Spoiled By My Brothers: Return of The Lost Heiress-Chapter 164: Glimpses Of The Past-I

Adrian’s POV

In my past life, I watched my sister suffer so much that I still can’t forget it. I blamed myself for everything. I was always too focused on work, too busy chasing success to notice how much pain Sera was in. And when I finally cared, it was already too late.

Sera came to our house when she was sixteen. Right after she arrived, the bullying started. The Lancaster mansion looked perfect from the outside, but inside, it was hell for her. No one cared if she was okay. No one even treated her like a human being. Everyone used her as a punching bag, hitting and hurting her whenever they wanted. She must have felt so lost, so alone, that I’m still amazed she found the strength to keep living.

Back then, I was cold. I didn’t care about anyone... family or friends meant nothing to me, as work was all I thought about. When my adopted sister, Melissa, asked for things, I gave them without question. But one day, a thought hit me. Melissa wasn’t even my blood sister and always demanded something, yet Sera never asked for anything.

Why did she never ask? Why did she accept everything silently? Why didn’t she ever complain or question me? Those thoughts lingered for a while, but I pushed them away like I always did. I told myself it didn’t matter, as I was too blind to even care about anything.

Looking back, I know I was a jerk. I could’ve helped her. I could’ve stood by her. But I didn’t. And by the time I realized what she meant to me, it was already too late.

I met Sera at Grandma’s birthday, just as I did this time as well. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her for the first time. I felt a strong pull toward her that I had never felt for anyone before.

For some reason, I wanted to know more, I wanted to see how she lived and why she felt all lost in such a grand party.

That was when I noticed a man was trying to talk to her. My mind went blank. It wasn’t because they were talking, but because the way Sera was acting. She was shivering, as if she had seen a ghost.

She was too scared to see anyone, so she ran out of the banquet. I couldn’t understand what was happening. I wanted to follow her to see what had happened to her.

And I did. When I met Sera, she was not entirely alone on the road; there was a man beside her.

I felt relieved, but when I saw the man’s face, I took a breath of relief as it was Lucein.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my voice was harsher than intended. Lucien was always close to Alistair, helping him with business, but never really got involved with family matters at parties. Thinking back, I was the one who gave Lucien the money he used for Alistair’s business investment, just because I knew Alistair would refuse it from me. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Lucien looked surprised to see me, but Sera didn’t even lift her head. She just kept staring at the ground, still shaking. I didn’t say anything else. I just stood there, feeling useless as my mind was full of questions that I couldn’t dare to ask. I wanted to know what happened... why she reacted like that... but I didn’t want to scare her.

Lucien’s voice cut through the silence, as his tone was cold. "Some bastard was abusing this girl, but can I ask why you’re following her?" He sounded like I was a stranger and not her brother.

But then again, no one was aware of our relationship, that she was our real sister!

"Why are you here?" I questioned instead of answering him. "Do you know her?" I demanded, already taking off my blazer and placing it around Sera’s trembling body. "Here... don’t be scared. Just tell me." I tried to sound comforting, but it came out even colder.

But Lucien cut in before she could even open her mouth.

"Yes, I know her," he said, as his teeth almost ground. "Didn’t I tell you already that I’m here because I saw someone troubling her. Why are you standing so close to her? Can’t you see how scared she is?"

He looked like he was holding himself back from ripping me away from her. It made me wonder how he even knew Sera. Did Alistair tell him? Or... was there something between them that none of us knew?

"Do you like this guy?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Seraphina jerked at my words, trembling even harder as she hid herself inside the blazer I put on her.

"N... No..." she stammered. "I... I like... Sean... my... my fia... fiancé..."

I nodded. I already knew that. But Lucien’s face turned pale. He looked shocked. He first glanced at me, then at her, like he couldn’t understand a single thing happening in front of him.

"How do you know her, Brother Adrian?" he asked in a tight voice, trying hard not to lose his temper.

And at that moment, a thought crossed my mind: Did this guy... like my sister? Or did he have some other motive for coming close to her!

What I didn’t know was that it wasn’t just liking. His feelings were something far from what I had thought.

"How do you know her?" I ignored his question and repeated his words back to him.

"I’ve known her for a long time," Lucien replied unexpectedly. He paused for a while and added. "From when she lived in the orphanage. But... why is she here now? I’ve never seen her at this house before."

"Excuse me?" I raised a brow. "Have you not met her at the Lancaster house?"

He had been there a few times, didn’t he? Then why had he not seen her there?

Lucien looked confused as he gazed at Sera and then at me!