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Chapter 341
Back at the Salvador Corporation, Justin sat quietly in his office, lost in thought as he
stared at the computer screen. With each click of the mouse, a new photo appeared,
featuring a single protagonist-a beautiful woman with a radiant smile and an elegant
demeanor-Bella.
These photos were the result of Ian’s surveillance of Bella over the past few days.
Originally, he intended to gather intelligence from the KS Group, but Bella’s side proved to
be exceptionally secretive. Ian only managed to capture these everyday scenes.
As Justin repeatedly browsed through the photos, his gaze deepened. It was as if, by
looking at them multiple times, the figures in the pictures would come to life. If they were
on paper, they would probably have developed a vintage charm.
Suddenly, his phone on the table vibrated consecutively. Justin finally snapped back to
reality, picked up the phone, and focused on the screen.
Seeing the messages, Justin felt his heart drop. He abruptly stood up from his leather
chair, grabbing his suit jacket before rushing out the door.
*
Ralph and Bella arrived at the barbecue restaurant.
It had been a long time since Bella had met with Ralph, and the siblings had plenty to
catch up on along with drinks.
After three rounds of drinks, Bella’s eyes were slightly glazed. She suddenly leaned in and
asked, “Ralph, spill it. When are you going to bring back a sister-in-law for me?”
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“Ugh, not you too! My mom is already nagging me about this. Besides, my job is so tiring
and dangerous. Why would I want to find someone in the same line of work? We both need
to live a good life, right?” Ralph looked nonchalant, quietly pouring out the leftover alcohol
in front of Bella and replacing it with mineral water.
Bella pouted in frustration. “What’s with the men in our family? None of you are settling
down. It’s annoying! I don’t even have a sister-in-law to care for or a nephew to play with.
It’s so frustrating!”
Hearing this, Ralph teased Bella. “With so many brothers doting on you, aren’t you
content? Aren’t you afraid that if your brothers get married, we won’t have as much
energy to pamper you?”
“Stop pampering me so much! It’s because of you guys that I didn’t have a boyfriend until
after I graduated from college! During school, you knew I liked chocolate, so you bought
all the chocolates in the campus supermarket every day and waited for me at the school
gates after class. Every boy in our school thought you guys were my boyfriend! Because of
you guys, I still haven’t had a proper first love!” Bella’s cheeks turned red. When she
drank too much, she tended to bring up old times. It was a Thompson family trait.
“Because of the chocolates I got for you, my mom thought I was dating someone in
school. She sent people to stop me at the school gates and claimed that she caught me
red-handed. Then she gave me a good beating when I got home!” Ralph winced at the
memory.
Bella blinked in surprise. “Did that happen? I have no memory of it.”
She continued, “Why didn’t you explain to your mom? You could have told her that those
snacks were for me!”
“That was right before the college entrance exam. She even went to the school to meet
with the principal and my homeroom teacher, asking them to keep a close eye on me so
that I wouldn’t get distracted during my exams.”
Ralph smirked. “I’m clearly innocent, but my mom thinks that I’m a playboy. Don’t you
think it’s unfair?”
Bella teased him. “Well, you don’t exactly look innocent.”
“Around that time, the school did a poll on the best-looking students. I don’t know who put
my picture up, but I ended up winning first place. Suddenly, I was surrounded by those
infatuated girls everywhere I went, and my locker was either filled with gifts or love
letters. It was so damn annoying!” Ralph complained.
He smiled and continued, “So, I just went with the flow. With my mom’s controlling nature,
she cleared the path for me.”
4
huh?”
“So, you used me as a shield to ward off your love troubles? You’ve got some nerve, Bella
furrowed her eyebrows and lightly flicked his forehead with her fingertip.
Ralph playfully stuck out his tongue. “Anyway, I don’t want to get married. With my
current career, anyone marrying me would basically be a widow. That’ll be a miserable life
for them.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBella nodded in agreement. “Yeah, same here.”
“You should get married, though. The last time Christopher came to our house, he seemed
quite interested in you. That night, his eyes were practically glued to you. Why not
consider him?”
Suddenly, Ralph leaned close to her ear and said mysteriously, “But I noticed how pale his
complexion is. Do you think he’s sick?”
Bella was left speechless upon hearing this.
“To be honest, money isn’t something we lack in our family, but you must find a healthy
partner with excellent genetics, someone who can carry on the legacy of the Thompson
family,” Ralph said with utmost seriousness.
“I don’t care if he’s sick, as long as he’s not sick in the head.
])
Bella smiled. Whether it was embarrassment or the effects of drinking too much, her rosy
cheeks flushed even more.
As Ralph and Bella exited the restaurant, Steven had already parked the car at the
entrance.
Seeing Bella leaning on Ralph with a flushed face, Steven hurriedly came over to assist
her.
“Don’t touch her.”
Ralph’s right arm tightened around Bella’s shoulders as his left arm forcefully kept Steven
at bay. He spoke coldly, “I’ve got this. You don’t have to touch her.” Steven stood frozen
and pressed his lips together in embarrassment.
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