Chapter 2

As soon as I hung up, a Snapchat notification popped up from Julian.

To make Charlotte happy, he had decided to throw a massive welcome-back gala in a couple of days as her "fiancé." He wanted to celebrate her return and announce their upcoming wedding to the entire high society.

[Charlie, you must attend the welcome party and apologize to Charlotte properly.]

[You are her brother. With your mother gone and your father gravely ill, you're the only family she has left to stand by her. You need to show up and give her your blessing.]

[If you don't come, you're disrespecting me. And our friendship is over!]

Friendship over?

I stared at the screen, my fingertips turning cold.

Julian hadn't even consulted me. He hadn't even given me a heads-up. He had simply, arrogantly bypassed me—the actual head of the Vance family—to play knight in shining armor for Charlotte.

Memories rushed back to me.

Over the past ten years, Julian had slung his arm around my shoulder countless times late at night. Tipsy and completely trusting, he would pour his heart out to me, telling me how much he longed to meet the "Charlotte" on the other end of his phone, how perfect they were for each other, and... how much he loved her.

Meanwhile, I had to swallow the bitter sweetness and comfort him like a bro: "Don't worry, man. I'm sure she's waiting for you, too."

Ha.

How much did he love her?

So much that he couldn't even recognize the person standing right in front of him?

After a long silence, I picked up my phone and replied:

[Fine. I'll be there.]

On the night of the gala, the ballroom was packed with the city's elite.

Julian spotted me the second I walked in. He quickly made his way through the crowd, his face lighting up.

"Charlie, I knew you'd make it!"

Standing beside him, Charlotte clung tightly to his arm. She eyed me up and down, her gaze mocking. "Julian, why did you have to invite him? Look at how dressed up he is. I can't tell if he's here to 'apologize' or if he's just trying to seduce you."

Seeing that Charlotte was still angry, Julian gave me a gentle nudge. "Since you're here, just apologize to Charlotte. What happened last time was indeed your fault."

I looked up at Charlotte's smug face.

Corner of my mouth twitching, I let out a submissive smile.

"Fine."

I turned and waved over a waiter, picking up a cup of mango pudding from his tray. I slowly held it out to Charlotte.

"I was wrong last time. Have some dessert and let it go."

"Don't hold a grudge against me, okay?"

Charlotte's eyes flicked between me and the pudding. She let out a haughty sniff before condescendingly reaching out to take it.

"Hmph, that's more like it."

She poked at it a couple of times with a silver spoon. Finding the dessert delicious, her expression softened slightly.

"As long as you get out of Julian's sight and stay far away from us."

"Maybe I'll actually tolerate you enough to call you 'brother' once in a while."

Her words were incredibly malicious.

But I only chuckled and shook my head, showing no anger at all—playing the part of a doting, patient brother to perfection.

Seeing the tension melt between Charlotte and me, Julian finally relaxed. Beaming with pride, he took Charlotte’s hand and walked up to the central stage.

He took the microphone from the host, his voice echoing through the entire hall.

"First of all, thank you all for coming tonight. Please join me in welcoming my love, Charlotte, back home!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

Julian cast a deeply affectionate look at the blushing Charlotte beside him and continued, "And on this special occasion, I want to share some more wonderful news—"

"Charlotte and I will be officially getting married very soon!"

The applause grew louder, mingled with cheers of congratulations.

Julian’s expectant gaze swept through the crowd and locked onto me. He called out loudly, "Now, let’s invite Charlotte’s brother, and my best friend—Charlie, to come up and say a few words!"

Every eye in the room instantly turned to me.

I walked onto the stage with steady steps, took the microphone, and stood tall.

"Good evening, everyone. I am Charlie Vance, the current head of the Vance family."

I paused deliberately, casting a heavy, suffocating gaze over the two standing next to me. The smile on Julian's face stiffened. He obviously didn't understand what I was doing.

Meeting his confused and suspicious eyes, I said clearly, word by word:

"On behalf of the Vance family, I completely oppose the marriage between Mr. Julian Sterling and this Miss Charlotte Vance!"

Before the words even fully left my mouth, gasps echoed through the room.

I suddenly raised my hand, pointing directly at the girl clinging to Julian.

"Because this Charlotte... is a complete and total fraud!"

**Chapter Three**