Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 84

Marcus’s POV

He rolled his eyes and shook his head as soon as he opened the bedroom door. “What are you doing here, Marcus? Don’t tell me Luca put you up to this. I already told him I was fine and there was nothing to worry about.” He shook his head again. “I can’t believe he told you to come to my house.

I gave my brother a long look. He looked so downcast – a shadow of his former self. All that aura and charm he carried around like he was born with was gone. I couldn’t even bring myself to put him down. I dramatically cleared my throat. “No one put me up to this. I don’t even speak to your obnoxious friend. I stopped by the Winery…”

“Don’t you have better things to do?” he interjected, still standing at the doorway, blocking the entrance. “Really, Marcus? Don’t you have better things to do?”

“Aside from being the heir of the Sterling fortune and the CEO of Sterling Industries?” I asked, my tone mocking

He massaged his temples. “What do you want, Marcus? Really? What do you want? You’re at my house,” he sighed, “What do you want?”

“You haven’t shown up at work in a whole week now. Apparently, you’re on official business with us. I don’t remember sending you on any business for the company. Since you don’t directly work for us anymore, official business trips like this go through my desk for approval. If I don’t remember it, then it didn’t happen…”

He yawned like he was bored to death.

“It wasn’t hard to figure out you were lying. Of course, that had me worried. My little brother lying about something is cause for alarm–experience has taught me that. So I came here…” I peered around. “It was the first place I looked.”

He clapped. “Wooohoo! Cheers, Marcus! You solved the puzzle. Do you want a cookie or something?”

I didn’t reply immediately. I gave him a long look. My bright–eyed little brother, with not a single care in the world. He had no idea how much I had to sacrifice so he could have this carefree life. I had to be enough, the best, so he was spared all the troubles that came with being a Sterling. “You don’t get it, Asher, do you?”

I closed the distance between us. He tried to shut the door when I drew near, but I wedged it with my foot. “You have no responsibility. You stay off work for weeks, leave no one in charge, lie to your employees about your whereabouts. You don’t care for any consequences because you’ve never had any!” My voice rose an octave.

“Consequence?” He dryly chuckled. “The consequence of my actions is you. No matter what happens or what I do, I’m certain you’ll always be here by my ear yelling about your disappointment. The consequence of doing something good for myself is Marcus. The consequence of failing at it is Marcus! The consequence of simply existing is Marcus!” he yelled, “I can bet on my older brother to appear by my side at every turn and every corner to remind me of what a disappointment I am – because he’s my consequence!” He was out of breath.

I chuckled. “You call that a consequence? Oh, how I would love to trade places. Your consequence is a scolding; mine is the crumbling of an empire Father has painstakingly built…”

He clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. “Oh, you’re so melodramatic, brother…”

“Am I?” I asked. “Am I really melodramatic? I have to do my work, do Father’s work, and now do yours to ensure the company stays afloat! To ensure we stay out of the business weekly report of crumbling industries. I have to break my back working hard. I had to be responsible while you partied all night!! had to put in long hours at work because my brother found a new short–term career he thinks he’s great at and then abandons it when he grows bored – like he abandons his women. I will not have that happen with Sterling Winery!” I yelled at the top of my voice. “Now open the damn door!” I didn’t give him time to react as I pushed open the door.

His room was a complete mess- bottles littered all over, clothes strewn across the floor. “What is this mess?” I asked in disbelief as I took it all in.

“The cleaners are on their way here…”

I turned to look at him. His gaze was lowered. I frowned. “What is it, little brother?” I asked softly.

1/2

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Chapter 84

I saw him visibly struggle. The veins in his neck tensed. He shihed uneasily and wouldn’t meet my paze Asher Sterling

“Ivy left!” he yelled.

There was pin drop silence afterward. It took me a moment to make sense of his words. “Ivy?”

“Aty wife left!” he yelled. I could see the pain in his eyes when he looked up at me. He looked so close to tears. “Mock all you want, Marcus. I’m sure may makes you happy! Yeah, your life is far better than mine! Enjoy it. Mine is a shit show after all. It isn’t nearly as perfect as yours is…

That was a lie, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of hearing it from me. He had no idea how cute he and Ivy were together. My life was boring. – work, numbers, and money. He had managed to fill his with things that actually mattered: friendship, a beautiful sibling relationship with Janine that I envied, and love.

He had found that too. That was the only explanation that made sense for why he was spiraling out of control. Asher had fallen in love with her. And I was jealous of that. I always was jealous of my brother. I swallowed.

I saw the look of shock in his eyes. He had expected me to mock him, but I couldn’t bring myself to. “Why? Why did you let her leave?”

He bent over laughing. “I fucked up like always, and she’s left me for…” he trailed off. “You were always right. I’m such a letdown. I’ve done it again with

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