บททั้งหมดของ Meet My Overprotective Brothers : บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

That evening, Cora was in her room organizing the small workspace Ryan had already started setting up for her. He had brought in a desk, a high-end laptop, and several programming books. Tomorrow, they would begin her education in earnest.She was arranging the books by topic when her phone rang.The number was unfamiliar. Not one she recognized. She almost let it go to voicemail, but something made her answer."Hello?"There was a pause on the other end. Then a voice she knew too well."Cora. Thank God. I was not sure you would pick up."Liam.Her entire body tensed. Her hand tightened around the phone."How did you get this number?" she asked coldly."That does not matter," Liam said quickly. "Please, just listen to me for a minute. That is all I am asking. One minute.""I do not have anything to say to you," Cora replied. "And I certainly do not want to hear anything you have to say to me.""Cora, please—""We are done, Liam. We have been done. The divorce is finalized. There is no

Liam sat there staring at Ethan's business card like it was a death sentence. His hands were trembling. His face had gone from pale to ashen."Sterling & Associates," he read aloud. His voice cracked slightly. "You are Ethan Sterling of Sterling & Associates?""I am," Ethan confirmed."The law firm that won the Henderson case," Liam continued. "The firm that represented three Fortune 500 companies last year. The firm with a ninety-seven percent success rate in litigation.""Ninety-eight percent now, actually," Ethan corrected. "We won another case last week. But yes, that is my firm."Liam looked up at Cora with something like desperation. "You brought one of the most successful lawyers in the city to threaten me with a lawsuit?""I brought my brother to help me get what I am owed," Cora replied calmly. "The fact that he happens to be an excellent lawyer is just convenient.""This is insane," Liam said. "You are a Sterling now. You have more money than you could spend in ten lifetimes

Ryan held Ethan's gaze, trying to keep his expression neutral. Trying not to let any of the confusion or guilt he felt show on his face."I do not know what you are trying to point at," Ryan said carefully. "I was worried because Cora disappeared without telling anyone where she was going. We had a training session scheduled. She was not there. I did not know if something was wrong or if she had changed her mind about learning tech or what.""That is all it was?" Ethan asked. His tone suggested he did not quite believe it."What else would it be?" Ryan countered. "She is my sister. We made plans. She did not show up. I was concerned. That seems like a pretty normal reaction to me."Ethan leaned back in his chair, studying Ryan's face. "The concern I understand. What I do not understand is the intensity of your reaction. You were not just worried. You were upset. Almost angry.""I was not angry," Ryan protested."You were something," Ethan said. "And it looked a lot like anger to me. O

After Ryan left for his own house, the mansion felt emptier. Cora tried not to think about it too much. Tried not to wonder what had caused him to retreat so suddenly. Tried not to replay that last conversation where he had warned her to stay away from him.Instead, she threw herself into the one thing she could control: making Liam pay for what he had taken from her.Two days after the coffee shop meeting, Liam's response arrived. Not in the form of agreement to the payment plan, but as a formal letter from his attorney denying any obligation to reimburse Cora for expenses during their marriage.The letter claimed that all money spent during the marriage had been joint expenses, that Liam had contributed in non-financial ways, and that Cora's current financial status as a Sterling made any claims of hardship or unfair burden laughable.Ethan had read the letter aloud to Cora in his office, his expression growing darker with each paragraph."He is claiming he contributed non-financial

Cora felt like the ground had shifted beneath her feet. Ryan had left because of her. He had packed up his things and moved out of the mansion specifically to get away from her."What did I do?" she asked quietly. "Ryan, please. Tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it."Ryan shook his head, still not looking at her. "You did not do anything wrong. That is what I keep trying to tell you. This is not about you doing something. It is about me dealing with things I should not be feeling.""What things?" Cora pressed. "What are you feeling that is so terrible you had to leave?""It does not matter," Ryan said. "What matters is that I recognized the problem and I am handling it. By keeping distance between us. By limiting our interactions. By being professional instead of personal.""Professional?" Cora repeated. "Ryan, we are family. We are brother and sister. How are we supposed to be professional with each other?""Exactly," Ryan said, his voice rising. "We are brother and sister. That