The Tower Reversed: Back to 18 (Venus) novel Chapter 39

**Chapter 39: The Truth Was Out**

Venus let out a soft chuckle, a sound laced with bitterness. In the eyes of the Burns family, she was nothing more than a punchline, a mere joke to be tossed around for their amusement.

So why bother pretending to care about their opinions now? The thought made her stomach churn.

“Hey! I’m talking to you! Are you deaf or just ignoring me?” Neil’s voice sliced through the air as he grasped her wrist, yanking her into the elevator with a force that felt more like a command than a request.

“Let go of me,” Venus replied, her tone as frosty as the winter air outside, devoid of any warmth.

Neil studied her face, irritation flickering in his eyes. “What’s with the stubbornness? Why do you have to be like this?”

“Axel and I are already swallowing our pride to be here. What more do you want from us?” Her voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of defiance that was hard to miss.

She lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes with a cold calmness, devoid of gratitude or warmth.

“Fine. Then just take me to the party,” she finally conceded, her voice flat, as if she were agreeing to a mundane chore rather than an invitation to celebrate.

Neil, eager to impress, informed her that they had reserved the entire restaurant for her birthday.

When Venus stepped inside, her eyes widened at the sight before her—the decorations were undeniably in Lumi’s extravagant style, vibrant and overwhelming.

But that wasn’t all that caught her attention.

As she glanced at the menu, her heart sank. The dishes were all Lumi’s favorites, a clear indication of who had orchestrated this gathering.

Neil, oblivious to her shifting emotions, continued to boast with an air of pride. “What do you think? It might not be as extravagant as Lumi’s parties, but it’s still pretty high-end. Not bad, right?”

“Bet you’ve never had a birthday this fancy in that mountain town of yours, huh?” His grin widened, clearly pleased with himself.

A smile crept onto Venus’s lips, but it was a smile that barely touched her eyes.

Seeing her expression, Neil puffed out his chest even more. “You should really thank Lumi. It’s all because of her that you—”

But before he could finish, Venus’s patience snapped.

With a swift motion, she hurled the menu straight at his face.

The impact was immediate; two thin lines of crimson began to trickle from his nose.

Neil’s temper ignited. “Venus! What the hell is wrong with you?! I woke up early to set all of this up, put in so much effort, and this is how you repay me?!”

Venus had adopted an ice-cold demeanor, and Neil suspected it was merely an act, a ploy to garner attention from her brothers.

He decided to play the big-brother card, trying to assert some authority. “I’m your brother. You’ve crossed the line more times than I can count. Where are your manners?”

Venus laughed, a sound that held no joy. “When I treated you like a brother, did you even care?”

“I used to go out of my way to please you. I studied cooking day and night, preparing dishes tailored to your tastes and allergies, delivering them to the hospital without fail, come rain or shine. And what did you say?”

“Get lost. Stay out of my way.”

“Now that I keep my distance, you want me back, expecting me to treat you like a brother?”

“Honestly, some people are so shameless that they become impossible to deal with.”

“Mr. Neil, you’re truly unstoppable!” Venus shot him a thumbs-up, her sarcasm dripping like venom.

Neil’s expression darkened, fury igniting within him. “Did I ask you to bring me anything?! Who told you to butt in? If I’m hungry, I can go to the hospital cafeteria myself! I didn’t need you showing up and embarrassing me!”

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of truth. The truth was out, and there was no taking it back now.