Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world Chapter 608: The past that lingers [3]

The long dining table was finally full.

Elize sat near the head, while Ravene occupied the seat beside her.

Florence sat comfortably close to Brandon’s right with Charlotte sitting on his other side.

Further down the table, Dhayun and Jiyeon sat side by side while Eira and Yverine sat together on the other side.

Dishes covered nearly every available space on the table with warm rice, several side dishes, steaming soup, and the main courses Florence and Ravene had prepared earlier.

The rich aroma of the freshly cooked food filled the dining room, mixing with the low murmur of conversation as everyone settled into their seats.

Ravene finally broke the soft silence by lightly clapping her hands once.

"Alright," she said with a small smile. "Everything’s ready. Let’s eat before it gets cold."

Chairs shifted slightly as everyone began reaching for dishes.

Around the table, the group that had been scattered by worry and absence was, for the first time in days, fully gathered again.

---

The sky had already begun to deepen into evening.

Soft orange light stretched across the garden as Charlotte stood among the plants with a watering can in her hands.

She tilted it carefully, letting a steady stream of water fall over the soil around the flower beds.

A few droplets clung to the leaves, catching the fading sunlight.

Brandon stood close behind her.

One of his arms was wrapped loosely around her neck from behind, resting against her collarbone as he held her back against his chest.

Charlotte didn’t stop watering.

She simply leaned back into him a little more as the evening breeze moving through the garden.

"...I’m going to rest for a while," she said after a stretch of comfortable silence.

"Now that I’m no longer affiliated with the government... there’s no need for me to keep running around the way I used to."

Brandon’s arm shifted slightly around her shoulder as he pressed another light kiss near her temple.

"You’ve earned that much," he replied quietly.

Charlotte gave a small hum of agreement and moved on to the next plant, carefully tipping the watering can again.

"I want to spend some time with the others too," she continued.

"Not just appearing for a moment and leaving again because of some mission or emergency. Florence, Ravene, Elize... even the younger ones. I’ve been distant for too long without realizing it."

Brandon’s lips brushed against her hair once more.

"They’ll like that,"

Charlotte’s movements slowed for a moment.

She set the watering can down against her hip and turned her head slightly, just enough for him to press another soft kiss against the corner of her mouth.

She returned it without hesitation before looking back toward the plants.

"...It feels strange. Having time that belongs only to me with no... reports or summons."

Brandon tightened his arm around her just a little, pulling her more securely against his chest as the evening light continued to fade around them.

"Then get used to it," he murmured near her ear. "We will be spending more time together from now on."

At that moment, soft footsteps approached across the grass.

Dhayun appeared from the direction of the mansion.

She walked straight up to Brandon, rose slightly on her toes, and pressed a kiss against his lips.

"Aunt Ravene is calling everyone for tea and snacks,"

Her gaze flicked briefly toward Charlotte, then back to Brandon. "Don’t take too long."

With that, she turned and walked back toward the house, leaving the two of them alone in the garden once more.

Brandon watched her go for a moment before turning back to Charlotte with a wry smile.

"...She... well..."

Charlotte gave a small nod and adjusted her grip on the watering can, glancing sideways at him.

"I know," she said quietly. "About your relationship with the others."

She tilted the watering can again, letting the last of the water fall over the soil near her feet.

"I’ve known for a while. Eira, Yverine, Dhayun, Jiyeon and even... Florence. Well, you guys weren’t exactly subtle about it."

Brandon stared at her in surprise "...What?"

With a chuckle, she patted his cheek "Even the old Charlotte knows."

His gaze trembled upon hearing this "I-I am sorry, Char. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you... I-"

She shook her head and muttered "It’s okay. I understand... In the past I was obsessed with you so much that I didn’t let any women beside you."

"I... made Jiyeon break up with you and even injured Eira once. So... yeah."

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, resting her forehead lightly against his shoulder.

"That’s all in the past now. I don’t care about the others anymore."

Her arms tightened just a little "As long as I have you beside me... and you’re happy... that’s enough for me."

Brandon remained still for a moment as the weight of her words settled over him.

Slowly, he raised his arms and returned the hug, holding her securely against him in the quiet evening garden.

"I’ve already decided to stay and spend time with everyone," she muttered.

"That includes accepting the way things are. As long as you don’t disappear on me again... I can live with the rest."

Brandon’s hand moved slowly along her back, "...I won’t disappear again."

Charlotte’s fingers curled lightly into the back of his shirt.

After a few more seconds, she finally pulled back just enough to look up at him.

The evening light softened the gold in her eyes as she looked at his face "...You’d better keep that promise."

Chuckling, he nodded "I will."

Charlotte smiled and leaned in, giving him a light peck on the lips.

He kissed her back softly... then hesitated for a moment as his expression turned a little more serious.

"Well... before that, you need to know something..."

She tilted her head, gently caressing his cheek with her fingers "What is it, dear?"

