Chapter 370
Matthew’s eyes flickered open to the buzz of his phone, immediately snapping to alertness at the sight of Lemira’s message. Pulling himself up, he read her words and let out a sigh of relief. “See, I knew my sister-in-law wouldn’t mean any harm,” he muttered, his spirits lifting. With a grin, he texted back, [Well, that’s a weight off my shoulders.]
Seeing his response, Lemira felt a wave of relief wash over her. [Are you coming to the weekend barbecue?] she typed.
There was no question about it; he had to be there. It was his duty to watch over his sister-in-law, especially since his brother couldn’t risk making an appearance due to his immigration status. ‘Now’s my chance to shine,’ he thought, giddy at the prospect of proving his worth and making his brother regret ever joking about him being picked from a dumpster.
“Matthew!! Are you still not up? Your grandma’s waiting to have breakfast with you!!” Mrs. Amanda burst into the room, her gaze sweeping over the chaos of her son’s bedroom, her temples throbbing with frustration. “Mom, how can you just barge in here? I’m entitled to my privacy, you know.”
“What privacy? Get up now!” Mrs. Amanda retorted, eyeing her younger son. “Your brother sent you back here, didn’t he? To stop me from digging into that girl he’s been shielding.”
“Can’t you just respect his privacy for once?”
“I’m doing this for his own good.”
Matthew, unfazed, nonchalantly picked his nose. “Why do you care so much, stepmom?”
At that, Mrs. Amanda’s blood pressure soared. “What did you just call me?”
“He’s free to be with whoever he wants to be with. It’s his life!” Matthew shot back, dodging as his mother grabbed the nearest object and hurled it at him.
Dashing down the villa’s hallway in his boxers, Matthew yelled at the top of his lungs, “Grandma, save me! Stepmom’s on a warpath!” Mrs. Amanda gave chase but couldn’t keep up, panting heavily. “Even if I am the stepmom, I’ll ensure he marries well, just to shut those gossips up!” Despite her frustration, she couldn’t deny her affection for Orion, whom she’d raised from a young boy. “Why can’t Matthew be even half as obedient as Orion?” she lamented, regretting her decision to have a second child who seemed born solely to try her patience.
Escaping to his room, Matthew quickly dressed and texted Lemira, [Parties aren’t usually my thing, but if you’re going, I’m in.] After all, he prided himself on being a supportive and upright younger brother.
Lemira, reassured by his message, planned to clear the air when they met. Later, she received a message from the Maple Group’s manager about a pre-trial mediation at the courthouse that afternoon. [I’m free, I’ll head to the courthouse directly.] she replied, knowing her presence was crucial.
Upon arrival, the Maple Group’s manager briefed her. “Do you know who our lawyer is?”
“No, haven’t they arrived yet?”
“They’re not here yet, but the Langston family’s lawyer is, and they’re quite renowned. This might be tough for us.”
As Lemira pondered their situation, she heard Asher’s voice, “Still haven’t found a suitable lawyer? Need me to recommend someone?”
She looked up to see Asher approaching with a group, Alaric trailing behind, looking noticeably worn. Asher, with a hint of condescension, added, “It’s not too late to back down. Since you’re my sister, I’ll forgive you.”