Being Dumped by My EX, I Marriied His Older Brother-Chapter 89: Losing the Child

Nina Thorne looked at Cole Kane, her eyes wide with surprise.

’Has the sun risen in the west?’

Serena Kane was in disbelief. "Cole, what did you just say? You want me to apologize to her?"

In the past, Cole Kane would never have treated her this way.

No matter the situation, as long as she felt wronged, he would always make Nina Thorne apologize, regardless of who was right or wrong.

Cole Kane glanced at the red finger marks on the back of Nina Thorne’s hand and gripped Serena Kane’s wrist forcefully. "I saw you hit her with my own eyes. Are you still going to lie?"

His gaze was furious, tinged with disappointment.

Serena Kane’s heart trembled. She knew when to yield. "Cole, I... I didn’t mean to lie..."

"It’s just that what she said was so awful, and she was recording it! I only struck out because I panicked. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them."

The socialites, who had been dragged into this for no reason, really wanted to thank her for that.

But seeing Cole Kane protecting Nina Thorne, and thinking about the recent scandals surrounding Serena Kane...

...they weighed their options and decided they couldn’t afford to offend either one.

"Honestly, we don’t know anything. Everything was fine, and then this suddenly happened..."

"Right, everyone?"

The other socialites nodded one after another. No one wanted to get dragged into the mess.

Especially Nina Thorne. For years, she had been as meek as a lamb in front of Cole Kane, but now she had suddenly become a porcupine.

She was just like she had been all those years ago—if not more so.

This version of Nina Thorne was not someone to be trifled with.

Serena Kane couldn’t believe they were abandoning her. She nearly coughed up blood from frustration and had no choice but to plead with Cole Kane.

"Cole, I really didn’t mean it. Please don’t be angry with me."

"Then apologize."

Cole Kane showed none of his former pity, his grip tightening. "Apologize to Nina Thorne. Now."

The pain was immense, and Cole Kane’s harsh attitude made Serena Kane’s eyes well up with tears.

"Cole, I can’t believe you’re being so cruel to me..."

"Fine, I’ll do it."

With red-rimmed, teary eyes, Serena Kane walked up to Nina Thorne and reluctantly lowered her head. "I’m sorry..."

She looked so pitiful, as if she were the one being bullied by Nina Thorne.

The back of Nina Thorne’s hand was still stinging.

She bent down, picked up her phone, and before she even straightened up, her arm suddenly whipped out.

SLAP!

She slammed the cracked phone right across Serena Kane’s face, her eyes filled with ice. "Who needs your damn apology?"

’An eye for an eye. Now that’s satisfying.’

’I was so stupid before.’

’I bit my tongue for years for Cole Kane’s sake, which only made Serena Kane more aggressive, thinking she could walk all over me.’

The shattered glass cut into Serena Kane’s fair cheek, and beads of blood began to seep out, causing the onlookers to gasp in shock.

Serena Kane felt a sharp sting. She touched her face, saw the bright red on her fingertips, and let out a terrified scream.

"Nina Thorne, are you trying to ruin my face?"

Serena Kane trembled in pain. The sight of the tiny, shocking beads of blood covering her cheek stunned even Cole Kane.

He hadn’t expected Nina Thorne to be so ruthless. "Nina Thorne, how could you be so vicious?"

"What’s wrong? Does it break your heart?"

Nina Thorne’s gaze was cool and detached as a sneer formed on her lips. "I guess it would. Your precious little sister is about to climb into your bed. She’s not your real sister, after all. She could become your wife at any time."

"..."

Cole Kane’s face turned ashen, and he frowned deeply, saying nothing.

Serena Kane sobbed pitifully, looking fragile and wronged. Cole Kane’s dark eyes fixed on Nina Thorne as he said with displeasure, "It’s true that I misunderstood you in this matter, but what you did was way out of line."

’Out of line?’

’Thinking back to college, when Serena Kane had framed her again and again... a single slap was getting off easy.’

"Shouldn’t you hurry and take your precious little sis—oh, no, I mean your precious little lover—to the hospital?"

Nina Thorne’s smile was bright, but her words were lethally infuriating. "Oh, and by the way, you should ask her what other wicked things she’s done, aside from trying to sleep with you."

"Nina Thorne, stop slandering me..."

Tears streamed down Serena Kane’s face from the pain. Her eyes darted around before she conveniently collapsed against Cole Kane, crying out that it hurt.

A large patch of blood soaked through, staining half her cheek. It was a shocking sight.

Cole Kane’s suspicious gaze flickered between Nina Thorne and Serena Kane, but there was no time for more questions.

He bent down, scooped her into his arms, and quickly left that corner of the banquet hall.

Seeing this, the socialites exchanged glances, not daring to provoke Nina Thorne any further, and hastily walked away.

Nina Thorne, however, was in an excellent mood.

Of course, the little incident here didn’t affect the bigwigs talking business in the main hall.

Albert Locke spoke with eloquence, his expertise on smart systems earning impressed applause.

Mr. Wagner remarked with admiration, "So, Mr. Locke, if you have time, let’s discuss a partnership tomorrow."

"Currently, the largest investor in our new energy project is the Kane Group, and Mr. Kane himself."

Mr. Wagner extended an olive branch, deliberately dropping Justin Kane’s name.

Albert Locke smiled subtly. "It’s rare that Mr. Kane and Mr. Wagner think so highly of me. It’s my honor. Tomorrow..."

Before he could finish, a sharp, domineering voice cut in. "Mr. Locke, won’t you even consider us, the Grahams?"

As the voice faded, a tall, long-legged man appeared before them.

His handsome face was chiseled and rugged, his sharp eyes radiating a bone-chilling coldness. He had the intimidating aura of an ancient warring general.

