CHAPTER 3

Finishing her project, Rhianne looked at the short video she had made just now on her laptop. She only needs some editing on it before she can pass it to her professor tomorrow. Satisfied with her own work, Rhianne saved the video on her flash drive before drinking the latte she ordered earlier.

Looking at the time, Rhianne still has to wait for a few minutes before meeting with her Mr. Protagonist. Keith is not with her right now because he still has a class until two in the afternoon. While playing games on her laptop, Rhianne's phone suddenly vibrated inside her bag. She was surprised when she saw Francis was calling her.

"Hello, brother. Why are you calling?"

(What? Am I not allowed to call my sister now?)

"That's not what I mean."

(I knew it. You do not want to talk to me again because that brat is now courting you.)

"Brother!" Rhianne exclaimed but she quickly lowered her voice to avoid disturbing the other customers inside the cafe.

Francis let out a chuckle when he heard Rhianne's whining voice on the other line.

(Where are you now?)

"Hmm? I am in a cafe near our school." Rhianne answered.

(Oh. Then let's meet up. I am in front of your school right now.)

"Wait, what? You are back in Finrel City?"

Francis hummed in response.

"Wait for me, brother! I will be there in a minute."

Rhianne asked Francis to wait at the school entrance gate before ending the call. She quickly put her things inside her bag before zipping it close. With quick steps, Rhianne stepped out of the cafe and rushed towards the place where Francis is already waiting for her. Rhianne did not notice that she left her school ID on the chair where she was sitting earlier.

A petite woman saw the ID and checked the printed name on it. The woman's eyes widened a bit when she saw the printed name and photo on it. Looking at Rhianne's name for the last time, the woman kept the ID card inside her pocket and continued with her task of cleaning the tables.

As for Rhianne, she quickly spotted her brother outside their university. She stopped in her tracks for a while to appreciate her brother's handsome appearance while leaning his body on a red sports car. He is wearing fitted black long sleeves, a pair of jeans, and black rubber shoes. His body is well-toned so he does not look lame or skinny on his shirt. He is also wearing shades while his arms are crossed on his chest. Since Rhianne Cartel has a beautiful face, of course, Francis also has a face that can be compared to those famous celebrities in the entertainment industry.

"Brother!"

When Francis heard his sister's voice, he turned around and saw a slender woman wearing a lavender dress. His lips curved up and raised his arms, urging her to give him a hug. Rhianne happily ran towards her brother and gave Francis a big hug. It's been three months since Rhianne last saw his brother because he was busy with his work.

"Brother, I miss you! Why did you not tell me in advance that you going to be back in this city?" Rhianne asked when she separated from her brother's hug.

"If I tell you, then I will not see your surprised expression just now!"

"How about mom and dad?"

"They know that I am going to see you today. I already made a reservation in one of the best French restaurants in the district. We will be having a family dinner there later."

"Okay!" Rhianne happily said. It's been a while since she had dinner while her family members are all present.

Francis put his arm around Rhianne's shoulder and pinched her nose. After Tim gave Francis a position in one of their companies, he became extremely busy lately with his work so he does not have any time to call his mother and sister. But he occasionally sends them a few text messages to ask about their well-being. But because Francis did a very good job lately, he was given a week's vacation as a reward.

While the Cartel siblings are having a good time talking with each other, someone shouted at them which made them turn their heads.

"Hey, why are you putting your arms around my friend's girlfriend?"

It was Hansel, Keith's classmate and close friend in college. When Rhianne first heard about him, she was so glad that Keith successfully made friends with the other kids in their university. Keith can't help but give Rhianne a weird look. He is capable of making friends, alright? The thing is, Keith is just picky.

Hansel had a dignified stance and looking at Francis as if he is a bad guy. After looking at Francis from head to toe, his gazes slowly turned towards Rhianne.

Look! She is even letting that man put his arm on her shoulders. But who knows if she is only pretending, right? He heard from the news that some strangers were forcing the defenseless girls to 'remember' that they were acquaintances before. After that, they will do something bad for those girls later.

"Rhianne, you do not have to be afraid if that scum is forcing you. Even if Keith is not yet here, I can protect you as his loyal friend."

He looked at the young man who suddenly appeared in front of them. Francis heard him say that brat's name and his sister's name so he can assume that they also knew him. After that, he looked at Rhianne with inquiring eyes.

"Do you know him?" Francis finally asked.

Rhianne let out a helpless sigh. She can easily guess that Hansel assumed Francis is a bad guy who is making her uncomfortable. She was about to introduce Francis when Hansel stopped her.

"Are you still not willing to remove your arms? You should be afraid of her boyfriend! Ah, wait a minute. I will now call her boyfriend. Just you wait!" Hansel said before calling his friend.

This time, Francis looked at Rhianne with a smile, but his eyes were sharply looking at her.

"Oh? You already have a boyfriend?" Francis asked. "You did not even inform me about it?"

"No, there's a huge misunderstanding here—"

"Yes, that's right! A suspicious guy is harassing Rhianne here—Keith? Keith?! Ah! He ended the call."

"..."

After complaining, Hansel looked at the Cartel siblings again with a proud expression. Sooner or later, that scum man will be beaten to death by his friend.

"Rhianne, you should come with me. You do not have to be afraid. With me here, that bastard cannot hurt you."

"Hansel, you—"

"Rhianne!"

They were all surprised to see Keith rushing towards them. His forehead and shirt were drenched in sweat. He was about to pull Rhianne away from that 'scum' when he finally noticed who it was. Keith was frozen on his spot when he saw it was Francis, Rhianne's older brother.

"Oh. Look who is here. Hey brat, long time no see." Francis said before lazily waving his hand to greet Keith.

"What are you doing, Keith? Beat him—Ah, damn it! Why are you hitting me?!" Hansel complained while rubbing his arm.

"Stupid fool! You really dared to make trouble for me!" Keith said before hitting Hansel again. This time, he hit him with his bag. "He is Rhianne's brother!"

"...Ah? That bastard scum is Rhianne's brother?! Wait! Rhianne has an older brother?!"

Keith really wanted to crack Hansel's skull to see what kind of stupid brain he has inside his head. When he received Hansel's call earlier, his heart skipped a beat when he told him that a stranger was putting Rhianne in a difficult position. Ignoring his clubmates, Keith rushed to the school entrance to save Rhianne. But this fool did not even ask that 'suspicious' man's name and just assumed that he was forcing Rhianne right now.

Francis watched these two for a while before turning his attention back to his sister. Rhianne let out a sigh before she explained everything.

"That man is Hansel, Keith's classmate, and also his friend."

"Oh? But he said that you already have a boyfriend? Who is he? Do you mind introducing him to me?"

"Brother!" Rhianne exclaimed. "You already know that...that..."

Rhianne pursed her lips and stopped talking. But her eyes took a few glances in Keith's direction. Francis raised a brow when he saw his sister acting like this. It seems like that brat has finally made his dense sister recognized his feelings towards her.

"Brother Francis, I apologize for my friend's rudeness towards you. He did not know that you are Rhia's brother." Keith said while facing Francis.

"I know. It's too obvious even without you explaining it to me."

Francis did not bother about them again and turned around with Rhianne who is still in his arm. He opened the car's door and helped Rhianne to get inside his car. After that, he looked at Hansel first before his gaze fell on Keith.

"Well then, this 'scum' will now leave with his sister. Have a good day, you two."

Rhianne can only gaze at Keith through the car's window. When Keith looked in her direction, she mouthed the words 'I will call you later' which he replied with a single nod. After that, the car left the two young men standing in front of the school entrance.