Todos os capítulos de Marrying My Ex’s Older Brother: Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

The university president hurried forward to greet Julian. Around Vanessa, people straightened their jackets and put away their phones. A few of the men who had been praising Adrian stepped past him without a glance.Adrian remained beside Natalie, his hands clenched at his sides.He had been the center of attention a few minutes earlier. Now the conversation had shifted to Firax Group and its chairman. Even the men who knew Adrian through the subsidiary seemed anxious to be seen greeting Julian.Vanessa watched without speaking. She knew the difference between the brothers' positions, but seeing it demonstrated so openly was uncomfortable. None of these people had needed proof before accusing her. They were suddenly much more cautious about finding fault with her husband's money.The president spoke briefly to Julian about the donation. Julian listened, then told him he would deal with what had happened that afternoon. The older man nodded. Vanessa couldn't hear every word, but she sa

Vanessa watched Natalie cross the meeting room.Without an audience, Natalie no longer bothered looking fragile.“Adrian will always choose me,” she said. “You should have learned that by now.”“This is my work. It has nothing to do with him.”“You used your family's connection to make him stay with you for five years. He's never going to marry you.”Vanessa gave a short laugh.“Will he marry you instead? That was what you wanted three years ago, wasn't it?”Natalie lifted her chin.“Tell him, if you like. He won't believe you.”Vanessa knew she was right. When Natalie had left the country, Adrian had blamed Vanessa. She had tried to explain, and Arthur had intervened to keep the peace. She should have let the relationship end then.“So now you want my script too?”“I want to work in this industry.”“Then write something.”“Why should I? Adrian's already helped me.” Natalie smiled. “You had Julian standing up for you before. Let's see who helps you this time.”Vanessa looked at her fo

She stayed for lunch. On the way home, Felicity sent her the company's public statement.Natalie was suspected of using Vanessa's work without permission. Her production had been canceled. Gonzalo and Ibarra had both been dismissed. Sigma would increase the budget for Vanessa's original project and bring in director Quiroz.Felicity's messages arrived in a rush.“He's one of the best directors working right now.”“And we won't have to see Gonzalo again.”“You won.”Vanessa read the announcement twice. She was glad the script had been returned to her. Still, she couldn't imagine walking back into Sigma and feeling as she had before.The people responsible were gone, but she had seen how easily her work could be traded away while everyone expected her to keep writing.By the time she reached home, she had decided.She told Gustavo she wanted to end their collaboration.He tried to persuade her to stay. She thanked him for putting things right and repeated her decision until he accepted

By the time they reached the hospital, Vanessa was shaking with pain. Bianca stayed with her through the examinations, answering questions when her friend couldn't manage more than a few words.The doctors found no broken bones. There was a substantial soft-tissue injury, and bruising had already begun to spread over Vanessa's side. After pain relief, she fell asleep in an observation room.Bianca sat beside the bed and watched the color slowly return to her face.She kept hearing what Vanessa had said outside the restaurant. She had known her for more than ten years and had watched Adrian become the center of her life, then watched her disappear into the effort of keeping him there.At least she was finished with him now.If Julian ever treated her the same way, Bianca would take her away herself.The door opened. Julian crossed the room without his usual measured pace.“What did the doctors say?”He stopped beside the bed, his gaze moving over Vanessa's face before he turned to Bian

Julian collected Vanessa at two. By the time they reached Hawthorne House, her side was aching again, and she was glad to get upstairs and wash the hospital smell from her skin.While she bathed, he went to his study and took Daniel's call.“We found the student,” Daniel said. “She's confirmed that your wife helped her. Natalie and Karla were responsible for the bullying.”Julian leaned back in his chair.“Proceed with the plan. Deal with the people who spread the rumors first.”When Vanessa came out of the bathroom, he was waiting with the ointment for her bruising. She wore a black nightdress and had left her hair loose.“Come here. I'll help with your side.”She glanced down, suddenly self-conscious.“It's fine. It'll heal.”He caught her hand as she tried to pass. The nearness of him brought back the kiss at the hospital—and another kiss, three years earlier, that she had worked very hard not to think about.Julian seemed to read her expression.“You remember that night, don't you