He was wild, arrogant, and had a powerful build.

The moment he arrived, the others all stood up, bowing and scraping.

’What was that saying in the business world?’

’Jason Graham of Vistara in the north, Justin Kane of Sylport in the south.’

Jason Graham’s viciousness was an open, brutal ferocity. Justin Kane, by contrast, was more reserved, but his actions were just as decisive and ruthless.

If Jason Graham was a god of slaughter, then Justin Kane was the cold-faced Hades.

Jason Graham stuck his hands in his pockets and casually provoked Justin Kane. "Mr. Kane, long time no see."

Justin Kane was leaning lazily against the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. His long arm rested on the armrest, his well-defined fingers tapping a few times on the leather, looking completely at ease.

Then, he lifted his eyelids and gave a cool glance. "President Graham, you’re so late. I thought you weren’t interested in what Mr. Locke has to offer."

Jason Graham pulled his hands from his pockets and took a few steps forward. Someone immediately stood up to offer him a seat.

"Mr. Kane, are you afraid that my arrival makes me your greatest competitor?"

Jason Graham stood before him, his smile utterly arrogant, as if he looked down on everyone, tinged with provocation.

Even though Jason Graham was looking down on him, Justin Kane, merely sitting on the sofa, met his gaze with a single look as sharp and commanding as a king surveying his city.

"You are indeed a competitor to the Kane Group,"

Justin Kane’s lips curled in disdain. "But you have never been a competitor of mine."

The smile on Jason Graham’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a murderous glint.

Their eyes met, igniting a silent war.

The others watched them, stunned, cold sweat beading on their backs...

Not until Assistant Cheney came over and whispered something in Justin Kane’s ear did his expression shift. His tall figure rose.

"That’s all for today."

Justin Kane straightened his suit, preparing to leave.

Jason Graham narrowed his sinister eyes. "Mr. Kane, you’re not happy to see me? I just got here, and you’re already leaving."

Justin Kane shot him a cold, sarcastic look from the corner of his eye. "Judging by your sense of time, President Graham, I fear the Grahams won’t last more than a few years in your hands."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Jason Graham’s eyes narrowed with a vicious glint, his murderous gaze fixed on Justin’s departing back.

The crowd sucked in a cold breath.

’If anyone else had said that, they probably wouldn’t live to see the morning.’

「 」

Nina Thorne’s mood hadn’t been spoiled by Cole Kane and Serena Kane. On the contrary, she felt vindicated.

She had put up with Serena Kane for so many years.

Tonight felt like a reckoning for all those years of biting her tongue.

Not wanting to disturb Justin Kane’s meeting, she settled into a corner of the sofa to watch short-form dramas on her phone while she waited.

As she watched, she started to doze off.

Her head began to nod forward.

Fortunately, Justin Kane was quick-eyed and swift-handed. He hurried over and caught her. "Silly girl, are you sleepy?"

His voice was doting, filled with an obvious smile—a stark contrast to the icy man from moments before.

Nina Thorne opened her eyes, her fair little face looking drowsy. "Are you done with your meeting?"

"All done,"

Justin Kane helped her up and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Come on, let’s go home."

His gaze was so incredibly gentle it made Nina Thorne’s heart flutter with sweetness.

’Having a husband this handsome and gentle... I couldn’t be happier.’

’Most importantly, he would never abandon me.’

Nina Thorne nodded, looking completely docile. "Okay, let’s go home."

Justin Kane wrapped an arm around her as they left, the picture of intimacy.

They walked out the front entrance of the building.

The driver pulled the car up smoothly. Just as they were about to get in, a roguish voice came from behind them.

"I never thought Mr. Kane would be one to keep a canary in a cage."

As the words fell, Jason Graham’s broad, powerful figure strode up to them. He had a lit cigarette in his hand and an incredibly arrogant look on his face.

"This little thing looks tender, but I heard she’s your younger brother’s woman, Mr. Kane..."

"What, you brothers like to share?"

Justin Kane’s bottomless dark eyes sank, a cold light flashing within them. He suddenly spun around, and a gust of wind swept past Jason Graham’s face.

The cigarette dangling from his lips was crushed into a sticky wad against his mouth.

"Has it been a while since you brushed your teeth?"

Justin Kane’s eyes were like sharp knives, his aura overwhelming. "Your mouth stinks so bad, anyone who didn’t know better would think a septic tank exploded in it."

Nina Thorne froze, stunned by what had just happened.

She rarely saw this expression on Justin Kane’s face—cold, fierce, and radiating a sinister, hostile energy, like Hades incarnate.

And he was doing it for her.

Nina Thorne’s heart hammered in her chest, as if someone were beating a war drum against it again and again.

Her heart raced, and it took a long time for it to calm down.

"Heh..."

Jason Graham brushed the ash from his lips, his sinister eyes fixed on them. "Interesting."

His gaze swept over Nina Thorne, his eyes dark and sharp, as if trying to bore a hole through her.

Nina Thorne’s heart lurched. There was something indescribably strange about his look.

Fortunately, Justin Kane pulled her behind him, his broad, solid back forming a protective shield. "There are some people who, if you so much as touch them, I can make you die."

Jason Graham snorted, prodding the inside of his cheek with his tongue as he glanced at Justin. "Mr. Kane, it looks like you’re serious?"

"Mind your own business."

Justin Kane’s eyes were dark. He turned, ready to put his arm around Nina Thorne and leave.

Suddenly, Jason Graham’s mocking voice rang out coldly, "Justin Kane, don’t you find it ironic, protecting this woman like this?"

"Do you think you’re doing right by the woman who lost her child for your sake?"