Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother - Chapter 253

Chapter 253: His Own Daughter Chapter 253: His Own Daughter In Bayford City, at Harper Mansion.

Julia was sitting in the drawing room, watching the news on TV.

The screen was displaying scenes from the perfume event and what had happened with Natalie.

James was also in the room, speaking with his assistant about something along with giving some important instructions.

“She’s just like Caryn,” Julia remarked, unable to hide her admiration.

“The way she handled the situation-it’s exactly like her mother.

If Caryn were alive, she would have been proud of her daughter.” James was well aware of what his mother was watching.

Despite his repeated warnings to her not to pay attention to anything related to Caryn, Julia never listened.

Once the assistant left, James turned his gaze to his mother, then to the TV screen, where Natalie was confidently mocking Faye with her bold words.

“Not just in looks, but even the way she talks-exactly like Caryn, isn’t it?” Julia said as she noticed James watching the screen as well.

“Just like her mother, she’s always prepared to anticipate her enemy’s moves and shows no mercy.” James always intentionally ignored paying attention to any news related to Ford family and especially ignored this daughter of Caryn.

He could not deny that resemblance she had with Caryn, not just looks even the way she carried herself.

One gaze was enough for him to know it as Caryn’s existence could never erase from his mind, despite his efforts.  James averted his gaze from the screen and returned his focus to the file in his hands.

“Mother, even if you insist on watching it despite my warnings, you should do it quietly.

Others aren’t interested in hearing endless praises for unrelated people.” Julia frowned.

“She is related to me, and I have every right to praise her.” James looked at his mother, his expression unreadable at her words.

Realizing her slip of toungue, Julia quickly corrected herself.

“Once, I called Caryn my daughter.

So, her daughter is someone to me as well,” she said firmly, her tone growing more resolute.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care, what happened between you two.

But to me, Caryn is still like my daughter.

She once saved my life.

You may choose to forget that, but I can’t.

This life of mine-I owe her.

And because of that, I refuse to sever ties with her or her daughter.” James was about to say something, but he couldn’t deny the truth-at least he owed that woman for saving his mother’s life.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Julia interrupted him.

“Oh, look at her,” Julia said, her attention fixed on the TV.

“She looks just like Caryn when she used to make perfume.

No wonder her daughter is so skilled.

I asked Caryn many times to start a perfume business with her talent, but she kept it as a hobby, creating perfumes only for those she cared about.

I still have the bottle of perfume she made especially for me.

Sadly, it’s empty now,” she sighed, then added as if talking to herself, “Maybe I can ask Natalie to make the same perfume for me.” “There’s no need to meet her daughter,” James interrupted sharply.

“You can give me that bottle.

From the leftover traces, I’ll have the best perfumer recreate it for you.” Julia frowned angrily.

“Don’t you know her perfumes were unique?

They weren’t easy to replicate,” she snapped.

“If you’ve forgotten, go back to your room and check the perfume bottle you still keep hidden in your wardrobe-the one she gifted you back then.” James’s expression turned cold, his jaw tightening at the mention of his privacy being invaded.

He stood abruptly.

“I must have forgotten to throw it away,” he said curtly, heading upstairs.

As he walked away, he added, “And stop paying attention to that girl.

She doesn’t deserve it.

She’s just like her mother-pathetic.” Julia’s anger flared at his words.

“I wonder what she inherited from her father.

Her father must be pathetic as well.” Hearing that, James stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Jay Ford.

Yes, he’s pathetic.

So, imagine a daughter born of two pathetic people-how could she be any different?” With that, he strode away.

Julia felt an overwhelming urge to follow her son and slap him with all her strength.

If only you knew-you’re that pathetic father who doesn’t even realize his own daughter exists.

She turned back to the TV, forcing herself to calm down as she watched Natalie-her blood, her granddaughter.

James, I wonder how you would react when you find out she’s your own daughter?

Julia let out a deep sigh.

And that your cherished adopted son and your biological daughter are in a relationship.

I wonder what kind of storm it will bring to our family once again.

But one thing I’m certain of-I will bring Natalie into this family at all costs.

I don’t care about the rest.

That child has endured so much pain while her own family failed to protect her.

