Chapter 76 Pretending To
Be In Love
Jeffrey didn’t hesitate before shaking his head.
“No need, this one is perfect. My sister deserves the very best–it’s fine if I don’t get one.‘
He looked at Rachel again, taking in how the dress draped elegantly over her figure, his face lighting up with pure satisfaction.
“But I do have a small favor to ask.”
The sales assistant nodded politely. “Sir, please go ahead.”
After paying the bill, Jeffrey walked over to Rachel with a bright smile. “Rachel, let’s go. I’ve paid for the dress.”
Her brows furrowed as she glanced at him. “Where did you get the money?”
“It’s from what you gave me before. I saved them up.”
Rachel’s throat tightened, a deep warmth spreading through her chest.
Her brother had grown up.
Noticing that he was back in his usual clothes, she asked, “Where’s
your
suit?”
Jeffrey lifted the shopping bag in his hand. “It’s right here.”
But when they arrived at the restaurant and Rachel nudged him to change into it, he finally admitted the truth.
“Sorry, I lied to you. I only bought your dress.”
Rachel was puzzled. “But your suit looked amazing on you. Why didn’t you get it?”
Jeffrey rubbed his hands together, his ears flushing red. “I didn’t have enough money, so I just bought yours.”
Rachel stiffened, her heart clenching. Without hesitation, she turned back toward the entrance, determined to return the dress.
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As if anticipating her reaction, Jeffrey quickly caught her hand.
“Don’t. I… I already asked the assistant to cut off the tag. You can’t return it now.”
Rachel’s eyes turned misty as she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
“You’re too sweet.” Her voice wavered slightly, the warmth in her chest almost overwhelming.
“Then I’ll just go buy that suit for you.”
“No need. Brian will be here soon, and besides… I didn’t even like it that much.” Jeffrey waved it off, dismissing the thought.
Rachel couldn’t bring herself to argue. She simply held him even tighter.
When Brian arrived, this was the sight that greeted him—the quiet, unspoken love between the siblings clear as day.
Jeffrey smirked and turned to him. “Brian, say something to comfort my sister. She’s acting like a little girl, getting all teary–eyed.”
Rachel huffed, quickly turning away. “I’m not crying! There’s just some dirt in my eye.”
But the moment she blinked, the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.
Brian strode toward her, his hands gently cupping her face. His voice was impossibly
soft. “Let me blow it out for you.”
With Jeffrey still standing nearby, Rachel hesitated but eventually gave a small nod.
“Okay.”
Brian moved with such tenderness that the air between them felt different.
Their breaths mingled, the space between them growing impossibly small.
His warm fingers brushed against her skin, gently wiping away the lingering tears.
As he bent down to blow into her eye, Rachel instinctively tugged at his sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m fine now.”
Brian’s lips curved slightly as he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.
His voice was soft, barely more than a whisper, yet it sent a shiver down her spine. “You look breathtaking tonight.”
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It was the first thought that had crossed his mind the moment he walked in.
Her gown carried an almost ethereal quality, its delicate sheer layers cascading like wisps of mist, each fold catching the light in a soft shimmer.
Her fair skin, brushed with the lightest touch of makeup, seemed to glow with an effortless radiance.
The off–shoulder neckline framed her slender collarbones, adding a quiet allure to her already graceful presence.
At dinner, thanks to Jeffrey’s arrangements, Brian and Rachel ended up seated beside each other, their shoulders brushing every so often.
Jeffrey, meanwhile, sat across from them, watching the two with undisguised satisfaction, his heart swelling at the sight.
Soon, a plate of shrimp was placed on the table. Rachel reached for one, carefully
favorite.” peeled it, dipped it in sauce, and set it on Jeffrey’s plate. “Here. It’s your
Jeffrey took a bite, his face lighting up instantly. “This is so good.”
Rachel, pleased by his reaction, quickly peeled a few more and placed them in front of
him.
Brian, who had been sitting quietly, finally shifted and cleared his throat.
Jeffrey glanced over. “Brian, you okay? Is your throat bothering you?”
Brian hesitated for a moment before awkwardly looking at the plate of shrimp. “I…
want some too.”
At that, both Jeffrey and Brian turned to Rachel expectantly.
With their eyes fixed on her, Rachel sighed in surrender, reached for a shrimp, and wordlessly placed it onto Brian’s plate.
Brian reached for the shrimp but suddenly winced. “Ouch.”
Jeffrey’s sharp ears immediately caught the sound. “Brian, what happened to your arm?”
“It’s nothing. Just a small joint injury. I can still eat, but peeling shrimp might be a bit tricky.”
“Really?” Rachel eyed him skeptically. “Are you sure?”
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Brian didn’t answer.
me,
Rachel immediately turned to a passing waiter. “Excuse could you peel a few shrimp for us?”
Brian’s expression flickered through a range of emotions before settling on something almost shameless.
“I don’t want shrimp from the waiter. I want the ones you peel. They always taste better when you do it.”
Then, without hesitation, he looked at the waiter and ordered, “You may leave now. And don’t come back unless I say so.”
“1
Rachel shot him a sharp glare, her voice low with warning. “Don’t push your luck.”
But Brian only acted as if he hadn’t heard her.
“Darling,” he mused, his tone teasing, “you only remember Jeffrey and completely ignore me.”
Rachel leaned in close, her voice a hushed whisper against his ear.
“Don’t call me darling.”
Then, straightening, she narrowed her eyes at him. “And don’t think that just because
Jeffrey is here, I’m going to indulge you.”
Brian smirked, completely unfazed. He turned to Jeffrey, putting on a pitiful expression. “Jeffrey, you see this? Your sister is always so mean to me. All I wanted was for her to peel me a single shrimp.”
Jeffrey chuckled. “Rachel, seeing how much Brian spoils you, I feel relieved.”
With that, he slid the plate of shrimp Rachel had peeled for him across the table–right
in front of Brian.
After dinner, soft, soothing music filled the restaurant, weaving seamlessly into the
warm ambiance.
Jeffrey glanced between the two of them. “There’s a dance floor here. Why don’t you
two have a dance?”
“Sure.”
Rachel had been about to refuse, but Brian was already on his feet, bowing slightly and
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extending his hand toward her like a true gentleman.
“I don’t know how to dance. Let’s skip it.”
It wasn’t an excuse.
She genuinely had no idea how to dance.
She had never been exposed to it growing up, and as a result, her movements always
felt stiff and uncoordinated.
The first time she had ever been drawn to the idea of dancing was in college–when she had seen Brian and Tracy moving effortlessly across the floor together.
It had been during her sophomore year at a university–hosted ball.
Everyone had been free to invite a partner to dance.
To avoid awkward refusals, the event organizers had set a rule: if a student agreed to participate, it automatically meant they had to accept any invitation to dance.
When Rachel learned that Brian had signed up, she hadn’t hesitated to join as well.
There was just one problem–she didn’t know how to dance.
Having never learned as a child, she had no choice but to seek out a teacher.
But dance lessons weren’t cheap, and good instructors were hard to come by.
After asking around, she had finally managed to book an appointment with a highly recommended teacher. The fees, however, were astronomical. She had spent every last
cent of her savings on the lessons.
Even that hadn’t been enough. She had also borrowed a significant sum from her
classmates.
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