Chapter 569

Brittany shielded her eyes from the intense light, then blinked, her face paling in shock. "Why are you here?" she gasped, stumbling back but held steady by her own hand still pressed against his collarbone. The mortifying realization hit her: this wasn't her dream man, but her brother.

Brandon's reaction mirrored hers. He stared, his expression sour. Brittany’s mind was a blank, a chaotic whirlwind of disbelief.

"Who did you think it was?" he asked, his usual chuckle absent, his voice somber. "Let me go!" Brittany's shame burned, her brother's hold a searing humiliation. She desperately wanted to escape, to erase this evidence of her ill-conceived plan.

He released her, and she slumped to the ground, unable to rise. Depression settled heavily; she was lost, unsure of how to process this. "Why are you here? Where is he?" she blurted, the deception exposed.

"How dare you ask? How dare you do such a thing? What were you going to do if I hadn't shown up? Are you out of your mind, Brittany?!" Brandon exploded, his anger a furious torrent.

Brittany met his rebuke with defiance. Leaning on one leg, a hand resting on her knee, she retorted, "What am I doing? I just want to be with the man I love. What's wrong with that? Brandon, what right do you have to judge me? Have you ever counted the women you've been with? At least I'm better than you, you playboy!"

"No matter how much I play around, I'd never jeopardize our family's business and future!" Brandon thundered, his rage unchecked by her unapologetic stance. "I thought you'd figured it out these past few days, but I didn't expect you to drug him! How dare you drug him? Do you know who he is? Do you know his methods? Do you want the whole family to die with you?"

"Look at how timid you are!" she sneered, rising slowly. "I would have already slept with him if you hadn't interfered. Do you think he wouldn't take responsibility? Our family would simply expand, and you'd fall in line. If I win the bid, it'll be even better. And you're still yelling!" She stroked her belly, mimicking pregnancy.

Pausing, she asked, "By the way, what did you do with him? And how did you even know?" The plan had seemed flawless; only Arianna knew. Had Arianna betrayed her? While Brittany wrestled with this doubt, Brandon's fists clenched at his sides, his fury barely contained. "Brittany, you're idiotic! Alex will think you're immature for this! If not for our friendship, you might have died! Come with me now!" He reached for her, but she interrupted, a sudden thought striking her. "Damn it! What time is it?"

"It's half past nine," Brandon replied, checking his watch, puzzled by her question. "What's wrong?"

"Great! There's still time!" Relief flooded her voice. "Then let's go quickly!" The plan was a wreck; she couldn't stay. The paparazzi would be a nightmare.