He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 611

Their effortless chemistry caught both Scarlett and Julian off guard. A moment later, they burst into laughter in perfect unison.

Scarlett tilted her head, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "You first!"

It was the first time in ages Julian had seen her smile so radiantly. It was a genuine, carefree expression that seemed to radiate from the very depths of her soul.

Julian's gaze lingered, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly as his breath hitched. Recovering quickly, he steadied his breathing and offered a warm smile. "When I mentioned upgrading Croft Design Studio to Croft Group the other day, I wasn't just bluffing. It's something your brother and I have been discussing for a while now."

"He plans to invest five billion under your name, and I'll match it with another five. We're going to establish a comprehensive real estate empire—integrating design, construction, and property sales. You'll be at the helm, and we'll officially expand across Country H and into the global market."

"Scarlett, your marriage held you back, leaving you trapped and unable to spread your wings. But now, you can go all out. With your brother and me backing you, you can finally unleash your full potential. What do you say?"

Scarlett froze, utterly stunned. When Julian had brought it up during dinner with Quentin Thorne, she assumed he was just talking big to intimidate the man. She never expected it to be a real, concrete plan.

Ten billion was an astronomical sum. They were trusting her with a massive operation... Weren't they worried she might ruin it?

Anxiety flickered in her eyes. "This... I'm just a designer. I don't have executive management experience. I'm afraid that—"

"...Yeah," she whispered.

Julian always made her feel like he could see straight into her soul. He understood her better than anyone. This doubt had been eating away at her for a long time. She wanted to ask, but she was terrified of hurting her brother's feelings.

Ever since she reconnected with him, she had been desperate to meet him in person. She wanted them to sit down as a family, pour their hearts out, and talk about everything they had been through over the years. Yet, for some reason, his promised return date seemed indefinitely delayed. To this day, they still hadn't met face-to-face.

Julian's voice dropped, growing solemn. "Actually, a few years after your brother moved to Country A with your dad, your dad blew through all his money. Egged on by your aunt, they both developed severe gambling addictions. To pay off his debts, your dad gave your brother away to an illegal syndicate... Your brother has been through hell and back to get to where he is today."