The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold) novel Chapter 991

Raines curled the corner of his mouth, with an ambiguous smirk playing on his lips. "Honestly, I don't buy into the whole brother versus brother vendetta. There's got to be some misunderstandings between you and your bro."

Skyler replied with utter seriousness, "Back in the day, there were plenty of siblings who'd off each other to get ahead. Take Cain and Abel for instance. Blood relatives, be they brothers or cousins, should stick together, instead of tearing each other apart. Am I right?"

Raines cast a dark and sidelong glance at him. "You've got a point. You're quite the good Samaritan, aren't you?"

Skyler flashed a grin as he said, "Yep, that's me, Mr. Nice Guy. Everyone likes me. If Geoffrey could just channel some of that good energy, people might actually warm up to him too."

Raines gave a noncommittal shrug. "May the world always be kind to you."

In no time, Skyler was constructing an impressive sandcastle. "Raines, I almost mistook you for Geoffrey again. I really wish that one day he could let down his guard and just hang with me. We'd build sandcastles, share some pies, and shoot the breeze like real brothers."

Raines offered a faint smile. "I'm not Geoffrey, I'm your cousin, but I do hope you two can find some common ground. After all, you guys are identical twins and shouldn't be enemies."

"We're not enemies," Skyler insisted. "I just hope he can turn over a new leaf and stop doing bad things."

Raines mused, "It's never black and white, Skyler. What you see as wrong, he might believe is right."

Skyler's voice took on a grave tone, "But he's hurt the family, and that's never right. A family should stick together, not fight among themselves."

Geoffrey had nearly killed Leopold and even Angel, and Skyler would never forgive him for that.

Paz arrived.

Children of the Stirling family, legitimate or not, were always cared for by highly-paid nannies from birth. Some of them would become household staff, staying with the Stirling family long-term. Leopold's nanny was Laura; Raines' was Paz. When he went abroad, Paz went with him, only returning when Raines came of age.

Upon seeing Raines, Paz's face registered shock. "Mr. Raines, you've gotten so thin! Are you feeling alright?"

Raines downplayed it, "Had a bit of a bug, but I'm over it now."

"That's a relief," Paz breathed, her anxiety easing. "I've got a turkey pot pie stewing in the kitchen, your favorite. It's hearty stuff, and you could always polish off a whole pot. I used to make it for you, and it kept you healthy as a horse, hardly a cold more than once in a few years."