The CEO's Mischievous Little Bride

"Are you saying I don't like you? Then what does liking someone even mean?" Sebastian was about to lose it with Molly. Molly replied, "Patrick spoils Vera-that's what liking someone means."

"Vera is Patrick's wife and the mother of his kids. That's love!" Sebastian was so frustrated he could barely talk to Molly.

Just then, his phone rang. It was Ellie.

"Mom," Sebastian answered, adding, "I'm picking up Molly."

Ellie gave a quick reminder and hung up.

Sebastian turned off the car again, even though he was about to head home. He felt some things were better discussed away from home. "Molly, did you get what I just said?" Molly nodded, and Sebastian felt like he'd been hit by a truck. Did she really get it?

Molly said, "I'll be more mindful and be the sister you like."

Sebastian was speechless.

He clenched his fist, then relaxed it, looking out the window and sighing. He knew he couldn't rush this.

If he pushed too hard, he'd scare Molly off or make it worse-drive her to someone else.

He'd been Molly's brother for fifteen years. In her mind, he was her real brother. She was so innocent she couldn't even see his feelings.

Sebastian glanced at her, and she was looking at him, too, her eyes innocent. "Sebastian, I didn't mean to upset you today. Why are you sighing again?"

Sebastian was at a loss for words.

Then he said, "Molly, from now on, you can't date without my permission. If someone pursues you, you have to tell me."

Molly nodded obediently. "Sebastian, I'll definitely tell you. You can check if the person is reliable. If they are, I'll date them. If not, I won't."

Sebastian restarted the car. "If Alan bothers you again, tell me directly."

"Okay. Sebastian, what case are you going to tell me about today?" Molly asked curiously.

Sebastian didn't react immediately, then remembered she meant the scary murder cases he used to frighten her. He said, "No case this time. But if you want a life constantly fighting with a mother-in-law, competing with an illegitimate daughter for inheritance, and ending up with a cheating, irresponsible husband who'll abandon you at the first sign of trouble, then go ahead and date Alan. I won't interfere anymore." Molly said, "No!"

She looked at Sebastian and said, "I'd rather never get married than end up in a family like that."

As the car drove away, Molly said, "If only you weren't my brother, I wouldn't have to worry."

Sebastian replied, "Get it straight. I'm not really your brother."

Molly stubbornly said, "No, you are my brother."

Molly didn't know that Sebastian didn't want to be her brother at all. She thought his earlier words were just out of anger.

Since Sebastian was angry, she had to quickly appease him.

So she called him "brother" several times in the car, which annoyed him to no end.

As the car drove further away, Molly once again avoided a scolding.

When they got home, Ellie and Timothy were already asleep.

They slipped in quietly. Sebastian told her, "David's kid is sick. You need to come with me to the hospital for a visit tomorrow."

Molly nodded. "Okay. Were you covering for David today?"

Sebastian nodded again. He took her bag, locked the car, and led her inside. "One more thing, heads-up. You've got exams coming up. I won't be around. You know how your studies are. If you fail, don't come crying to me in the middle of the night."

Molly asked, "Okay, Sebastian. How long will you be gone?"

Sebastian replied, "We'll see."

He walked her to her bedroom and then turned to leave.

As soon as they got home, a text from Alan popped up on Molly's phone. Alan: [Molly, are you home?]

Molly grabbed her phone and went to Sebastian's door, knocking softly.

Sebastian had just taken off his shirt to shower when he heard the knock.

Molly's soft voice came from outside. "Sebastian, open the door."

She kept her voice low, afraid of waking Ellie and Timothy.

Sebastian gritted his teeth, picked up his shirt from the bed, and put it back on, his breathing heavy.

Molly kept knocking and even pressed her ear to the door to see if he was in the shower.

Sebastian hastily buttoned a few buttons, enough to cover himself, and then suddenly opened the door.

Molly, who was eavesdropping, fell forward and crashed into Sebastian's arms.

"Sebastian, you should have told me you were opening the door. If you weren't standing here, I would have fallen to the ground," Molly complained.

Sebastian resignedly pushed her back to stand her up straight. "What do you want now?"

Molly's eyes were drawn to Sebastian's slightly open shirt, with the top three buttons undone.

She smiled. "Sebastian, you look so handsome."

Sebastian pushed her out and immediately closed the door.

Molly stumbled, losing a slipper, and had to steady herself by holding onto the railing.

She put her slipper back on and knocked again. This time, she was smarter. "Sebastian, Alan texted me, and I don't know how to reply."

Sure enough, the door opened again.

Sebastian was buttoning his shirt as he listened to her.

Molly showed him the text and expressed her dilemma. "If I reply that I'm home, will that imply I'm interested in Alan? If I don't reply, will it be rude?" Sebastian scoffed.

She defended herself, "Sebastian, Jesse and Ellie are close. We're all in the same circle. It wouldn't be appropriate to have a falling out with him, and it's not necessary either." Sebastian took Molly's phone and typed a message with one hand, then sent it without consulting her.

He handed the phone back to Molly and pushed her out again, closing the door.

Alan's presumptuousness annoyed Molly, but Sebastian taking her phone and sending a message on her behalf felt like he was helping her solve a problem.

She didn't mind at all; in fact, she liked it.

She opened her phone to see how Sebastian had replied: [Molly is asleep. If you have something to discuss with her, please contact me first.] Followed by Sebastian's name and his phone number. Molly thought, 'Well, why does the message come across as if it's from a man asserting ownership over something?'