At Rex Morrison Villa.
Xander and Scarlett arrived early at Rex's villa on Island B. This wasn't their first visit to the place, as they had been here the previous months to see Grandpa Morrison.
Scarlett felt a rush of excitement, eagerly anticipating her reunion with Casey. It had been almost a year since they last saw each other. Scarlett had withdrawn from her activities with Fox after her accident. At the same time, Casey remained busy as a top movie star in Hollywood.
As Scarlett stepped out of the car, her eyes lit up when she saw Casey waiting at the entrance. However, something seemed off when she noticed her brother standing beside Casey, wearing an unusual expression. It was the first time he didn't smile upon seeing her, and Scarlett found it strange.
"Sister Casey!" Scarlett called out and ran towards her, embracing her tightly. "Oh, how I've missed you, sister," she said, releasing the hug and narrowing her eyes at Rex. "Brother, why did you keep this from me? If I hadn't asked Sister Casey directly, I wouldn't have known you two were together!"
Casey remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
Rex swallowed hard, maintaining his calm demeanor, not wanting Scarlett to discover that his relationship with Casey was merely an act.
Sensing Scarlett's attempt to provoke Rex, Casey felt compelled to divert her attention. She grabbed Scarlett's arm and pulled her inside, saying, "Little sis, you'll freeze if you stay out here for too long. Let's come inside..."
Scarlett nodded and followed Casey, but her eyes continued to convey disappointment to Rex, silently communicating her displeasure at his lack of honesty in keeping his relationship with Casey a secret.
As they walked down the corridor towards the living room, Casey playfully teased Scarlett, "Little Sis, when will you introduce me to your handsome husband?" She chuckled, observing Scarlett's surprised expression.
Scarlett immediately halted her steps, turning to Xander and Rex, who were a few paces behind them.
"Oops, sorry, sis. I forgot..." Scarlett grinned and called for Xander to stand beside her. She continued, "Xander, this is Casey Adams, one of my best friends who helped me during my time in the USA. I consider her as my older sister, and it seems she will soon become my sister-in-law..." Scarlett smiled, shifting her gaze towards Rex.
"Isn't that right, brother?" Scarlett looked at Rex, awaiting his response, but he could only manage a weak smile. He was utterly speechless.
Scarlett turned her attention back to Casey, saying, "Sister Casey, this handsome man beside me is Xander Riley, my loving husband..." She gazed affectionately into Xander's eyes, filled with happiness, as she introduced him to Casey.
"Hello, Mr. Riley. It's finally nice to meet you. I'm glad someone is finally taking care of Scarlett," Casey said, smiling warmly. She politely extended her hand for a handshake with Xander.
"Thank you, Ms. Adams. You can call me by my name, Xander," he replied, accepting her handshake. "And thank you for looking after my wife during her time in the US..."
"Hahaha, this little girl is exaggerating. In fact, she was the one taking care of me during her stay there. Scarlett was such an independent young lady when she lived in the US," Casey said sincerely, reflecting on their past experiences.
Despite Scarlett's young age and lonely life in another country, she possessed remarkable independence. Her exceptional hacking skills, combat abilities, and talent in marksmanship made her an indispensable member of their core team, holding the position of Three.
"And you can also call me Casey!" she added.
Xander remained silent, simply nodding as he continued to trail behind the two women, stealing glances at Rex. "Congratulations, man," he sincerely expressed.
Rex, who had been avoiding the conversation, seemed surprised by Xander's words. He looked at him and responded, "Thanks."
However, Rex quickly shifted his gaze forward, avoiding further discussion with Xander. He was worried that this smart guy would expose his lies.
"I never imagined you'd get serious with a movie star, Rex," Xander commented. He was aware that Rex's family had reservations about him getting involved with a public figure. The Morrison family, coming from aristocratic backgrounds in the US, wished to avoid any negative impact on their reputation.
"Does Auntie know about her?" Xander inquired, noticing Rex's disregard.
Rex's previously composed face tensed up. He realized he had overlooked addressing this concern before agreeing to pretend to be in a relationship with Casey. He inwardly cursed himself for his oversight but couldn't back out now. He had already deceived both Xander and Scarlett.
Clearing his throat, Rex responded, "Of course! You know, I informed my mother... If they don't accept Casey as my partner, I'll remain single, and they'll never have a grandchild!" He spoke in hushed tones, ensuring their conversation remained private from the two women ahead.
However, Rex was mistaken; Scarlett, that cunning fox, overheard his words. Once again, he silently cursed her in his mind.
"Wow! Really, bro?" Scarlett, who had stopped in her tracks, looked at Rex with gleaming eyes. "Oh my goodness, I'm so thrilled that Mother has accepted my sister Casey. In fact, I already had a plan in mind. If Mother disapproved of your relationship, I was prepared to plead with her..." She joyfully laughed.
Casey, "..."
Rex, "..."
Rex felt a wave of dizziness as the complexity of his lie sank in. He could already envision the trouble he would be in if this news reached his mother's ears. He wanted to punch himself in the mouth for uttering those words.
And how on earth did that sly fox manage to hear what he said? He had purposely spoken slowly to Xander! Damn!
"Let's have a seat first!" Rex blurted out, hastening his steps toward the living room area.
Rex settled onto a single sofa while Scarlett and Xander occupied the two-seater sofa side by side. Casey, however, felt a tad uneasy with their seating arrangement. She found herself awkwardly sitting alone on the three-seater sofa, facing Scarlett.
Casey took a slow, deep breath. She feared that Scarlett might suspect they were merely pretending. Gosh!
