Chapter 373

The emblem on the envelope was a red H, kind of like blood red, maybe a bit like fiery red.

Michael knew exactly who sent this letter. Only one guy used that emblem.

"What's up? You look a bit pale, is something wrong?" Isabella asked, eyeing the letter in his hand, guessing it had something to do with Michael's bad mood.

"Nothing, just from an annoying guy." Michael ripped open the envelope, skimmed the letter, and handed it to Isabella.

Isabella looked puzzled, her eyes widening as she read the letter.

"Wait, you have a brother? Why have I never heard you mention him before?" Isabella was shocked.

The letter started with 'My dear little brother.'

The rest was all about a brother's concern for his younger sibling, with a hint of dissatisfaction and helplessness about not being invited to Michael's wedding.

The letter was signed, Ryan.

"I never heard your father mention you had a brother before. What's the deal?" Isabella asked Michael, curious.

Michael's expression darkened, and he said in a low voice, "I do have a brother, but I don't want to admit it because he's more like my father's illegitimate child. A woman had a fling with my dad while he was drunk and got pregnant. My dad never acknowledged him. The only woman he truly loved was my mom. But he provided financial support out of responsibility."

Isabella had never imagined Michael had such relatives. From his tone, she sensed his poor relationship with them.

"Anyway, it was like a twisted fairy tale. After my mom passed away, since I was still young, my dad brought them over to help take care of me. He paid, but she wanted to abuse me. After I gathered evidence and gave it to my dad, he kicked them out." Michael calmly recounted his past.

Isabella hugged Michael with a touch of pity. "I've never heard you tell such a story, neither did your father."

Michael smiled and patted her head. "It's okay, you don't need to be sad for me, these are all things that happened a long time ago. Now no one dares to mess with me."

"Yeah, I'll protect you!" Isabella said earnestly, looking up at him.

Michael nodded with a smile and embraced her again.

Isabella felt sweet in Michael's arms, but his eyes held a coldness.

Ryan's letter showing up here was definitely not a coincidence. Although he seemed like a caring brother in the letter, Michael knew very well that Ryan's heart was as cunning as a scorpion.

It lurks in the dark, ready to sting with a poisoned needle.

"Are you threatening me, Ryan? Harm Isabella, and I'll burn you alive again. Let's see if you rise like a phoenix this time." Michael's eyes were cold as ice.

Meanwhile, Jerry was handling company matters when he got a call from overseas. The news made him take a sharp breath.

Jerry immediately called Michael.

When the call connected, Jerry quickly said, "Mr. Williams, we have a crisis with our overseas business. Phoenix Flame Group is luring our clients with sweet deals. You need to handle this personally."

At the Phoenix Flame Group building, a masked figure looked down at the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Ryan held a glass of red wine, the liquid swaying and reflecting the city's night view, as if the whole city was in the glass.

Suddenly, the office door opened, and Scarlett walked in, the click of her high heels breaking the silence.

"You're quick! I just sent you the client info, and you acted so fast. Aren't you afraid of Michael retaliating?" Scarlett sat on the sofa, lit a feminine cigarette, and asked lightly.

The cigarette emitted a faint floral scent.

Ryan's nose twitched at the scent, then he looked at Scarlett on the sofa.

Scarlett, in a black dress with a tall figure, had her legs crossed on the table in front of her, her black-stockinged legs shining under the light.

Ryan downed his wine in one gulp, walked over, placed the glass on the table, and stood in front of Scarlett.

"I'm doing this for you. I heard Michael and Isabella were rude to you last time they visited, and even sent your friend to prison. I heard you suffered a lot, so I want to avenge you." Ryan smiled, bent down, and reached out to touch Scarlett's chin, trying to lift it up.

Scarlett raised her head, her icy gaze fixed on Ryan, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips. "For me? Well, thank you very much, my bell-ringer."

The smile under Ryan's mask disappeared, and his eyes turned dark.

Scarlett's reference to the bell-ringer comes from the famous novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The male protagonist in the novel is an ugly bell-ringer who falls in love with the most beautiful woman in the city.

Scarlett's words mocked Ryan's ugly face hidden under the mask.