It’s enough now.

Meanwhile, James entered his room, his expression still cold.

He walked to his wardrobe, unlocked a drawer inside, and retrieved a beautifully carved box.

Opening it, he revealed a simple half-empty perfume bottle alongside a note from the one who had gifted it to him.

So many years had passed, and though he hadn’t used it since its creator left him, he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.

His heart felt heavy as he looked at it.

Closing his eyes to steady himself, he shut the box and called for the servant.

“Yes, Master,” the butler said, entering the room.

James handed him the box.

“Throw it away.

Right now,” he commanded.

The butler glanced at the box with a conflicted expression but obeyed without question.

James quietly sat down in the chair by the window, closing his eyes in silence.

When the servant reached downstairs, Julia saw the familiar box in his hands.  “Bring it to me,” she ordered him.  “But, master asked me to throw it away,” the servant said.  “You can tell him you did.

Now give it to me,” Julia said coldly.  The servant gave it to her and heard Julia, “You can go back to your work.” The servant left and she opened this box.

She looked at the perfume bottle inside and said.

“James, maybe one day you would regret throwing it.

But don’t worry, I will keep it safe for you.”  She closed it and went to her room with that box.  —- Vincent arrived at the hospital, where an entire private floor had been transformed into Aiden Shaw’s personal base.

Leo led Vincent to meet Aiden.

Leo opened the door for him, but only Vincent entered, leaving his two men outside with Leo.

Inside the room, Aiden was seated on a chair, his expression serious, hands resting on the armrests, and one leg crossed over the other.

Carrying his trademark lopsided smile, Vincent looked at Aiden.

“Such a perfect carbon copy.

Now I wonder-who’s the original, and who’s the copy?” “Didn’t he tell you?” Aiden asked sarcastically.

“You might like hearing it from him, but I doubt he’ll answer.” “Why?

Is it that embarrassing for him to have someone who looks exactly like him?” Vincent said, settling onto the couch opposite Aiden.

“Must’ve been terrifying to see his ugly self without needing a mirror.” “I believe seeing his own handsome reflection is far better than looking at an eyesore of a silver-haired deer,” Aiden countered.

Vincent chuckled.

“I know, silver hair suits me.

God created me perfectly-you don’t have to be this envious.” Aiden nearly rolled his eyes.

“Get to the point.” Vincent glanced around the room.

“You allowed me to meet you so easily.

Aren’t you worried, knowing who I am?” “Knowing who you are makes it easier to let you in without resistance,” Aiden replied.

“And why would I be worried when you’ve been doing such an important job for me all these years?” Vincent stared at him for a moment before tilting his head.

“Hmm…

So it was her all along?

How did I miss guessing it, even after he told me she is alive and you are protecting her?” “Maybe your brain is less functional and growing out in the form of your hair,” Aiden remarked.

He was certain Justin had sent Vincent here and must have already told him about Caryn.

“Oh, my poor Aiden,” Vincent said, pulling a playful, exaggerated pout.

“Are you still hung up on my beautiful silver hair?” Aiden gave him a bored look, while Vincent smirked and muttered to himself, “All this time, I’ve been wondering who could make my father obey orders so diligently that he even put his own son in charge of protecting one weak girl back then instead of assigning something more significant.

So, it was her.” He glanced at Aiden.

“My father is a dangerous man, not one to follow anyone’s orders lightly.

What kind of woman is this Caryn Shaw-or Caryn Ford?” “Ms.

Caryn Shaw,” Aiden corrected sharply, his tone cold.

“She has nothing to do with the name Ford.” Vincent raised an eyebrow.

“So possessive of a woman, hmm?

The other one is no different.

What are you two, twins?” “I recall you requested to meet me because you had something important to discuss,” Aiden said, steering the conversation back on track.

“I allowed you here because you’ve been working with us to protect Natalie.” “Correction,” Vincent interrupted, his tone and gaze shifting from playful to icy, showing the tinge of his dangerous self.

“Vincent Castelo works for no one.

I work for myself and on my own terms.

I protected Natalie once, as per my father’s orders, but continuing to protect her-that was my decision.

Not even my father has the power to force me into anything.”