My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Brother Instead

Chapter 47: Cinnabar and Moonlight, Both Captivating

A stunning, starlight-blue supercar, flanked by an escort of bodyguard vehicles, drove into Sterling Manor.

The car door opened. Celia Sterling got out, turned, and waved with a wide smile at Kian Sterling.

"Brother, I’m going in first. Quinn Sinclair and the others have been bugging me for ages."

With that, she entered the manor’s main gate a step ahead of him.

The convoy parked in an orderly fashion in the parking lot. A few minutes later, Kian Sterling also got out of the car, gestured for the bodyguards to wait where they were, and walked elegantly toward the main gate.

At the manor’s entrance, the Shepherd family’s butler respectfully approached. "Chairman Sterling, the Madam has requested your presence."

Kian Sterling’s steps faltered slightly. He glanced indifferently at the gazebo not far from the entrance, slid one hand into his pocket, and sauntered over, his voice distant. "Mom."

"It’s so hard to get to see you." June Coleman watched him with a gentle, loving gaze. "You didn’t come to Nia’s birthday, and I tried to find you several times afterward but couldn’t. Kian, have we really grown so distant?"

"If you have something to say, Mom, just say it." Kian Sterling glanced at his watch. "I can only give you ten minutes."

June Coleman had gone to great lengths to find out he would be here today and had made a special trip. Naturally, it wasn’t for a pointless confrontation. She took out a meticulously prepared food container.

"On Nia’s birthday, I prepared a lot of snacks for you, but you didn’t get to eat them. I made them again, Kian. They’re all made just how you like them, with double the sugar. Have a taste."

Kian Sterling glanced at the exquisite pastries. "Double the sugar?"

"You’ve had a sweet tooth since you were a child, Kian..." A smile played on June Coleman’s lips. "I remember everything."

"They’re all my favorites." Kian Sterling recalled how dejected Celia had looked when she came back from Natalie Shepherd’s birthday party, and his tone cooled a few degrees. "What about Cece? Why isn’t there anything she likes to eat?"

"Cece? Of course there is! These peach blossom crisps, lychee jellies, and candied cherries are for her. You can take them to her later."

Kian Sterling stared at her without a word.

June Coleman looked at him. "What is it, Kian?"

"Cece never eats these."

"She loved them when she was a child—"

Kian Sterling cut her off abruptly. "You said it yourself, that was when she was a child. Back then... how old was Cece? Three? Or four?"

June Coleman fell silent.

"Every time Cece sees you, she comes back unhappy." Kian Sterling’s tone grew even colder. "You don’t have to love her, but stop subtly hurting her at every turn. If you can’t learn to be a good mother to her, then we don’t need to maintain this mother-son relationship either."

June Coleman opened her mouth. "Kian, I..."

"After the age of four, aside from the occasional small cake and Glazed Cup, Cece never touched any other sweets." Kian Sterling watched her quietly. "You know that perfectly well, but for all these years, you’ve only ever prepared the lychee jellies and peach blossom crisps. She thinks you’re just careless. I know you’re doing it on purpose to spite her. But why should someone I worked so hard to raise have to suffer your moods and be bullied by you?"

June Coleman’s face paled. "It’s just that when I see her, I’m reminded of those most difficult days..."

Kian Sterling had no time to say more to her, his attitude cold and hard. "When you can treat her the same way you treat Natalie Shepherd, then you can come see me."

With that, he turned and left indifferently, not even touching the pastries.

June Coleman’s hand, holding the pastry box, trembled slightly.

"Madam..." the butler stepped forward from behind and reminded her, "You still haven’t given Chairman Sterling the small gift Miss Nia asked you to deliver."

"There’s no need." June Coleman watched Kian Sterling’s tall, cold back. "His heart only has room for Cece. Where would there be any space for Nia?"

「Sterling Manor, Front Hall.」

Celia Sterling and Quinn Sinclair stood by a lush, flower-filled garden, chatting idly.

