Chapter 231

Julie’s POV

What was Steve doing here? The moment his green eyes landed on me, they widened in sheer disbelief. He froze as if he had seen a ghost. A sudden chill invaded my limbs; I wanted to run, to vanish.

He couldn’t know the truth, and I couldn’t risk anyone else here finding out he was my brother. But I remained rooted to the spot, unable to move a single muscle.

Carlos approached first, speaking in his usual calm tone. "Good morning, Julie. Is Robert doing better today?"

My tongue felt heavy, but I forced myself to collect my shattered nerves. I spoke quickly, my voice clear enough for Steve to hear, hoping to prevent him from exposing us before he could utter a word. "Who is this young man with you? Is he your brother?"

Steve was stunned.

He blinked repeatedly, staring at me in disbelief as if my words had been a physical slap. Carlos looked at him, then back at me. "Oh, this is Steve... one of my men."

I struggled to keep my voice from trembling, locking my eyes onto Steve’s. "Pleased to meet you, Steve. I’m Julie."

A brief, suffocating silence followed. Steve swallowed hard, then extended his hand mechanically. "Hello, Miss Julie," he said, his voice raspy and laden with unspoken reproach.

I reached out and shook his hand. His palm was rough and warm.

I felt a faint tremor pass between our joined hands. I looked deep into his eyes the gaze of a man asking a thousand questions: What are you doing here? Why are you pretending you don’t know me? Yet, he chose to play along with this charade for now.

Moments felt like centuries until Carlos remarked with a hint of confusion, "Is this handshake ever going to end?" He firmly pulled Steve’s hand away from mine. I realized I had held on for too long. "Oh... I drifted off," I stammered.

Carlos studied Steve and then me intently, narrowing his eyes. "You two have the same eyes. That’s why he felt so familiar."

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced a fake laugh. "Yes, you’re right... what a strange coincidence!"

"I’m going up to see Robert," Carlos said, gesturing toward the room.

"Yes, go ahead," I nodded.

As Carlos walked away, Steve followed closely behind. But he stole one last glance back at me before disappearing around the corner a single look that told me there would be hell to pay later.

I stood there, terror hollowed out my chest. I didn’t know what to do. How could I tell him our father sold me? He would surely kill him and end up in prison, and he wouldn’t spare anyone in this place if he knew I had become part of this filthy world. Damn it, everything just got complicated.

--++++----++++++--+-------- 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Olivia’s POV

I practically ran into the club this morning, my breath hitching and the sound of my heartbeat ringing in my ears. I had received news that Robert had been shot. I ran like a madwoman through the corridors and headed for his room a room I had never entered in my life.

I knocked with a trembling hand, and heard Mr. Thomas’s voice from within: "Come in."

I entered to find Robert lying on the bed. My God! My heart nearly stopped; I was paralyzed, unable to breathe. "Olivia," Thomas said, looking at me.

"Hello, Mr. Thomas... I came to check on Mr. Robert’s condition," I said, trying to find my voice.

"He’s fine now," Thomas replied coldly. "The doctor was just here and said he’s in good shape."

I stepped closer, my eyes fixed on his pale face. "Praise be to God for your safety, Mr. Robert."

"Thank you, Olivia," he replied wearily.

"You don’t look comfortable, Mr. Robert," I noted, noticing his awkward position. I moved closer and cautiously began adjusting the pillows behind his back to support him. My heart was racing wildly being this close to him, and I felt a heat flush across my face. Meanwhile, there was a knock at the door, but I was focused entirely on the pillows.

"Good morning," Carlos said as he entered.

"Good morning, Carlos," Thomas replied.

"Robert, are you feeling better today?" Carlos asked with concern.

"Yes, I’m fine," Robert said, before calling out sharply, "Olivia."

I moved to the other side of the bed so he could see me. Suddenly, he asked, "Where is Julie?"

I felt a searing sting in my chest. Why was he asking for that bitch the moment he woke up? "I don’t know, sir. I only just arrived," I said with forced indifference.

"Tell her to come to me," he commanded.

"Yes, sir," I replied, clenching my teeth.

