Chapter 224 A Brother’s Weight

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Finished

“Mr. Halbert,” Eliza said calmly, her gaze unwavering. “This is Westbrook, not your overseas yground. You should watch your words. My business may be small–but it’s not something you can touch.”

Her voice was sharp enough to cut, and Halbert’s eyes turned cold.

The tension lingered until the teacher stepped into the ssroom. Eliza simply opened her textbook and moved to a nearby empty seat.

She’d only sat near Halbert to discuss going back overseas, but if he insisted on being prickly, then fine–she wouldn’t be going back at all.

In fact, if Halbert wouldn’t back down, neither would she. Not now, not ever.

She was sure of one thing: the Sue family’s Ronaldo and Christian wouldn’t wait long before showing up.

And she was right.

The moment morning sses ended, Ronaldo and Christian–appeared at the ssroom door.

Students scrambled out of their way the moment they saw the two men. Ronaldo’s reputation as a power yer in the Sue family wasn’t taken lightly. Him appearing in person? That meant something serious.

Ronaldo spotted Eliza immediately.

He raised a hand and spoke coldly: “Everyone out. Now.”

The entire ssroom emptied in seconds.

Halbert stepped forward. “Ronaldo-”

Ronaldo raised a hand again, silencing him without even a word.

Halbert backed down.

Eliza quickly caught on–Halbert might be arrogant, but even he couldn’t defy the family rule. Within the Sue family, hierarchy was everything.

If Halbert couldn’t speak out of turn, things just got a lot easier..

Ronaldo approached her slowly. It was the first time he’d looked at her properly. He’d only seen her in photos before. But today, he could truly take her in.

Even Ronaldo–usually stoic–cracked a faint smile.

Halbert, standing nearby, had never seen his brother smile like that. And ifor /iiwhat/i? iJust /iibecause /iiof /iia /iisister /iihe /iibarely /iiknows/ii? /i

Halbert’s brows furrowed.

He couldn’t understand what was so special about Eliza.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, was still studying her face.

“These eighteen years… were you okay?” he asked softly.

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Chapter 224 A Brother’s Weight

Eliza blinked.

Finished

That was thest thing she’d expected to hear from a Sue family member. She’d assumed they never cared how she’d lived all these years.

She

gave a small, dry smile. “Even if things weren’t great before… they’re good now.”

Ronaldo fell silent for a moment. “That’s on me. I should’ve found you sooner.”

Halbert’s expression darkened further.

Ronaldo? Apologizing? The man had never apologized to anyone in his life. Even when he was wrong.

“Ronaldo-“Halbert started.

“Shut up.”

Ronaldo’s tone was cold and final.

Halbert’s mouth snapped shut.

Eliza watched the interaction with interest. Clearly, Halbert couldn’t even get a word in when Ronaldo was present.

She leaned back, smiling faintly. “So, Mr. Ronaldo–are you here to take me home, then? To rejoin the Sue family?”

“Do you want toe back?” Ronaldo asked seriously.

Eliza raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not that I’m against it,” she said slowly. “But I have a feeling your dear little brother over there doesn’t want me ito/i.”

She turned toward Halbert, her eyes glinting with yful defiance.

Halbert’s face turned ashen.

As expected, Ronaldo’s eyes flicked sharply toward him.

The air in the room grew cold, like someone had sucked all the oxygen out.

“In this family,” Ronaldo said icily, “his opinion doesn’t matter.”

Halbert lowered his head.

Ronaldo turned back to Eliza, his gaze softening. “If he ever gives you trouble here at school, I’ll handle it.”

“Really?” Eliza teased. “Wouldn’t that be too much? He’s still my brother.”

Thatst word–brother–made Halbert visibly recoil.

She was deliberately provoking him, and she knew it.

“I don’t see a problem with it,” Ronaldo said. He ruffled her hair gently, his voice full of indulgence. “Tell me. How do you want me to punish him?”

Chapter 224 A Brother’s Weight

Eliza tilted her head, thinking aloud.

Finished

“Hm… I want him to apologize to me. Right now. And then beg me to return to the Sue family with him.”

A simple request on the surface.

But for someone like Halbert, it was pure torture.

Making that man bow his head to someone he hated? That was worse than a death sentence.

Halbert’s fists clenched at his sides.

“Ronaldo, enough. Stop entertaining her–just take her back by force.”

He was ready to act, motioning to the bodyguards nearby.

But with Ronaldo present?

No one daredy a finger on her.