"I only saw you come in. Where’s your brother?" Quinn Sinclair said with a sigh, motioning for her to look at the socialite area on the other side. "See that flock of dolled-up women? They’re the ones who wrote those two smut fics. They’re here specifically to see your brother and Silas Norwood today."

"He’s here, just parking. When I came in, I saw a bunch of family heads go out to greet him. They’ll probably all come in together in a bit." Celia Sterling paused, then added, "I put together my brother’s outfit today. It’s gonna be so dazzling it’ll blind you all."

Quinn Sinclair clicked her tongue. "The socialites will thank you."

Celia Sterling let out a lazy "Oh." "They can write what they want, but remind them not to make it so explicit. He’s my brother, after all."

After speaking, she realized someone seemed to be watching her. She glanced around and saw, in the open-air banquet hall a dozen meters away, someone leaning nonchalantly against the bar. He held a drink in his hand, his gaze fixed on her. Under the sunlight, his chestnut-gold hair was still eye-catching, even though most of it was hidden by a hat.

’Declan Nash is here too?’

Celia Sterling avoided his gaze and tugged on Quinn Sinclair. "Let’s go, new spot."

Before Quinn Sinclair could react, she was pulled into the large crowd of socialites.

A commotion gradually started near the main entrance.

A large group of people was walking toward the front hall. Leading the way were the heads of Metropia’s Eight Great Families, followed by famous figures from business and politics, as well as the core members of each family.

And in the midst of this group of powerful leaders, Kian Sterling and Silas Norwood walked in the very center. They were surrounded by elderly family patriarchs, but the two of them stood out—one devilishly handsome and striking, the other noble and aloof. They possessed both an intimidating aura and captivating beauty.

Instantly, a chorus of sharp hisses and gasps rippled through the circle of socialites.

"Ahhh, our Cinnabar Mole is the man best suited to wear red in the entire world!" someone exclaimed, covering their mouth. "That red V-neck shirt looks absolutely divine on him!"

Kian Sterling was devilishly handsome, with a domineering and autocratic personality. The red, subtly patterned shirt matched his temperament perfectly. Paired with luxurious purple jade cufflinks and a striking snake-bone necklace, it only intensified his fiery appearance. Several socialites’ knees went weak, their eyes glued to him, unable to look away.

But the lethality of the White Moonlight, Silas Norwood, was not to be underestimated. He was dressed in his usual minimalist black, his shirt buttoned all the way to the top in an ascetic style. A fashionable black belt outlined his perfect waist. His features were as cool and clear as the bright moon, and his amber eyes held the oppressive weight of a top-tier leader. He appeared elegant and gentle, yet was utterly distant.

He and Kian Sterling walked side-by-side. Both were nearly six-foot-three, moving through the crowd like the moon surrounded by stars. They occasionally spoke in low voices, oblivious to the astonished gazes all around them.

"They really live up to being the Cinnabar Mole and White Moonlight we’ve obsessed over for so many years..." Quinn Sinclair rubbed her flushed cheeks. "After looking at these two, watching my own brothers trailing behind them is like watching a bunch of monkeys."

Beside her, Nina Sterling added in a low voice, "Believe it or not, every single woman here, whether she can write or not, has already pictured all sorts of steamy, thrilling scenarios in her head. I’m getting an itch to write myself. After the party’s over, I’m going to queue up in both the White Moonlight and Cinnabar Mole fanfic groups."

She nudged Celia Sterling. "How about it? You want to write one too?"

"I don’t write," Celia Sterling said, shaking her head. "Unlike you guys, who can only look but not touch, I’ve seen my brother in a bathrobe plenty of times. As for Silas Norwood..."

She said what she could, "That night at The Sovereign Club, I had a little... contact with him."

Never mind Nina Sterling, with whom she wasn’t that close to begin with—even Quinn Sinclair was burning with envy, jealousy, and hate!

"You’re so smug." Quinn Sinclair pinched her lightly. "Then what are you staring so intently at?"

Celia Sterling paused. "I’m looking at my otherworldly spirit."

Quinn Sinclair was stunned. "Your family’s hidden-away ’spirited’ fiancé is here too?"