Chapter 20 

Jonathan strode out of the restaurant, resolutely ignoring the unspoken reluctance and confusion in Daphne’s eyes. 

He held her hand tightly, his steps firm as they headed for the exit. The car door slammed shut with a loud thud, cutting off the bustling sounds of the outside world. Inside the car, an uneasy silence hung between the siblings, their lips pressed in tense lines. 

“Brother, what’s wrong?” 

Daphne’s voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried genuine concern for Jonathan’s sudden shift in mood. She carefully studied his face, hoping to find some clue amidst his taut expression. 

Jonathan’s gaze finally shifted from the road to her worried face. Her gentle concern seemed to soothe the anger boiling within him, if only slightly. 

“Daphne, I just want you to stay away from Matthew. He’s… not right for you.” His tone carried a mix of helplessness and resolve. 

“Why? Matthew seems perfectly fine to me,” Daphne replied, frowning in confusion. Her eyes glimmered with curiosity and doubt. 

“Did something happen between you two? Or is there a misunderstanding I don’t know about?” 

“There’s no why! Just promise me you won’t see him again!” Jonathan snapped, his brows furrowing deeply as if a painful memory had been triggered. 

The car accelerated slightly, and the air inside seemed to grow heavier, weighed down by Jonathan’s 

emotions. 

Sensing her brother’s anger and determination, Daphne chose not to press further. She sat quietly her heart tangled in a web of unease and unanswered questions. 

After dinner, the atmosphere at home felt stifling. Daphne excused herself, claiming she needed rest, but paused midway up the stairs. 

From the shadows, she overheard Jonathan speaking on the phone. His tone carried both anger and veiled threats. 

I don’t care what it takes–just keep Matthew away from my sister! If he dares approach Daphne again, make sure he regrets it!” 

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Daphne’s heart clenched. Her suspicions deepened. There was undoubtedly a secret between Matthew and her brother, one neither was willing to share. 

Letting out a soft sigh, she returned to her room and lay in bed, her mind restless. 

Again? What does he mean by “again“? Did we really know each other before? 

Matthew’s handsome face and cryptic words floated into her mind, shrouding her thoughts in a thick fog she couldn’t seem to pierce. 

Burdened by confusion and exhaustion, Daphne eventually drifted into a fitful sleep. 

The next morning, sunlight poured through the curtains and lit up Jonathan’s room. 

Daphne, however, slept until midday before groggily opening her eyes. 

She reached for her phone and noticed a friend request. Only then did she remember giving Matthew her contact information the night before. 

Opening the profile, she saw an unclear photo of a woman’s silhouette on a beach, blurry and enigmatic. This only added to her confusion. 

Does he already have someone he likes? Daphne wondered, a faint and unfamiliar emotion stirring 

within her. 

If that’s the case, why would he say those things to me? Is this why Jonathan is so against him? 

After a moment of hesitation, she tapped “Accept,” her finger hovering over the screen like opening a window to the unknown. 

Almost instantly, her phone buzzed with a message: 

“Did you sleep well last night?” 

She froze for a moment, then quickly typed back: 

“Not really.” 

The indicator showed that Matthew was typing but then stopped. Seconds passed, and no reply 

came. 

Just as Daphne was about to set her phone aside and head to the bathroom, another message appeared: 

Why not? Were you thinking about me?”