Chapter 238: Chapter 236: Lovers Finally Become Siblings

Realizing what had happened, Mia touched the mask on her face.

She instantly sucked in a sharp breath.

’Damn it, I was so focused on eating, I forgot to put my mask back on!’

She never thought anyone here would actually recognize her!

After a moment of realization, Carla turned her head and glanced at Mia again.

Then, without another word, she strode forward, grabbed Ian Sinclair by the collar, and said, "Come with me."

"..."

Simon Adler averted his gaze and looked at the stunned Mia. "Should we still stay here?"

Hearing this, Mia looked back at him. "What do you think?"

Upstairs, Ian leaned against a window, watching the glamorous, gown-clad woman pace back and forth in front of him.

The CLICK-CLACK-CLICK of her high heels on the floor gave him a headache.

"What exactly did you call me up here to say?"

He could sense that Carla seemed a little angry.

’But why?’

’What’s she angry about?’

He couldn’t figure it out.

’Could it be because I had a couple of extra slices of cake downstairs just now?’

’No way, is the Sinclair Family going bankrupt or something?’

"Do you need something? If not, I’m leaving. You may not be busy, but I am."

"Stay right there!"

Carla snapped her head up, her glare stabbing into him. "You know Mia Grant."

Ian was about to nod, but then he remembered Mia’s warning and said, "I don’t."

"You’re lying. That person just now said you knew her."

"? I don’t even know who that person is. You’ll believe anything he says? That’s ridiculous. If he said Mia was my sister, would you believe that too?"

"I would." Carla stepped forward, staring him down. "Because she is."

"..."

Ian froze.

The woman in front of him never joked.

If he had to find someone more rigid than his own brother over the past twenty years...

...it would absolutely be Carla.

Neither of them had a humorous bone in their body.

One was more boring than the other.

To put it this way, most people their age socialized by partying, either at nightclubs and bars or at karaoke lounges.

These two, on the other hand, probably entertained themselves by sitting down for a calm discussion on the future of international politics.

When the neighboring country held its next presidential election, he really wanted to cast a vote for the two of them.

And now, this was the person telling him with a completely straight face that Mia was his sister.

He knew it sounded like total bullshit, but he found himself unable to doubt it.

Ian swore this was the second piece of terrible news he’d heard this year, right after Mia jumping into the sea.

’What is this?’

’Some new kind of curse?’

’All the world’s lovers are doomed to become siblings?’

’Wait, no.’

’If that’s the case, then the marriage arrangement between Mia and his brother... doesn’t that mean it’s off?!’

’Oh!’

Ian’s eyes lit up.

’Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so bad anymore, does it?’

’Wait, wait, that’s not the point.’

Ian frowned and looked at Carla. "So the long-lost sister you just told me about... that’s her? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"That’s your only reaction?"

"Well, what kind of reaction should I have?" Ian spread his hands. "It’s a good thing. Congratulations."

"You know her. Are you her fiancé?"

"First of all, I’m not. Of course, I wish I were, but I’m really not."

"Secondly... even if I were, so what?"

Carla thought he was afraid to admit it. "She’s not even twenty!"

Ian said, "That’s why it’s an engagement."

"Our two branches of the family haven’t had any blood ties for three generations. Is there a problem?"

Carla’s voice was heavy. "You forced her."

Ian was speechless. "We’ve known each other for so many years. Do you really think I’m that kind of person?"

Carla gave him no quarter. "You men only think with your lower bodies. When you really want something, there’s no telling what methods you’ll use. She’s young and in a difficult situation. It would be easy for you to manipulate her."

"The engagement is off. If there’s a problem, have your parents come talk to me."

Instead of getting angry, Ian laughed and applauded. "Beautiful. I love that speech."

Carla was puzzled by his reaction. She then saw him pull out his phone, dial a number, and hold it out to her. "Here. By all means, repeat that speech, word for word, to your *other* dear younger brother."

"..."

The call didn’t go through. Felix must have been busy with something, as he didn’t pick up.

Ian put his phone away with a look of regret. "What a shame. I don’t get to hear you chew him out. Why don’t you send him a voice message?"

Carla swatted his hand away. "It’s Felix?"

Ian shrugged. "I told you it wasn’t me. You just wouldn’t believe it."

"I, on the other hand, wish it *was* me. Tell Felix to get lost and let me take his place. I’d have no objections. I’d definitely be on your side."

"Does she like Felix?"

"If you’re asking me, then I only have one answer: no."

"Then who does she like?"

"Me, of course."

"..." Carla looked at him with disdain.

"What’s with that look?"

"I might be able to grudgingly accept her being with Felix, but I’d still help her break it off. If it were you, however, I would be absolutely against it."

"Hey, on what grounds?"

"You’re not right for her." Carla took out her phone, apparently contacting someone. "And she doesn’t like you."

"If she absolutely has to be engaged, I will make sure she chooses someone she likes."

"Not be forced to compromise under coercion and bribery."

Ian pressed his hand down on her phone. "No one’s forcing her. Because it was never real in the first place."

Carla looked at him suspiciously.

Ever since she found out he knew Mia too, she found it impossible to trust him.

"Believe it or not. With her personality, no one can force her to do anything."

"My parents know about it too. My mom adores her, so she wanted to help her leave the Grant Family."

Realizing he knew a lot about Mia—perhaps even more than Simon Adler—made him seem more valuable.

Carla paused for a moment, then lowered her phone.

"When did you and she meet?"

"High school."

"...You were dating back then?"

"Is that not allowed? Is it against the law?"

Noticing her complicated expression, Ian thought for a moment and added, "Just kidding. I pursued her, but she never went out with me."

"What about Felix?"

"They weren’t together either. At most, he just helped her with her studies."

Ian didn’t want to speak up for Felix, but he was talking to Mia’s biological sister. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

’She almost exploded just from hearing about the engagement. I’d better tone it down a bit.’

"You two, I suppose you did something good."

Carla found him a little less displeasing to the eye than before.

"When is she leaving Portia? Is she really going to wait until her brother gets married?"

Ian was about to answer when he realized something and narrowed his eyes. "You’re trying to get information out of me."

"You can think whatever you want."

"I just really want to know what’s troubling her right now. What can I do for her?"

Ian remained tight-lipped, but then he recalled something he’d investigated earlier. His breathing hitched, and he changed his tune:

"Let me tell you something."

"That old man... he doesn’t treat her well."

"I know."

Ian retorted, "No, you don’t. He wants to kill her."

"You keep asking all these questions. And then what? What are you planning to do? Help her kill the old man?"

"I can." Carla replied.