Only then did Magnus breathe easy and end the call.

    He truly had matured a great deal in recent months, finally grasping the lessons life had been hammering into him.

    He also realized Cecilia nevercked money; she had simply decided she would no longer rescue him unconditionally.

    After all, they weren''t rted by blood, and he owed her so much already. Where had he found the nerve to keep begging?

    After work, Magnus picked up two orders of barbecue and headed home.

    Denise had spent her day off visiting her parents and had just returned. As usual, she was eating a bowl of in pasta, not a trace of oil in sight.

    When Magnus saw those colorless pasta, he couldn''t help frowning.

    "I bought meat—it''s in the fridge. Why didn''t you stir-fry some? Living on pasta every day isn''t nutritious."

    Denise waved him off. "I got backte. Who has time to cook? A quick bowl of pasta fills the stomach."

    Magnus knew time wasn''t the issue. She simply didn''t want to touch the food he had bought.

    He held out one of the paper bags of barbecue.

    "Have some barbecue."

    Denise eyed the skewers, swallowed quietly, then shook her head. "No, thanks. I''m already full."

    "I bought two portions. If you don''t eat, I''ll have to throw the extra away, and I hate wasting food. Since you''re full, just eat a little more," Magnus said, then began on his share.

    Denise watched him for a moment, reached out, and took the other portion.

    "Thank you."

    She knew he had said all that just to make sure she ate something decent.

    Magnus smiled. "It''s only barbecue. When I''ve got money, I''ll treat you to the best food every day."

    For the first time, Denise actually believed he might seed.

    "All right."

    Magnus no longer relied solely on a day job; he now kept an eye out for every possible business opportunity.

    Yet, he wasn''t the reckless fool of old. Still exploring, he dared not throw money around the way he once had.

    "Tell me, how did you end up like this?"

    Over dinner, Denise finally voiced her curiosity about his past.

    Since meeting Sven, everything Magnus had told her feltpletely believable.

    She had even searched Cecilia online and discovered that Cecilia was indeed the CEO of Jamieson Group.

    Magnus hadn''t lied. He really was Cecilia''s younger brother.

    The fact that the brother of a

    billionaire

    CEO was living w a run down house was nothin

    short

    of astonishing.

    Magnus bit into a skewer and, almost casually, began detailing the outrageous things he had done.

    "Honestly, it alles down to living too easy back then."

    When he finished recounting his misdeeds, he offered that same rueful conclusion.

    Denise listened silently, then couldn''t resist scolding him. “You were terrible, using any means for your goals. If I were your sister, I''d cut you off and make you pay for it."

    Magnus looked at her, taken aback.

    "Really?"

    "Absolutely. I wouldn''t be as soft as Cecilia, paying your debts," Denise said tly.

    Magnus'' appetite vanished.

    If I''m such a jerk in everyone''s eyes, why does Cecilia still ept me?

    He blurted out, "Then why hasn''t she cut ties with me?"

    "Because the Smiths raised her.

    trapp with strict moral codes get

    trapped by their sense of duty Denise answered.