I stormed out of the room, cursing that wretched girl under my breath. But the moment I stepped out, I saw someone I never expected to see... standing right there!

"Steve?!" I gasped in shock.

He saw me and strode toward me. "Olivia! What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" I snapped.

"I came with my boss."

"Who?"

"Mr. Carlos."

I was stunned. "You work for Mr. Carlos?"

He nodded. "Yes." Then he asked sternly, "And you?"

"I work here."

"Doing what?" he asked with a prying tone that irritated me.

"Enough with the questions, Steve. Just act like you don’t know me, okay?"

Suddenly, he grabbed my arm firmly and pulled me toward him, his voice rising in anger. "What do you do here, Olivia? This is a club for hiring girls!"

"Relax... I’m the supervisor here," I said, trying to wrench my arm away. I pulled back sharply. "Don’t touch me like that. And remember.act like you don’t know me."

I left him standing there in a daze and headed down to Julie’s room, but she wasn’t there. I stood in the center of the room, huffing in frustration. "Where did that girl go?!"

-------؛-------------------------

Steve’s POV

I didn’t know what kind of fate this was. My sister, Julie, acting like she doesn’t know me in this wretched club, and Olivia telling me to ignore her too... What the hell is going on? A horrific thought crossed my mind, making my blood boil: Is my sister being rented out here? No... that’s impossible! I felt an urge to burn this place to the ground if that were true.

I paced the hallway. I was about to go back down to find her when I heard her whisper behind me: "Steve." I turned eagerly to find her standing by a door. She grabbed my hand and pulled me inside, locking the door behind us.

I found myself in a large, luxurious office.

A massive aquarium with small sharks caught my eye. My God, what is this place? "Julie, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to process the shock.

"Promise me first that you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to say," she said gravely, looking me in the eye.

"I promise," I said, my heart heavy.

"Don’t tell anyone you’re my brother. Promise me!"

"I promise! Just speak!" I said impatiently.

"I work here," she said, taking a deep breath.

"Doing what, Julie?!" I barked, my voice rising despite myself.

"Personal assistant to Mr. Robert," she shot back.

I frowned. "Personal assistant?"

"Yes."

"And why don’t you want anyone to know we’re siblings? I don’t understand!" I shook my head.

"Listen, I can’t explain everything now," she said, rubbing her hands nervously. "But rest assured... I am not doing anything like what you’re thinking."

"Fine," I said, trying to believe her.

Then she looked at me. "And you? Why are you working with Carlos?"

"Why do you care?" I replied bitterly. "Weren’t you the one who told me to get lost and let you live in peace?"

She suddenly grabbed my hand, squeezing it. "Steve... I did that for you. You would have died if I hadn’t said those things."

I stared at her. "You mean you care about me? That everything you said was a lie?"

"Of course I love you. You’re my brother," she said with genuine emotion. Then her tone turned reproachful. "So you left Munchies to work for Carlos?"

"Carlos is the head of Munchies," I said quietly.

"What?!" she gasped.

"Yes. Munchies is dead. Carlos killed him."

She put her hand to her head, reeling. "Why does it feel like we’re all in one big circle? Everything is connected!"

"What do you mean?"

"Give me your address," she said urgently. "I have so much to tell you, but not here."

I gave her my address, then asked bitterly, "Are you living here, Julie?"

"Steve, I told you not to ask... I can’t answer you," she said, frustrated.

"Fine, Julie, fine," I sighed helplessly. "But you come to see me as soon as possible. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

In that moment, I couldn’t help myself. I pulled her to me and hugged her with all my strength, as if trying to shield her from this world. This time, she hugged me back sincerely. "I missed you so much," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Me too," she said, burying her face in my chest.

"You’re a good liar," I teased, despite the tension. "I actually believed you hated me."

She punched my back. "Damn you, Steve!"

I stepped back and cupped her face, looking into her green eyes. "You’re my little sister. Even when you said those things, I never hated you, Julie."

At that exact moment, the door burst open. Olivia walked into the office. She froze, staring at us in total shock.

"What are you two doing?!" she gasped, her voice trembling.