"I’m in a relationship with Aunt Elize and Aunt Rave too."

Charlotte’s hand stopped moving against his cheek.

HUH?

---

"BIG SIS!"

"BIGGG SISS!"

Charlotte’s voice rang through the hallway as she tightly grabbed Brandon’s hand and stormed into the house.

Brandon followed behind her with a dry, resigned smile, making no real effort to stop her even as she pulled him along with her.

The sudden shouting immediately drew attention.

Within moments, footsteps gathered from different directions of the mansion.

Florence, Ravene, Eira, Yverine, Dhayun, and Jiyeon all appeared in the living room one after another after hearing Charlotte’s voice.

Elize stepped forward "What is it, Charlotte? Why are you screaming like that?"

Charlotte’s gaze condensed slightly "Big Sister, were you fucking Brandon all along?"

Elize’s eyes widened slightly and her gaze flicked from Charlotte to Brandon, who could only let out a long, quiet sigh beside her.

"...What... do you mean?"

Charlotte took a small step forward, still gripping Brandon’s hand "Don’t dodge the question."

"He just told me outside. About you. About Ravene. About all of it. So I’m asking you directly, have you been in a relationship with him this whole time?"

Elize’s eyes shifted to Brandon again ’You told her? and you couldn’t have given me a warning first?’

Brandon only offered her a helpless little shrug, still being held in place by Charlotte’s grip.

With a soft exhale, Elize nodded "Yeah..."

"How long?"

"Been some months."

Charlotte’s eyes widened in disbelief "What? You are fucking him for months, but you told me not to have sex with him?"

Elize opened her mouth as if to explain, but before she could speak, Charlotte already turned her sharp gaze toward Ravene.

"Aunt Ravene? You too? I should have known when you were smothering those damn breasts all over him since high school."

"You seduced him with that fat meat, didn’t you?"

"How long have you been fucking him?"

Ravene let out a quiet breath and answered with a wry smile "Well... I’m like his First Wife... so even before Elize."

At that moment, Eira suddenly jumped to her feet "Woah, woah- stop right there! Who decided you’re the First Wife?!"

"I’m the First Wife! I was his first official girlfriend! You’re more like a side chick who got there early!"

Ravene’s eyes narrowed slightly as she turned toward Eira "He was already fucking me before you two even kissed."

Eira crossed her arms "Being early doesn’t automatically make you First Wife. There’s a difference between sneaking around and actually dating."

Ravene raised an eyebrow "Sneaking around? That’s a funny way to describe me having him in my bed while you were still calling him ’Brandon’ and blushing over hand-holding."

Hearing their bickering, Jiyeon chimed in "...By that logic, aren’t I his first wife?"

Both Eira and Ravene stopped and turned their heads at the same time.

Jiyeon was sitting a little further down the couch, looking mildly thoughtful as she spoke "I mean... I dated him before you guys. And I even had sex with him before either of you... so..."

A dangerous silence followed.

Eira and Ravene both shot her sharp looks.

Jiyeon’s eyes widened the moment she felt the combined weight of their stares. Whatever confidence made her speak up vanished instantly.

"I-I was just saying-" she quickly stammered, already shifting backward.

She scooted sideways and half-hid herself behind Dhayun, only her eyes and the top of her head still visible.

Dhayun glanced back at her with a flat expression "...Why would you open your mouth?" she muttered under her breath.

Jiyeon only sank further behind her, clearly regretting her life choices.

Ravene turned her sharp gaze back toward the couch.

"You dated him for a short time and then broke up. That doesn’t automatically put you at the top."

Eira immediately nodded in agreement with Ravene "Exactly. Temporary dating doesn’t override actual relationship history."

From behind Dhayun, Jiyeon’s muffled voice could still be heard "...But technically, I was still earlier..."

Before either Ravene or Eira could shut her down again, another voice calmly entered the fray.

"But I am the one carrying Brandon’s first child. So doesn’t that make me the First Wife?" Florence muttered.

Charlotte’s head snapped toward her so quickly "...What the fuck? You’re pregnant?"

Elize closed her eyes briefly as if bracing for the next wave of chaos.

Meanwhile, Yverine giggled under her breath, clearly enjoying the drama.

Florence looked at Charlotte with a sheepish smile on her lips "Yes. Four weeks."

Charlotte’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.

She turned her head toward Brandon "You got Florence pregnant?"

Brandon looked like a man who had accepted his fate several minutes ago. He gave a small, helpless nod.

Eira immediately pointed at Florence "That’s okay, being pregnant is a big deal, but that doesn’t automatically erase prior relationship history!"

Ravene shrugged "She’s not wrong about it being significant... but I was still with him before either of you were dating him."

Charlotte shook her head, "Wait, wait, everything off. Off!"

"So... let me get this straight, everyone in this house is fucking Brandon except me?"

Elize nodded "...Precisely."

Brandon: -_-