Chapter 33: Brother, I’m in a Scandal with Sister-in-law

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Brother, I’m in a Scandal with Sister-in-law

When Shannon Everett found him, she saw Wyatt Everett standing in the hallway. Her eyes immediately reddened, and she looked utterly wronged. "Wyatt, the way Ms. Yates treated me on stage just now... but she was so full of praise for Sienna..."

"Why does my sister have to fight me for everything? She knows perfectly well that I’ve always wanted to study under Eleanor Yates..."

When Wyatt Everett saw Shannon Everett’s tears, he wanted to comfort her like he always had and chew Sienna Everett out. But his mouth felt as heavy as lead, and he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Wyatt Everett’s lips tightened. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "Shannon, about bribing the judges... you..."

Shannon Everett froze. ’Wyatt didn’t comfort me right away?’

Shannon Everett immediately walked over, her tone feigning naive innocence. "Wyatt, how could you bribe the judges for me? That’s wrong. I wanted to win the competition fair and square through my own efforts."

Wyatt Everett frowned. ’Could it be that Shannon wasn’t just using me as a scapegoat? Did she really not know I bribed the judges?’

’But I’m sure I hinted at it.’

Seeing the look on Wyatt Everett’s face, Shannon Everett quickly changed her tune. "But I know you only did it because you care about me, Wyatt. So, I’ll face the consequences with you! If the netizens are going to flame someone, they can flame me right along with you!"

Hearing this, Wyatt Everett would be lying if he said he wasn’t moved.

’Shannon is such a considerate sister.’

’She’s willing to share the blame and face the public’s anger with me.’

Wyatt Everett felt a great sense of relief, but a flicker of doubt remained. He couldn’t help but recall what Sienna Everett had said to him at the auction house—

"Do you really think... Shannon Everett was the one who saved you back then?"

At first, he’d thought Sienna Everett was just making things up to steal Shannon’s credit.

But after today, he wasn’t so sure.

He could no longer say with certainty that Shannon had been the one to save him.

Wyatt Everett took a deep breath, looked at Shannon Everett before him, and asked, "Shannon, that time I was in danger... were you the one who risked her life to save me?"

Shannon Everett’s heart lurched in terror. ’Why is he suddenly asking this?’

’Does he suspect something?’

Though Shannon Everett’s mind was racing, her expression was a flawless mask of surprise. She widened her eyes, the picture of innocence. "Wyatt, why would you ask that?"

"Even though I’m not a true Everett, in my heart, I’ve always seen you as my real brother. If you were in danger, of course I’d risk my life to save you."

Wyatt Everett reached out and patted her shoulder. "Don’t overthink it, Shannon. I was just asking."

Shannon Everett bit her lower lip, her expression full of grievance. "Wyatt, are you still upset with me about the bribery? I really didn’t know about it. When the host asked, I could only say I didn’t know. I never meant to leave you to face it all alone."

"Alright, silly girl. How could I possibly blame you?"

Wyatt Everett offered a few more words of comfort with a smile, but it was clear his heart wasn’t in it. He no longer seemed to treat Shannon Everett with the same wholehearted devotion as before.

Shannon Everett gritted her teeth. ’Damn it. I have to find a way to win back Wyatt’s trust.’

Sienna Everett was in the dressing room, packing her things.

Suddenly, Keith Sterling appeared, a dashing, unrestrained smile on his face. "Sister-in-law! Congrats on taking first place!"

Sienna Everett turned to look. The guy was decked out in a pink shirt, standing flashily at the door and twirling a pair of sunglasses on his index finger.

"I watched the whole livestream. Sister-in-law, you were amazing!"

"Keep your voice down," Sienna Everett immediately warned in a hushed tone, glancing around. Thankfully, no one was nearby.

Otherwise, if someone heard Keith Sterling call her ’sister-in-law,’ the secret of her early marriage would be blown.

"Oh, come on," Keith Sterling said, walking over and lowering his voice to match hers. "Sister-in-law, is my brother that unpresentable? Why won’t you even acknowledge him publicly?"

Sienna Everett: "???"

’Acknowledge Julian Forrester?’

’Why does that sound so strange?’

Keith Sterling helped her finish packing and started pulling her toward the exit. "Hurry, hurry! My brother’s at home waiting for you like one of those "wife-watching statues"! He’s eager to congratulate you!"

Sienna Everett: "..."

’What the hell is a "wife-watching statue"?’

’That Keith Sterling, always spouting the most random nonsense.’

As luck would have it, the exact moment Keith Sterling was pulling Sienna Everett out the door was captured by a passing staff member, who promptly posted it online.

Sienna Everett was a hot topic online at the moment, so countless netizens quickly saw the photo. ℴ

[Whoa, who’s that guy with Sienna Everett? He’s gorgeous!]

[He kinda looks like Keith Sterling, the second son of the Sterling family?]

[Yes, yes, that’s him! Keith Sterling, the second son of the top-tier Sterling Family! His looks could crush half the male stars in the entertainment industry. He trended once just for being so handsome!]

[He’s not just rich and handsome, he’s powerful too. The Sterlings aren’t some run-of-the-mill rich family; they’re a top-tier clan in high society, on par with the Forrester Family. Besides, the Forresters and Sterlings are on great terms and have marriage ties.]

[Ah! I just remembered something! When Sienna Everett first joined X, a mysterious whale with the username ’ysgswd’ spent a hundred grand on gifts for her. I’m starting to wonder... could that mysterious whale be Keith Sterling?]

[OMG! What is happening? I think I ship them!]

[@ysgswd, Hey, boss, are you Mr. Sterling?]

[@ysgswd, Hey, boss, is there something going on between you and Sienna Everett?]

Meanwhile.

Keith Sterling pulled Sienna Everett into the car, and they both sat in the back.

The car headed toward Veridian Gardens.

Keith Sterling hopped online and saw that in just a few short moments, rumors about him and Sienna Everett were already flying.

Keith Sterling: "???"

’You’ve got to be kidding me.’

’I want to live a few more years, thank you very much!’

Terrified, Keith Sterling swallowed hard. With trembling hands, he sent a message to his brother: [Bro, I think I’m in a scandal with Sister-in-law...]

Veridian Gardens.

Julian Forrester was sitting on the living room sofa when his phone chimed with a DING. He glanced down and saw the message from Keith Sterling.

Julian Forrester: "..."

Immediately after, his phone was bombarded by a flurry of messages from Keith Sterling:

[Bro, I swear it wasn’t on purpose! It’s those netizens, their imaginations are running wild! They’ll make up anything!]

[And who the heck is this ’ysgswd’ guy? The one who spent a hundred grand on gifts for Sister-in-law?]

[What’s wrong with this person?!]

[Bro, we can’t let him show you up! You need to get on X right now and send Sister-in-law a million dollars’ worth of gifts!!]

Julian Forrester, after reading the messages: "..."