\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 111 The Brother Who Finally Bends\u00a0<\/p>\n
+5 Free Coins\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla was surrounded by the tech team. They threw questions at her from every angle, praising her like she hung the moon. She didn\u2019t even look smug.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If it were Kaleb, his face might stay cold, but inside he would be dancing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb clenched his back teeth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shoved through the crowd, grabbed Ayla\u2019s wrist, and pulled her toward the office.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing, Mr. Keaton?\u201d The director blocked Kaleb like a bodyguard ready to tackle him if he dared to offend their genius.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb didn\u2019t say a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His jaw clenched tighter. \u201cShe did the job none of you losers could handle. What, I\u2019m not supposed to pay her? You all think you can just get free labor now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The director looked embarrassed. \u201cGive her whatever you think is fair, Mr. Keaton. Just don\u2019t shortchange her!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb? Willingly giving away money? Yeah right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He spun\u00a0<\/p>\n
around and caught Ayla winking at him. That only made him more annoyed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the office, Kaleb slammed the door shut and kept Emmett outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like Emmett deserved to be his sister\u2019s lapdog. He could wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Emmett\u2019s not allowed in now? You need to have a secret meeting with me?\u201d Ayla leaned back, totally at ease.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou care about him so much, just make him your little brother.\u201d Kaleb shook her hand off, looking pissed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla didn\u2019t answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb snapped, pointing at the couch. \u201cSit. Now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She reminded herself, he\u2019s my brother, be patient.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cForget making him my brother. He\u2019s better off as a sister.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another Kaleb in her life and she\u2019d lose years off her life expectancy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. Let Emmett castrate himself. Maybe then he can be your sister.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla rolled her eyes. \u201cHe\u2019s your best friend!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo? I\u2019ve got no problem with a best friend going through a little gender transformation. Why are you so uptight?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 111 The Brother Who Finally Bends\u00a0<\/p>\n
+5 Free Coins\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re unbelievable \u2026 \u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla was speechless. If Kaleb talked to Emmett like this all the time, no wonder Emmett always looked like he was suffering.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She actually felt a little sympathy for him now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla sat on the couch. Kaleb handed her a disposable cup filled with water, still wearing his grumpy face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla teased him. \u201cWell, this is rare. Didn\u2019t think you had a sweet side.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want it? I\u2019ll throw it out.\u201d Kaleb glared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla rolled her eyes and took the cup, sipping quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb sat across from her. She could tell he had something to say, so she waited.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But instead of speaking, he just stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSay it already,\u201d Ayla said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did it on purpose, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Kaleb\u2019s tone was ice cold. \u201cYou actually pulled it off.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice dropped. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me earlier?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I did, you wouldn\u2019t have believed me. You even planned to pay Skyla instead. I didn\u2019t expect you to be\u00a0<\/p>\n
this dumb either.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Can\u2019t admit the truth?\u201d Ayla\u2019s tone sharpened. \u201cSkyla said we were headed downhill, living like trash. Back then, you really thought she made a good point?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb wanted to argue, but nothing came out. Because Ayla was right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had thought Skyla had a point. And now he regretted it. Felt ashamed, even.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019d folded without even seeing the full picture. What kind of leader gives up that easily?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb clenched his fists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the first time, he admitted to himself-he really was too young. He couldn\u2019t handle pressure at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat now?\u201d Ayla asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb finally let go of his fists. \u201cWhat else can I do? I\u2019ll treat you like royalty from now on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla balled up a napkin and tossed it at him. \u201cTalk like a normal person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:10 Tue, Dec 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter III The Brother Who Finally Bends\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb swatted it away. \u201cYou threw something at ine! You call that normal?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re impossible\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, fine, I admit it. I overreacted. It won\u2019t happen again\u201d Kaleb looked away, avoiding her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla rarely saw him act like this. All awkward and flustered,\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was smart; he\u2019d learn from this and do better next time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also still young. With more experience, he\u2019d get steadier. Ayla had walked that same path herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So she dropped the topic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She smiled and said, \u201cOnce I finish the firewall, you\u2019ll have a real moat protecting your castle. No more looking over your shoulder. Go big. Don\u2019t be afraid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll pay you market rate,\u201d Kaleb mumbled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo need. This all started because of me. I\u2019ll take care of it. I\u2019m not charging you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emmett had already tried to ask if she\u2019d invest more. But the company was broke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing doesn\u2019t cancel out the other. I won\u2019t take advantage of you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you really don\u2019t want to take advantage of me, buy me more meals.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaleb snorted. \u201cWhy would I buy you dinner?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like they were that close or something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayla had long gotten used to his tough-guy act. \u201cI\u2019ve got another plan. Once your situation\u2019s handled this week, I\u2019m going after Zane\u2019s company. Time to return the favor.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Unwritten Feelings Drift by Austen 111 \u00a0 Chapter 111 The Brother Who Finally Bends\u00a0 +5 Free Coins\u00a0 Ayla was surrounded […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-retired-from-your-heart-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24546\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}