When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese) novel Chapter 797

Steven's brow furrowed slightly as he reached into his pocket, pulled out a handkerchief, and tossed it right at Jonathan's chest. "Wipe your face," he muttered.

Jonathan caught the handkerchief, wiped the corner of his mouth, and replied smoothly, "Thanks, brother."

Hearing that sudden shift in address made the irritation and stifled frustration in Steven's heart even harder to ignore.

If Anneliese really was his sister, she hadn't even had the chance to be properly spoiled and protected by her own family before being charmed away by this man.

It was a deeply depressing and regrettable realization.

"Don't push it," Steven said in a low, somber voice. "Did you get them? Give them to me."

Jonathan finally raised his other hand. Three long strands of hair were wrapped around his index finger.

Steven reached out and took them with utmost gravity.

Though the hair was weightless in his palm, it felt like it carried the weight of the world; his fingertips trembled ever so slightly.

He stared at them for a few seconds before closing his palm.

He looked up at Jonathan and said, "Don't tell her yet…"

"Don't tell her!"

To his surprise, Jonathan spoke at the exact same time, saying the exact same thing.

The "her" in question was, of course, Anneliese.

Jonathan didn't want her to know yet because he knew how much the White family disaster had affected her. She had no enthusiasm left for finding her biological parents; in fact, she was borderline resistant to the idea.

Until they had a confirmation, he didn't want her riding an emotional rollercoaster, especially if things didn't turn out the way they hoped.

Steven's reasoning was largely the same.

Not only did he want to shield Anneliese for the time being, but he was also determined to keep Wendy in the dark.

Years ago, the trauma of the kidnapping and the loss of her daughter had left Wendy with deep psychological scars. It had taken her years after the divorce to slowly emerge from that grief.

On the surface, she seemed fine, but Steven knew his mother had never truly made peace with his sister's "death."

He isn't even confirmed as her biological brother yet, Jonathan thought, so why the sudden intimate nickname?

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