The Heiress Spoiled by Four Brothers and One Devilish CEO-Chapter 225 Karma Always Comes

"So basically, you guys are still playing a risky game," Brandon Lewis said, eyes narrowing behind his gold-rimmed glasses. "Did you ever ask Wendy Ford about it?"

Megan Shaw nodded. "Yeah, I did. But she didn’t know much. Nathaniel Cooper’s slick—he’s got lots of pawns like her, each with a different role, and he keeps them all separate. Even if they know something, it’s all bits and pieces. So where she ended up, we still don’t know. Tristan’s already sent someone to investigate, but so far? Nothing."

Brandon rubbed his chin, thinking it over. "If Nathaniel Cooper went through the trouble of hiding her, he’s not gonna make it easy for anyone to find her. She’s like a ticking time bomb—a dangerous one at that."

Megan finished off a bag of mixed nuts and stuffed the empty wrapper into Brandon’s hand. "Come what may, fire or rain, my big bro’s got me covered. I’m not scared."

Brandon let out a helpless chuckle. "Aren’t you married?"

She burst out laughing. "Well, yeah, technically I am. Except my husband’s currently in ‘dead mode.’ Even if he really did kick the bucket for good, I’ve still got four awesome brothers! I’m starting to see the perks of having a bunch of bros."

"Of course," Brandon started to say before she jumped in.

"But when bros get wives, things change!" Megan shot back quickly.

"Ow!" she yelped as Brandon flicked her forehead again. "Seriously? You got a habit or something? You keep this up and I swear I’ll get back at your wife, just wait."

He cracked up. "If you’d grown up with us, it would’ve been a whole different story. We’d have spoiled you silly. And maybe, just maybe, you wouldn’t have gotten swept away by Tristan Reid so easily."

Megan giggled. "C’mon, big bro and you both have stone-cold expressions 24/7. Second bro’s a total playboy—it’s a miracle his fans haven’t broken the internet. And Samuel? Please, most unreliable guy ever."

Brandon snorted. "And Tristan isn’t? That guy’s practically the Grim Reaper."

"But he treats me like I’m his whole world—so warm, like a walking space heater."

Smacking his lips dramatically, Brandon shook his head. "I’m outta here. Go on, keep acting like you’re in some sappy drama. Poor Tristan’s image is dead and buried because of you."

Megan stuck her tongue out and pulled out her phone to dive into another long chat with Tristan.

By lunchtime, Stella Banks popped into Megan’s room and dragged her downstairs so she wouldn’t just mope around.

It was rare—everyone was actually sitting at the dining table together.

No one brought up Tristan. Instead, they just kept piling food onto Megan’s plate.

Zachary Lewis picked out a piece of fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it in front of her. "Eat some more fish, sweetheart. It’s good for the baby’s brain."

"Thanks, Dad," Megan said softly.

Samuel tutted. "Wow, Dad’s playing favorites. He’s never picked bones out for me."

Zachary shot him a look. "You’re not a girl. What are you, five? Use your hands like everyone else."

Watching Samuel get scolded, Megan couldn’t help but giggle. "Fourth bro, stop complaining. You know your rank in the family’s low. Once the baby’s born, you’re dropping lower on the ladder."

Samuel rested his cheek in his hand. "Right? And if one more pops out from Tristan and you, I’ll be completely replaced. Even Zeta Prime has more status than me now."

"Speaking of," Megan asked, "Where’s Zeta Prime hiding? I haven’t seen him the past couple of days."

Mr. Lewis sighed. "Locked in his room sulking. Won’t even play chess with me anymore."

Megan smiled softly. So even Zeta Prime was still missing Tristan.

Just then, an unexpected guest walked into the dining room, casually taking the seat next to Mr. Lewis.

She held a string of prayer beads, murmuring under her breath, "Everything in life is a result of karma. It might not hit now, but the time always comes. Some pay in this life, some in the next."Mr. Lewis slammed his hand on the table so hard the dishes clattered. "You think being grounded at the temple is too easy on you? With that kind of venomous heart, what are you even praying to Buddha for?"

"You think I’m venomous? What did I even say?" Mrs. Lewis shot back.

Facing her, Mr. Lewis snapped, "You know exactly what you said. Don’t cross the line. If staying in this house feels so unbearable, feel free to leave."

"I’ve stuck with you my whole life, and now you’re picking a fight with me over a granddaughter we just brought back a few months ago? Are you hearing yourself? And the rest of you! This is how you treat me now? No basic respect?"

Megan Shaw rolled her eyes so hard they could’ve popped out. Seriously, she was speechless. Mrs. Lewis acted like she prayed every day, but behind closed doors? Probably hoped Megan would disappear already.

Zachary Lewis finally had enough. “Megan’s my daughter. She just lost her husband, and these are the things you say to her? Mom, if you’ve got nothing better to do, maybe head back to the temple.”

Mrs. Lewis gave a mocking scoff, stood and smoothed out her clothes. “Fine. I was just stopping by to see everyone. Haven’t seen you all in a while, kind of missed it.”

With her prayer beads clinking, she turned and walked out of the dining room.

Mr. Lewis rubbed his temples. “Megan, don’t take it to heart. Getting worked up like this isn’t good for the baby, you know.”

“I know, Grandpa. Some people’s words are just background noise to me.”

Mrs. Lewis suddenly turned back. “What did you just say? No respect for your elders at all!”

Mr. Lewis finally lost it. “Out. Now.”

With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Lewis spun around and stormed off.

Feeling the air turn stiff and awkward, Megan tried to lighten things up. “Come on, let’s eat and drink. Life moves on, right?”

Everyone else: "..." Girl’s got nerves of steel.

In a budget motel located in Nanning.

Nicole Flynn sat on an old couch, eyes locked on the TV news but completely blank inside.

It had been two days, and there was still no word from Nathaniel Cooper.

Her mind was a mess. Though the mind-control bug was out of her, her family was still under his thumb—and all of them had been implanted with the same thing.

She couldn’t just leave them and run, no matter how badly she wanted to be free.

Even if she ran, Nathaniel would find her. It’d be worse.

The only way out was to help Tristan Reid and the others bring Nathaniel to justice. Nothing else would stop this.

If it cost her life to save her family, so be it. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Just then, her phone vibrated beside her. The sudden buzz nearly scared her out of her skin. A strange number flashed on the screen, and her fingers shook uncontrollably as she picked it up.

She answered with shaky breath. On the other end, a distorted voice came through.

"Where are you?"

She knew instantly—it was Nathaniel.

“I’m in Nanning. Some small family-run motel.”

"The news says Tristan Reid’s dead. Is he really gone?"

Nicole frowned. He still didn’t trust her.

She let out a soft sigh. “Boss, you really think I’d lie to you? I risked my life to make this happen—if it worked, I get brushed off. If not, I’m dead. If I’d known that was the deal, I’d rather be dead already. Doesn’t it make more sense for you to send someone else to finish him off?”

He let out a low chuckle. “Throwing a fit now? Have I spoiled you too much?”

Nicole sensed he was starting to believe her. She pushed further, testing him. “Spoiled me? You’ve used me to serve other men, like I’m just some toy you lend out. Do you even see me as a person? With your status, girls line up just to be near you.”

His ego clearly enjoyed that. “I’ll come get you this afternoon. Wait for me.”

After the call ended, Nicole clutched her chest, her back cold with sweat.

Going back to him felt like walking into a whirlpool she couldn’t escape—but she had no choice.