Chapter 4

"They are not blood-related... But most people already know about it." "I was there! Marissa, Leandro's sister, she's so beautiful. When she fainted, Leandro was terrified, I've never seen him like that." As for Cynthia and Leandro's performance, no one cared anymore. I enlarged the photos and saved them with satisfaction. As for the 'villainess' title... well, I suppose I am. But all I ever wanted was my share of the Sawyer family's wealth and to live a healthy life. I have no interest in romance, and I don't hope for any affection from the Sawyer family. As for Leandro, I can't even explain it myself; maybe it's mostly a matter of utility. I looked at Leandro, who was sleeping next to me, sighed, and gently rested his head on my shoulder. Then, I turned my gaze towards the scenery outside the window, avoiding his eyes. Cynthia returned to the Sawyer family. You could see her busy every day, making pastries for Mrs. Sawyer or directing the servants in the garden. And now, she was in the living room, amusing Mrs. Sawyer. Leandro sat beside them, making tea for Mrs. Sawyer. It was a beautiful scene. This was what I saw when I returned home on weekends. When they saw me, their cheerful conversation came to a sudden halt. A few seconds later, Mrs. Sawyer nodded faintly and continued to hold Cynthia's hand, pretending to smile. I clenched my hands. I've been with the Sawyer family for three years, and I've tried to get closer to my parents, but perhaps the years of estrangement have made Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer treat me more like a well-attended guest. In contrast, Cynthia, who has always lived with the Sawyer family, is more beloved by Mrs. Sawyer. She is treated as well as, if not better than, me. Mrs. Sawyer even mentioned wanting to adopt Cynthia as her daughter once. Cynthia shyly glanced at Leandro at that time and gently declined. I smiled and greeted them but deliberately avoided looking at Leandro, for some reason. I went upstairs alone and looked blankly at a teddy bear on the table. It was the first birthday present I received when I first arrived at the Sawyer family. Leandro had taken Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer to a mall for dinner and bought it there. They initially wanted to take me to a luxury boutique for custom clothes, but I shook my head and pointed to the teddy bear in the shop window, saying, "I want this." Leandro had celebrated my subsequent birthdays with me, but Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer were never present. The gifts were typically extravagant items. I thought about my awakened memories, the ending of the novel, and the looks of disdain Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer had for me. I took a deep breath and placed the teddy bear back in the cabinet. I looked at myself in the mirror, a pretty heiress transformed after three years of wealth. I tugged at the corners of my mouth, and the reflection in the mirror revealed a sweet smile and a slight dimple on my cheeks. "It's just a plot," I whispered softly. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. I adjusted my state and opened the door, revealing Leandro's face outside. He was tall, and the shadows cast by the dim light almost entirely covered me. Leandro ran his hand through my hair, and I instinctively nuzzled into his palm, wearing a cheerful and lively smile. "What's up? Missing me after just two days?" Leandro teased. He gazed at me with a look I couldn't quite decipher. After a while, he let out a faint sigh and held both of my cheeks. "You silly girl," he said. "What... Ah!" I was rendered incoherent by his firm grip on my face. "Let's go. I'll take you to eat something delicious." We went to a newly opened French restaurant. Leandro allowed me to drink a bit of red wine, a rare occurrence. Obviously, I had never had alcohol before, and I had no idea about my tolerance. Leandro only allowed me to have two glasses, but I still felt a bit tipsy. "This place is so delicious, brother!" I held my face in my hands, feeling the warmth in my cheeks. I prodded the foie gras on my plate with a fork and mumbled, "I never had things like this when I was little." He watched me, then gently and naturally caressed my face. "I'll take you here more often," he said. "You can eat whatever you want." I just smiled without speaking and rubbed my heated cheeks against his palm. What if I wanted the family wealth? Would you agree, Leandro? I dragged him for a walk on a footbridge. After walking for a while, I began to feel more intoxicated. So, I jumped on Leandro's back, asking him to carry me. With alcohol in my system, I started to speak nonsense. "Brother! The male lead! I want to be the male lead too." "Or the female lead is fine. Why am I not the female lead?" "I have a teddy bear that you bought for me, Brother. But it seems like I don't have a brother, and I don't have parents. I only have a grandmother... But then, she's gone too." Leandro remained silent, carrying me on his back and walking on the footbridge. The night was deep, and there were only a few occasional passersby. I spoke for a long time, and when I finished my last sentence, he finally stopped and interrupted me. "You have a brother." He turned his head slightly, and his profile was as cool and bright as the moonlight. I remained perched on his shoulder, my nose very close to his. I stared at him, utterly transfixed. I stayed silent for a long time, and he continued to carry me for a long time. The evening breeze ruffled the strands of my hair and a few of them entangled with his neck.