The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 15

**TITLE: One Step Changes Everything**
**By Ruby Parker**

**Chapter 15: You Don’t Deserve to Be My Sister**

“What kind of ridiculous joke is this?” Rayne’s voice was laced with incredulity, his eyes blazing with anger. He didn’t even spare a glance at the contract before grabbing it from the table, tearing it into shreds with a fierce determination, and hurling the pieces at Venus as if they were nothing more than confetti. “Stop testing my patience!”

“Now!” he barked, his voice rising in urgency.

“Right now!”

“Get out of here!” he commanded, his frustration boiling over.

Venus’s expression darkened, her resolve hardening. Without a moment’s hesitation, she unleashed a powerful left hook, her fist connecting squarely with Rayne’s jaw. The impact sent him stumbling back, his hand instinctively flying to his face as he winced in pain.

“Mr. Rayne, are you okay?” his assistant exclaimed, rushing forward, panic etched on his features. But before he could reach Rayne, Venus had already invaded his personal space, quickly rifling through his pocket. In a swift motion, she seized his phone and dialed the police with a determined finger.

“Hello, I’d like to report a break-in. Someone entered my house without permission and assaulted me. Yes, the address is Villa 44, Stormvale.”

“What are you all standing there for? Stop her!” Jamie shouted, his voice tinged with panic as he watched the scene unfold.

A few crew members lunged at her in a desperate attempt to intervene, but they were far too late.

With a flick of her wrist, Venus tossed the phone back to the assistant, her gaze locking onto Rayne, whose face was a mask of disbelief and indignation. A mocking smile crept onto her lips. “Go ahead, tough guy. Don’t you dare run.”

Rayne’s fury was palpable. “You brat! What the hell are you trying to accomplish?” he spat, his voice thick with venom.

The director, sensing the escalating tension, stepped in, attempting to mediate. “Come on, she’s your sister! There’s no need to make such a scene.”

“Sweetheart,” Jamie interjected, turning to Venus with a tone that dripped with condescension. “Apologize to your brother. You barged in, interrupted filming, and even hurt our lead actor. Even if Rayne is your brother, we could sue you. Sweetie, you might end up in jail, you know!”

He had heard whispers about Rayne’s adopted sister before. She had made a brief appearance on set once, causing quite a stir, but Jamie never expected her to be such a troublemaker.

Still, he knew he had to intimidate her a little to ensure the shoot could continue smoothly.

Venus barely suppressed a laugh at their naivety.

Did they truly believe she was some clueless girl unaware of the law?

“First of all,” she said with a calmness that belied the storm brewing inside her, “you trespassed on my property and filmed without my permission. That’s a serious invasion of privacy. Secondly, I hit him out of self-defense. His ugly face startled me. So maybe you all should apologize to me.”

Her tone sharpened, dripping with sarcasm. “Funny how you’ve got the nerve to play the victim here.”

Rayne’s expression darkened further, his mind racing.

What did that brat just say?

Ugly face? Was she serious?

Sure, he was decked out in horror makeup for the scene, but in reality, his looks were among the finest in the industry.

Fans adored him; as long as he maintained his charm, his popularity would never wane.

Even with the special effects makeup, he was a striking ghost.

The assistant bent down, gathering the torn pieces of the rental contract. After a quick glance, he froze, his eyes wide with realization. “Mr. Rayne, it really is her house. W-we misunderstood her.”

Jamie quickly pulled Rayne aside, urgency coloring his voice. “Rayne, the movie just started filming. If she calls the cops on us, it’s going to blow up online and ruin everything. Go talk to your sister. Make her cancel it, okay? Don’t make this ugly.”

Rayne clenched his jaw, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Mr. Wilcher, she knew I was shooting here. She rented this place early just to mess with me. Why should I be the one begging her?”

Every time that infuriating brat showed up, disaster followed.

“If she doesn’t drop the report,” Jamie warned in a low, urgent voice, “tomorrow’s headline will be ‘Rayne Burn Trespasses and Films Illegally—Police Called to Scene.’ Just swallow your pride and smooth it over.”

Rayne rubbed his sore jaw, where her punch had landed, the humiliation burning deep within him. He couldn’t let his pride get in the way; Jamie was right. He couldn’t afford to be on the front page for something so trivial.

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