The Billionaire's Forbidden Desire (MBBC#7)✅

Chapter 18. Half brother

Atticus's POV

"You can't, Art. It's Philip, bro."

"What?" My eyes widened, and I couldn't believe it.

Dammit. . . Of all the people, why does it has to be Philip?

"Are you sure?"

I looked at Xavion in the eye, and I know that he's not faking it. Kilala ko ang mga mata ni Xavion, at alam ko kung nagbibiro lang siya o nagsasabi ng totoo.

Face down, I smirked and shook my head. That effing, Philip! My mind speaks.

"I'm sorry, Art. But that's the truth."

He turns around and grabs the beer on top of the counter. In frustration, I raked the strands of my hair and looked in the other direction.

I followed him here, in his hiding place. He called me yesterday. Telling me that he doesn't want to talk the details in the phone. Nagtatago kasi ang baliw na Xavion sa ama niya. Kaya heto, nasa isang malayong Isla siya.

"I've told you, Art. I don't trust that bastard."

Nasa tabi ko na siya ngayon at ibinigay ang isang beer sa akin. Tinangap ko ito at ininom na. Nag-iisip ako habang nakatitig sa lahat nang nandito.

This place is well hidden, and the only way to get on the island is by using your private chopper.

"He was also in Japan, right? Did you met him there?" seryosong titig niya.

"No, I did not. But I believe Gaige met him accidentally. I'm not sure, bro. I don't know," I said and swallowed hard. I'm trying to recall everything from that day. But I couldn't figure it out, and I don't think Philip was involved.

Guess I was wrong again. . . Huh, that damn bastard. My mind swore in silence.

"I will dig more, Art. Sana nga pala naging detective na lang ako ano? I'm having fun with all of this, bro," iling niya at pilyong ang ginawang pag-tawa.

"Have you seen Philip after Japan?"

He is now looking at me in the eye. I then lifted my shoulder in a dismissive shrug. "No, I did not. But I saw him last year in New York. He's now living in Boston, bro. Pilit na nagbabago para sa pamilya niya."

"Huh, I doubt it," he smirked. "Family? Him with his family? Sinong niloloko niya? And have you met his so-called family?"

I looked down and slowly shook my head while drinking my beer.

"See? I've told you, Art. That half-brother of yours is such a big liar. I don't trust him. . . He was the main reason why the boys was divided into two's," galit na titig niya sa mga mata ko.

We stared, and I looked away again. I hate to admit it, and after all, Philip is still my brother, my half-brother to correct.

Anak siya ni Mama sa pagkadalaga bago niya nakilala si Papa. I am only the legal son of my father to my mother and with love and acceptance, I embraced Philip.

He's my older brother. Limang taon ang tanda niya sa akin, at sina Lolo at Lola ang nag-alaga at nagpalaki sa kanya. Naging abala ni Mama sa trabaho niya kaya hindi niya nagampanan ang papel ng pagiging isang ina kay Philip.

Our mother did not become a mother to him when he was a baby, a complete opposite of what I had experienced.

Mama showered all her care on Papa and me. She found a new life with Papa. That's what she kept telling me. And even before, when I was little, she told me I had a brother. Iyon nga lang nanirahan ito sa malayong probinsya kasama ang mga magulang ni Mama.