Wendy snapped back, “He’s my brother—what does that have to do with you? I can look for him wherever I want. But you, staying here all this time, don’t you feel the least bit ashamed?”

“Why should I be ashamed?” Judy laughed in disbelief. “You just said it yourself—this is your brother’s place. So, what if I’m staying here? If he has no problem with it, who are you to say otherwise?”

Her words were sharp, leaving Wendy no dignity.

Furious, Wendy raised her hand to strike Judy.

A cold glint flashed in Judy’s eyes. She wasn’t about to stand there and take the hit.

At the last second, Wendy’s wrist was caught in a strong grip, followed by a voice edged with suppressed anger. “What are you doing here?”

Both women turned to see Kenneth standing there in a tailored suit, his presence radiating cold authority, his eyes dark as they fixed on Wendy.

Wendy flinched, shrinking her neck as she muttered a greeting. “Brother, I came to see you. Mom and Dad asked me to come. I didn’t have a choice.”

Kenneth flung her hand aside. “Mom and Dad asked you to come find me—did they also tell you to lay hands on my woman?”

The words “my woman” made Judy’s head snap up.

She hadn’t expected Kenneth to defend her so openly in front of Wendy.

She thought for sure he would side with his family.

But now, standing against Wendy, he was protecting her without hesitation, without even asking for an explanation.

Tears welled in Wendy’s eyes. “Brother, what do you mean by this? Who is really your family? By taking her side, aren’t you betraying us? Don’t forget—we’re the ones who are blood.”

“I know we’re family,” Kenneth said, turning to Judy. “But she’s mine too. And until I say otherwise, no one touches her. If anyone does, they’ll be going against me.”

Judy’s heart stirred at his words.

She never imagined Kenneth would go this far for her.

Wendy stamped her foot. “So, what, you’re going to turn against us now?”

“Turn against you?” Kenneth’s laugh was cold. “Don’t forget, back home I was the one cleaning up your messes. If it weren’t for me, the Shaws family would’ve collapsed under your mistakes long ago. Don’t push your luck.”

His voice was sharp as ice, his eyes cutting coldly into Wendy.

Kenneth had already spent more patience on this sister than he cared to admit.

After all this time, seeing that she still hadn’t grown at all left him bitterly disappointed.

Wendy was struck speechless by his words.

She hadn’t expected that even in front of an outsider, her brother would show her no mercy, speaking so bluntly.

Drawing a deep breath, Wendy said, “If you have such a problem with me, fine—but for the family’s sake, surely you can show a little respect?”

“What exactly did the family send you here to say?” Kenneth’s tone softened slightly in spite of himself.

He had once pleaded with Lucas not to come after the Shaws family.

But since then, he hadn’t contacted his family in a long while, and worry for his parents lingered at the back of his mind.

Wendy had always been the pampered little princess of the family. Since returning from home, she had stayed sheltered at the estate, barely stepping outside at all.