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All Chapters of My CEO brother wants me : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

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Chapter 30

AVA“No.”I shook my head, taking a step back.“No… no, Stella.”My hands came up to my chest like I could physically push the words away.“That’s not true.”Stella didn’t move or argue loudly. She just watched me.“The earlier you accept it,” she said softly, “the better you’ll feel. You’re fighting something that’s already there.”I stopped, my chest rising and falling unevenly.“He’s my brother,” I whispered, trying to hold on to the only excuse that made sense to me.Stella rolled her eyes. “There you go again.”I frowned. “What does that mean?”“It means you keep hiding behind that,” she said. “Do you want me to remind you that you’re adopted?”A jolt of pain shot through me.“And they never really accepted you as their daughter,” she continued, “You don’t even carry their last name.”“Stella.”“I’ve known you for four years,” she went on. “And not once, not one single time, have I heard you call Seraphina and Alaric ‘mom’ or ‘dad.’”I didn't know what to say because she wasn’t w

Chapter 31

AVAI choked.The drink I had just taken went down the wrong pipe and I started coughing immediately, my body jerking as I tried to catch my breath.“Ava.”Lucien's hand came to my back, patting me gently.“Easy,” he said, “Breathe in and out.”He passed me a glass of water. I took a sip, then another, forcing myself to calm down.My chest still felt tight. This was so embarrassing.When I finally got better, I glanced up and saw Lucien was already glaring at Fred.Fred, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered.“What?” he said, raising a brow. “Did I say something wrong?”“Yes,” Jason muttered under his breath.Fred ignored him.“I’m just asking,” he continued. “You’ve announced it publicly. That means you’re engaged… technically.”Paul nodded thoughtfully. “He does have a point.”Sheila turned to him and hit his shoulder. “Don’t encourage him.”Paul raised his hands. “I’m just being logical.”Fred grinned, clearly pleased with himself, and I just wished the ground would just

Chapter 32

AVATrue to his word, the next morning, Ben came for the car.I watched as he stayed fixed by the door, composed and professional as always.“Good morning, Madam,” he said with a small bow.“Good morning,” I replied.He glanced at the car key in my hand before looking back at me. “Sir asked me to retrieve the vehicle.”Then he added, “He also said if you still need it, you’re free to keep it for as long as you like.”I blinked because that sounded exactly like something Lucien would say.“No, I’m fine,” I said gently. “Thank you.”Ben nodded. “Very well.” He then turned and left.I went to the glass wall, waiting for him to get to the car park and into the car. When he did, he drove off and just like that, the reminder of last night disappeared or at least…that’s what I told myself.I didn’t give myself time to think, I turned and headed straight to the kitchen.Cooking always helped so I made breakfast, something simple; toast, omelettes with bacon.The smell filled the apartment wa

Chapter 33

AVA Lucien calling. Stella noticed the change in my expression and dropped her eyes to my phone on the counter. “Well?” Her lips curled. “Pick it up.” I swallowed. Why was I nervous? It was just a call. Just him, but my fingers still hesitated as I reached for the phone. I stared at the screen for one second too long, then finally answered. “Hello?” “The old man is back.” Lucien’s voice was calm and straight to the point. “He wants us home.” As he said that, I forgot everything else. “What?” I said, my eyes widening. “Grandpa’s back?” A smile broke through before I could stop it. “But he didn’t tell me anything.” I mumbled. “He probably wanted to surprise you.” He replied without changing his tone. And it worked. “Oh my Goodness, it worked!” I almost laughed, my excitement bubbling up instantly. “That’s wonderful.” Lucien let me have that moment. “Get ready,” he said. “I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes.” My smile faltered. “No.” The word slipped out too quickly.

Chapter 34

AVA“Stella?”She exhaled, looking away for a second before speaking. “We’ve been having issues.”That got my full attention. “What kind of issues?” I asked. “You guys were fine even after we graduated.”She nodded. “We were.” She paused, then said, “He doesn’t want to move to Port Elam.”I blinked. “What?”She let out a tired laugh. “Yeah. That surprised me too.”“But… that was the plan,” I said. “After his project, he was supposed to move.”“It was the plan,” she repeated. “At least, that’s what he said.”I frowned. “So what changed?”She leaned her head back against the seat. “I don’t even know,” she admitted. “When I got here, I thought he’d be joining me in a few days.”Her voice softened. “But then… the excuses started.”“Excuses?” I repeated.She nodded. “He says he doesn’t want to leave London, that he has too much tying him down there.”I stayed quiet, letting her talk.“And apparently,” she added, a little more bitter now, “Port Elam is a ‘foreign place’ for him.”I blinked

