Once Bitten, Twice Shy

436 Prenatal Betrothal

Three days later, Irene took Samantha’s hand to lead her down the spiral staircase and toward the living room.

Three men were already sitting on the sofa.

Irene led Samantha to sit opposite them and introduced them with a smile. “These three men are Horace, Augustine, and Samson. They’re your three brothers, Athena.”

All three men looked at her carefully.

Samantha did not feel too nervous and looked up at them.

The three of them practically looked the same as they did in their photos. Her eldest brother Horace had a calm disposition, while her second brother Augustine had an air of elegance. Finally, her third brother Samson had peachy eyes that were brimming with gentleness and affection.

They looked at her somewhat curiously but not in a negative manner.

Samantha was the first to smile and she initiated the conversation by saying, “Nice to meet you, Horace, Augustine, and Samson.”

Augustine responded, “Hello, Athena.”

Samson stood up right away and leaned over to Samantha, “Ever since I was young, I’ve been hearing about this younger sister and I always imagined what it would be like. I didn’t expect...”

“...that you’d be more beautiful than I imagined...”

“Welcome home, sis!”

Samantha was amused. “You’re just as handsome too, Samson.”

Samson raised his peachy eyes. “That’s my sister alright! You have good judgment!”

The one who had not spoken yet was Horace.

Irene could not help but ask, “Why aren’t you greeting your sister, Horace?”

Horace glanced at her lukewarmly and said unenthusiastically, “It’s good that you’re back.”

The atmosphere became a little cold.

Irene narrowed her eyes at him and comforted Samantha. “That’s just how he is, Athena. He looks indifferent but he has a warm heart. Don’t take it to heart.”

Samantha could only smile.

She was grateful that her second and third brothers accepted her but she also understood her eldest brother’s reluctance to accept her that quickly.

It had been more than 20 years, after all. Coming to terms with his younger sister’s sudden return could not have been easy for him.

They chatted with each other for some time.

Samantha learned that Horace and Augustine managed the Gilligan Group together. Samson, on the other hand, did not like to be tied down and was well known in the business world for only accepting projects that he was interested in.

In short, her three elder brothers were all top dogs in the business world.

Samantha could not help her amazement. They inherited those genes very well and were channeled to the right place.

She started wondering about herself.

Was she also a business whiz?

She could not let herself be the only one who trailed behind them in terms of achievements.

It was a shame though that her memories were still not coming back even though her memories have already recovered.

Her head felt like it was being stabbed by a million needles whenever she attempted to remember anything, so she had no choice but to give up.

Horace was already married but his wife did not come along that day because she had other matters to handle. On the other hand, Augustine had been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend and would soon get married in the coming year. Lastly, Samson was a handsome bachelor who hung tight to the principle that one should never give up the whole forest for one tree!

When Irene brought up Samson’s love life, she could not help but glare at him and said, “When are you going to change this lackadaisical attitude? Get a proper girlfriend so I won’t be so worried all the time.”

Samson raised both his hands in a surrendering gesture. “Athena is the one who should be in the spotlight today. Could you go easy on me and save me all that nagging?”

He feared his mother’s incessant nagging the most and would have run away as far as he could if not for the sake of seeing his sister that day.

Irene rolled her eyes at Samson and went to the main point. “Now that you’ve met your brothers, it’s time for you to meet the most important person!”

Samantha had been curious about that important person for several days already and wondered if it was finally going to be revealed.

She then said, “Who is it, Mom? I’m sure you can tell me now, right?”

“Of course.” Irene smiled. “It’s your fiance!”

Fiance!?

It came as an utter shock to Samantha.

After waking up from her coma and finding out that she had a three-year-old child, her initial guess was that the important person might be the child’s father. She was understandably startled after hearing that it was her fiance.

“W-when did I have...a fiance?”

Irene replied, “When I was still pregnant with you, your grandfather arranged a prenatal betrothal. This arrangement has never been nullified even though you were kidnapped when you were a child. Now that you’re back, they’re willing to fulfill the promise and your fiance will be visiting you today!”

Footsteps were heard as soon as she heard that.

A man’s voice called out, “Hello, Auntie.”

When Irene saw him, she smiled so much that her eyes had narrowed into tiny arcs. “Speak of the devil.”

“This is your fiance, Athena!”

Samantha raised her head subconsciously to look at the man.