Burning Passion

CHAPTER 333: STEVEN'S LIES

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It shocked the woman across from him. "What... do you mean by that?" 

Bewildered, Clarisse stammered her words upon asking Raymond. Confused written all over her face, she seemed to have done something wrong that angered Raymond. But she could not figure out what she did wrong. 

"I can't drive you home. So, take a taxi," Raymond stated nonchalantly. Instead, he continued his food and ignored his date. 

"But... But we just got here. Did I do wrong?" 

'Fool!' Raymond scoffs. He would admit that he only invited this girl for him to have a reason to dine here tonight. 

But what he didn't expect is she would be so bold showing interest in his family. This woman only ruins her opportunity to be his girlfriend, at least for a month after he's tired of bedding her. 

Now he lost interest at all. Raymond called a server and instructed him to get a taxi for his date. 

"Raymond, darling... If you get angry that I mentioned that I saw your father... I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe you didn't notice. So, I felt obliged to tell you." Clarisse tries to explain. 

The way the guy acted now, Raymond is hinting at her for a breakup. She can't miss this chance to be Shang's girlfriend. Besides, she didn't see any wrong if she informed Raymond that she saw his father. 

However, Raymond only twitches his mouth. 'How a naive girl! Of course, I know my father is going to dine here tonight!'

He hides his irritation to the girl, although his patience is getting thinner. He could not wait for the server to come back after fetching a taxi. The longer this woman remains seated in front of him, the more his face cannot stop frowning. 

The server came back with good news. A cab is now waiting outside the Gardenia Palace. 

Raymond reaches for his wallet and takes out a thousand bills. He tossed it to the table and said, "Your fare to the taxi." 

She was like a kitten a while ago. But now, the woman's face turns sour. She looks at Raymond Shang with rage. 

How dare he humiliate her like this? What does he think of himself? 

The woman sat up with fury in her eyes. She sneered before she marched outside. "I can buy a car!" 

Raymond only shrugs a shoulder, completely ignoring the girlfriend who was an ex now. 

He was glad that the woman vanished from his sight. She only makes things easier for him to dump her. 

After he finishes his meal, Raymond is now trailing down the corridor where the private room is located. He gets inside a room where he could eavesdrop on the conversations from the next room. 

In the room, his father and Nelson Li had dinner and drinks. 

Meanwhile, pacing back and forth in the Shang In-house Bar, Garry rolled his eyes, watching Steven walking nonstop in front of him. 

They were playing billiards after dinner. Now they were drinking wine. 

And as getting late, Steven becomes restless. 

"What is your problem? Could you stop pacing back and forth in front of me? My head is throbbing watching you." Garry complains, massaging his forehead.

"I do not ask you to watch me." 

Hearing Steven's rudeness, Garry shakes his head. His behavior lately is strange. But what was strange more is when his younger brother suddenly came home with the elderly. But Steven is still here. Instead, he was like a prisoner in this mansion.

He heard that their mother had a breakdown, but his father didn't explain the whole story. 

When Raymond asks where Harry is, their father just replies that Harry, who is looking for their mother now. And when he volunteered to fly to Hawaii, his father firmly refused. It left him confused about the drama.

And his confusion worsened. Why does Harry accompany their mother? 

They all know that it was Steven who worries a lot among them every time their mother has to be confined in the hospital. 

"What happened, and you suddenly came to China? How about the University? You haven't graduated yet. Did you drop when it was just a few months away?"

Steven glances at his first older brother. He is weighing whether to tell Garry what is going on between him and Harry. 

Heaving a long sigh, Steven began sharing with Garry. 

"The family of Li was angry at me when I touched Nina." Steven began. "Uncle Nelson warned father that I should not get near Nina ever again. And because father aimed to have Li in his side for his greed for power to lead the Shang in the future. Father separated me from Nina…" 

"Wait… wait… So what if you touch Nina Li? She is your girlfriend, right? And the reason everyone rushed to the US is because of your engagement with her?" 

"That's the whole point. Nina is my girlfriend. But Harry is meddling in our way." 

"Harry? How come? Is he like Nina as well?" 

"I don't know. Maybe he also wanted to have Li's influence on himself once he becomes the son-in-law." 

"I'm confused." Garry creased his forehead. He knew that Harry is the obedient son among them. He never goes on dates or sleeps with anyone. So how come that it was Harry is the reason who Steven and Nina got separated? 

Or maybe their father involves Harry in his dream? Garry would like to ask Steven further, but Raymond arrived. 

"Hey, brothers! Let's celebrate! The first brother, give me a bottle of rum!" 

"Huh? And why?" Garry got even confused about what is happening to all of his brothers. 

"I'm single again, so let's drink that!" 

Garry shook his head. "You are single every single day." He joked. He then snapped. "Anyway, why should I get you a drink?" 

"Yes! Because you are the first brother!" Raymond burst out laughing. 

"Do you want to taste my punch, instead?" Garry threatens Raymond. But they know it was just a joke,

"Hey! I…" 

"Stop! Let me serve you both since I am the youngest brother." Steven cut in. He walked toward the counter and fetched a bottle of rum. 

There is a smile playing across his face.