Chapter 35

AUTHOR By the time they walked out of the mall, it was obvious shopping with Stella had happened.Bags filled both their hands. Designer labels peeked out, jewellery boxes tucked neatly between fabrics, a little more than what Ava had planned and exactly what she had expected.Ava adjusted one of the bags on her arm, shaking her head with a soft laugh.“I told you this was a bad idea.”Stella didn’t even try to defend herself.“It was a great idea,” she said, completely satisfied. “I feel better already.”Ava glanced at her, then nodded. “Fair enough.”They slowed as they approached the parking area.“I won’t be coming back tonight,” Ava said.Stella turned to her. “Why?”Ava shifted the bags slightly.“From what Lucien said… I’m certain Grandpa Hale won’t let us return today.”Stella’s brows lifted. “And Lucien will obey?”Ava gave a knowing nod. “Yes.”Then added, almost thoughtfully, “He’s actually the only person who gets to order Lucien around.”That alone said a lot.Just then,

Chapter 36

LUCIEN The night was quiet. I stood at the balcony, resting one hand on the railing, the cool air brushing my face but it did nothing to calm the restlessness in me. It hadn’t since she walked in. I exhaled slowly. The soft tap of a cane interrupted my thoughts. Grandfather. I didn’t need to turn to know it was him. “You’re sure about this?” “About what?” I asked, even though I already knew what he meant. “Lucien.” I finally glanced at him. “Marrying Ava.” There it was. I looked away again, then said, “I think you know the answer to that better than anyone.” He sighed beside me, leaning on his walking stick. “I do,” he said. “But I still want to hear it from you” I didn't respond. “Lucien, is this what she wants?” My grip on the railing tightened. “She doesn’t know what she wants.” I answered. He didn’t say anything, so I continued. “But I do know one thing,” I said. “She’s not as opposed to this as she thinks she is.” I could feel his ga

Chapter 37

LUCIEN I knocked.My hand lingered on the door for a second before I pushed it open, stepping in quietly.The room was dim and there she was, asleep on the bed.She was curled into herself, one arm wrapped around her pillow. The silk gown she wore had shifted in her sleep, revealing more of her thigh than it should have.I stopped completely.It was almost ridiculous how easily she disarmed me without even trying. Earlier, when the old man left us alone, I had felt that pull. That dangerous, consuming urge to close the distance and forget everything else.It had taken everything in me earlier, everything, not to pull her into me, not to forget where we were.That was why I told her to go rest. Not because I thought she was tired, but because I was fighting myself and her being so close, looking at me the way she did...did nothing to help.I exhaled slowly, dragging my gaze away for a second before it found her again.It always did.There was something about her that didn’t make sense

Chapter 38

AVA My chest rose and fell rapidly. “How dare he.” I muttered under my breath. I started pacing the room because staying still would make me explode. “How dare he make decisions for me like that?” My hands clenched at my sides. It wasn’t just what he said. It was how he said it like it was final and I didn’t even have a say. “I’m not asking you.” The words replayed in my head, over and over again. “I haven’t even agreed to marry him,” I said, my voice rising. “And he’s already acting like...like I belong to him.” I stopped pacing, staring at nothing because what scared me the most was not just the control, but how natural it seemed to him. I let out a shaky breath, dragging a hand through my hair. And the worst part? I had started to let my guard down believing maybe things could actually work between us and maybe he wasn’t as impossible as I thought. I laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “Of course,” I whispered. I sat down on the edge of the bed, my thoughts

Chapter 39

AVA“I hate him.”I muttered, almost under my breath, pouting as I folded my arms.“He’s just… a bully.”Grandpa laughed.I turned to him, completely taken aback.“Grandpa,” I said, frowning. “Why are you laughing? I’m being serious.”He shook his head, still smiling.“My dear, do you really expect anyone to believe you when you say you hate Lucien?”I blinked, offended. “What does that even mean?”“Nothing,” he said. “Forget I said anything.”“I won’t,” I replied immediately. “What do you mean?”He didn’t answer. Instead, he gave me a look that said he knew something I didn't.“Tell me what happened.” He said, obviously trying to avoid my question but I let him.I exhaled, leaning back against the bench. My gaze drifted up to the sky for a moment before dropping again.“Lucien is complicated,” I said.Grandpa nodded in agreement. “Very complicated.”I paused, choosing my words.“I don’t understand him,” I continued. “I don’t understand why he’s so… fixed on being with me.”My brows f

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