was her comfort zone, and she picked things up quicker than most. Managing people was the same—it came naturally to her.She still had her R&D job. Normally, people would advise against spreading oneself too thin, but that rule didn't apply to her. She could juggle multiple things at once and still nail them all.Joseph lit up. "Okay! I'll wait for your call!"Right now, in his eyes, Phoebe might as well have been a goddess. For a guy who had zero family or real friends in Seavale and zero trust in shady agencies, the olive branch she'd just extended was the perfect safe harbor.Suddenly, he felt solid ground beneath his feet. No more paranoia about getting snatched off the street again… though he still wasn't planning to report it to the police. The guy who'd done it had plenty of connections and ways to make his life hell if he wanted.It was better to sig

Connor could handle that. But right now, he hated the silence. It felt suffocating, as if the air itself were pressing in, making him want to bolt. For a split second, he really wanted to call Phoebe and just hear her voice…He held back. Instinct told him she wouldn't pick up anyway. Why set himself up to get pissed off again?…The week flew by.After the movie with Gideon that day, he'd sent her the photos Joseph had taken of them. Phoebe had saved all of them on her phone.Before she knew it, she and Gideon had more couple pictures than she'd ever taken with Connor in three years of marriage.She saved them all. There were two more years to go; there would be plenty more moments like this. The more real they looked, the more convincing they would be to Leona, too.Beyond that, Phoebe was laser-focused on what she actually wanted to do right now. She was a doer, not a talker. The same night she and Gideon watched the movie, she hopped on a call with Alexandra and pitched the

Connor coldly told the driver the destination. He was so intimidated that he didn't dare refuse.Connor turned and immediately caught the cold indifference on Phoebe's face, which grated on him. Out of nowhere, he sneered and mocked, "If you'd ridden in my car, you could've gotten in the backseat and kept your distance from me. Now look—you brought this on yourself."Phoebe met his cold stare and actually smiled. "You're the one acting like a spoiled brat, and now you're blaming me? That's hilarious."She added calmly, "Sharing a car with you makes me sick, but this is my ride. The steering wheel isn't in your hands—it's in mine. It gives me a hell of a lot more control than sitting in your car."Connor's expression darkened, like he was seconds from exploding.Phoebe waited for it. If he didn't lose it, he wouldn't be Connor. But to her surprise, he actually held back without saying a single word.Her brows lifted in genuine astonishment. This was new, and something was definite

A voice in Connor's head kept screaming warnings. "Stop talking! That's not what you really think, so stop doing this!"But if that wasn't the reason, then what was it?He had never had to consider Phoebe's feelings in the past—only his own mattered. Now, he'd lowered his head and swallowed his pride. For him, that was already a massive concession. What more did she want? For him to lie and say he loved her? No way in hell!Connor silenced the alarm in his head and pressed on. "I can treat you better from now on. I won't be like before. Isn't that enough?"Phoebe had genuinely loved him once, so his words cut her again. It wasn't because she still held hope, but because they'd dragged up every old wound he'd ever inflicted.From start to finish, Connor had been profoundly selfish. Over and over, he forced her to see it clearly.She said without hesitation, "Let me be blunt, Connor. I'm not going to be a fool again."Connor had never once imagined she'd refuse him, so the answer