Chapter <b>128 </b>
<b>“</b>I want <b>a </b>photo too, Sean!” Vivian called out, forcing her voice into <b>a </b>sugary tone <b>as </b>she walked over and wedged herself between Charlotte and Sean.
<b>“</b>Whoa!” Mia suddenly yelped.
Jan turned around in concern.
“Mia, what happened?”
Mia put on a dramatic <b>face</b>.
“Massive photobomb alert. I think I just went blind.”
Vivian clearly heard her, but she didn’t move <b>an </b>inch. She stood her ground right between Charlotte and Sean like she didn’t <b>even </b>care.
When Mia saw she had no intention of leaving<b>, </b>she slowly retracted her selfie stick and gave Vivian a wide, fake smile.
“<b>Oops</b>, sorry, Miss Xander. We’re done taking photos. <b>If </b>you want a group shot<b>, </b>maybe ask your dear Zac or your little clique.”
Vivian clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to snap. She forced <b>a </b>smile and linked her arm <b>with </b>Sean’s.
“Then I’ll just take a few with my brother.<b>” </b>
Charlotte’s eyes dropped slightly,nding on Vivian’s hand.
But Sean pulled his arm away and looked <b>down </b>at her coldly.
“Aren’t you a little too old to be clinging <b>to </b>your brother? Maybe it’s time you <b>got </b>yourself a boyfriend.”
Even Vivian<b>, </b>master of ying innocent, couldn’t <b>keep </b>the cracks from showing. Her smile faltered. The hurt in her <b>eyes </b>slipped through her mask.
“But why can’t I be close to you just because we’re older now? You used to <b>dote </b><b>on </b>me all the time…”
Sean’s voice stayed distant.
“That was then. This is now. Vivian, you need <b>to </b>learn boundaries<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Her behavior just now had made Sean <b>see </b>through her clearly. He didn’t call her out in front <b>of </b>everyone <b>as </b>she was family<b>, </b>after all. But he wasn’t going <b>to </b>indulge her anymore<b>. </b>
He had also noticed her clear jealousy and hostility toward Charlotte<b>. </b>Since Charlotte didn’t like Vivian<b>, </b>then as her boyfriend, it was time he made his position clear. She needed <b>to </b><b>feel </b><b>secure</b><b>. </b>
Vivian <b>froze</b>,
“Eoundaries? <b>We’re </b>siblings. What kind of boundaries<b>?</b>”
Mia scoffed.
“What<b>, </b><b>you </b><b>really </b>think you’re <b>a </b>proper heiress now? You’re not <b>even </b>blood–<b>rted</b>. A grown man and woman pretending <b>to </b><b>be </b>clingy siblings<b>–</b>how’s <b>that </b>not suspicious?”
Tears welled up in Vivian’s eyes as she looked up at Sean with <b>a </b>pitiful <b>expression</b>.
But Sean didn’t waver<b>. </b>His voice was calm<b>, </b>even distant.
“Mia’s right. We <b>may </b>call each other brother and sister, but there’s no blood rtion. Let’s not do things that <b>can </b>be easily misunderstood.”
<b>Vivian </b>opened her mouth to say <b>more</b><b>, </b>but Sean had already stepped past her and reached for Charlotte’s hand. His dark eyes were calm but full of focus.
“Charlotte<b>, </b><b>we’re </b>done with photos. Let’s go.”
Charlotte smiled<b>, </b>then nced at Vivian with a look that was all soft mockery.
<b>“</b>You go ahead and take your photos. I’ll be leaving with your brother.<b>” </b>
Inwardly, Charlotte snorted, “Wow You really mastered the art <b>of </b>ying sweet. A true green tea queen<b>. </b>Too bad your brother’s <b>a </b><b>pro </b>at spotting fakes.”
After sunset<b>, </b>the temperature dropped quickly. The breeze from the mountain stream made the <b>air </b>colder <b>and </b>more humid, and the chill began to seep into their
bones.
Sean pulled <b>a </b>thick jacket from his backpack.
<b>“</b>Here. Put this on<b>.</b>”
Charlotte took the jacket and <b>slipped </b>it on. Meametule, Vivian stood nearby shivering in her <b>than </b>hiking <b>jacket</b>, clueless about the drastic temperature drop in the mountains.
Seeing Sean giving his jacket to Charlotte only made the jealousy in Vivian’s heart re even more.
They had only walked a little farther when suddenly someone screamed behind them.
Charlotte instinctively turned around, but the mountain path wound through trees and turns. It was hard to see what had happened.
Momentster, Mandy came running up in a panic.
“Mr. Jasper! Vivian twisted her ankle!”
D