Grace Sawyer got out of the car and dawdled her way home.

After entering the house and seeing the familiar surroundings, Grace Sawyer's scalp tingled, making it even harder for her to speak up.

Just then, her mother Emma Reed's voice came from the kitchen: "Zhizhi, you're back?"

Zhizhi was Grace Sawyer's nickname.

Grace Sawyer responded, slowly taking off her shoes. With her mind preoccupied, she didn't notice the unfamiliar pair of sneakers on the shoe rack.

Emma Reed called her again: "Zhizhi, come here for a second. Help mom with something."

Grace Sawyer was still thinking about how to confess, and mumbled, "What is it?"

"Help mom take this plate of fruit to your brother's room." Emma Reed came out of the kitchen, saying, "Your brother is back—"

"Mm... huh?" Grace Sawyer instantly perked up, her voice rising a few pitches, "Brother is back?"

"That's right."

This unexpected development was hard for Grace Sawyer to believe.

A wave of overwhelming surprise surged up in an instant. The cold and annoying Ethan Sawyer, at this moment, transformed in Grace Sawyer's mind into the perfect brother—cold on the outside, warm on the inside, and never saying what he really means.

Emma Reed was still talking: "When you go in, be careful, your brother brought—"

"Okay, okay, okay!" Too impatient to listen further, Grace Sawyer grabbed the fruit and ran toward Ethan Sawyer's room. "I know! I'll bring it to him right away!"

Emma Reed's hand was suddenly empty. Watching Grace Sawyer's unusually enthusiastic back, she wondered, "What's up with this child today..."

Thinking she wouldn't be scolded by her parents, Grace Sawyer couldn't help but smile, pushing open Ethan Sawyer's door with force.

The room was spacious and bright, with sunlight streaming in.

A warm scent instantly filled her nose. But in the next moment, a strong smell of tobacco hit her, a bit choking, making Grace Sawyer cough.

She frowned and glanced around the room.

In a dimmer corner, a slender man was curled up on the sofa by the computer desk, looking down at his phone. His back was to the light, making his features hard to see. One hand rested on the side of the sofa, his long fingers holding a cigarette, its tip glowing red.

His build was somewhat similar to Ethan Sawyer's.

But unexpectedly unfamiliar.

Grace Sawyer stopped in her tracks, blinking hesitantly, the word "brother" stuck in her throat.

The man looked up.

At that moment, she finally saw his face clearly, and for some reason, she held her breath.

The man's expression was indifferent, his features sharp and defined, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He looked gentle, yet hard to approach.

His slightly upturned, almond-shaped eyes were a light brown. His brows and eyes had a hint of allure.

Completely different from her brother's deep black eyes.

She had expected to see her brother, but instead, she saw a stranger, with no sign of her brother anywhere.

For a moment, Grace Sawyer's mind went blank, unsure how to react.

The scene seemed frozen in time.

Neither of them moved.

Not long after.

The man lowered his gaze again, leisurely stubbed out his cigarette, looking lazy. He didn't seem interested in talking, silently getting up to open the window for ventilation.

Watching his actions, Grace Sawyer called out in confusion.

"...Brother?"

Hearing this, the man paused, raising his eyebrows. He stared at Grace Sawyer, his almond eyes gentle yet playful. Then, he curved his lips into a smile and replied in a drawn-out tone.

"Mm?"

"......"

That response felt like a bolt of lightning striking Grace Sawyer's head.

All the unclear things suddenly became clear in her mind.

Her brother, whom she hadn't seen in months.

Now, upon seeing him again, he looked like this.

She couldn't believe it, as if she had turned to stone, and after a long struggle, managed to squeeze out a word: "You, you..."

A few seconds passed.

Grace Sawyer swallowed hard, cautiously finishing her sentence: "Did you get plastic surgery?"

"......"

Chapter 2 Sneaking

He stared at her for a while, as if something occurred to him, a trace of absurdity flashing in his eyes. Then, his interest was suddenly piqued; he lowered his brows and deliberately deepened his voice: "Yeah."

"......" Grace Sawyer couldn't stay calm, nearly breaking down, "Did mom and dad agree?"

Another few seconds of silence.

The man licked his lips, a smile in his voice: "As long as it looks good, isn't that enough?"

As soon as he finished, Grace Sawyer was stunned again.

Compared to Ethan Sawyer's voice, this one was a bit clearer and softer. When he spoke, his words lingered, sounding ambiguous and lingering.

Completely, utterly, different from her brother's always cold and annoying tone.

"Kid." He chuckled lowly and continued, "Come over and see if your brother's new face looks good?"

Grace Sawyer instantly sensed something was off.

At that moment, there was another sound behind her. The door opened, followed by the thud of shoes hitting the floor.

Grace Sawyer instinctively turned around.

And immediately saw Ethan Sawyer's face.