The present time

"Big sis!".

"Big sis!". The man's brows furrowed when she's not looking at him.

'She's in daze again'. He thought. 'Hmmm'. A silly grin broke onto his lips. He put his two fingers into his nose and pinch it and speak in a funny voice.

"Azalea to earth do you copy?"

"What!?". Azalea jolted, she feels like she just woke up from a deep sleep. She turned around and look at the man who speaks near her ear.

Carlton quickly run far. Away enough from his half sister while laughing. He never thought that his big sister will be surprised like that. When he saw her jolt, his brain immediately ask him to run before he suffers a painful consequence.

This scene always brings back memories to him.

When they were young Carlton loves to play joke with his big sister Azalea. Before, she just ignored him. She's always silent and sad and he can't stand it.

The first day that his father took her home he felt pity on her while his mother and annoying sister keeps on sneering at her. Before their father took her home, he already told them her story. She was not supposed to be known by his father but because of her mother's illness she didn't have a choice and then her mother died.

Carlton felt all the sadness in her heart and as a brother he wants to help her ease that pain.

Azalea look at her silly half brother running far away from her. A little smile flash on her face.

'So now you're learning huh'. She thought to herself.

She watch him until he stops at the end of her room, still laughing. This guy, sometimes he really do irritate her but somehow he also makes her feel glad. But she will never admit it she don't want her brother's ego to grow even bigger and blow up to her face.

Carlton used to say to her that he will make her smile one day, when they were young. He is the second person to accept Azalea as a part of Son family after her dad brought her home.

He is very persistent and he is always there to protect her everytime her stepmother and her half sister bullied her.

"Whoah!!!..." A big surprise spread into his handsome face. "Did I just saw you smile?" Carlton's face was so bright and his smile becomes wider. He is pointing out to her big sister while nodding.

Azalea's face becomes expressionless and she just keeps on staring at her brother. She know she was caught but she won't admit it.

" Admit it you just smiled". He is forcing his theory.

"Your hallucinating". She act coldly.

"Come on big sis, I saw it, with my own two handsome and beautiful eyes, you did smile".

"You're imagining things, just like how you imagine that you have a handsome... whatsoever." She quickly turn around and face her table. She don't want her silly brother to see that a smile just broke down on her lips again.

"Oh come on, my ice cold princess big sister, why can't you just let this drop, dead, gorgeous brother of yours win just once, huh". He is rubbing his chin while saying those words.

Azalea turned around to look at her annoying brother. 'Well he really is a very good looking lad'. She thought. She'll give him some credit for that.

She remembered when they were in high school and in college days, a lot of pretty girls are throwing themselves at him. He's not really a snob person and very friendly and some girls mistook it for more than a friendly gesture.

"Stop complimenting yourself please, you look like a monkey for all I know."

"Ouch!!!... That is so hurtful, don't you have any confidence in your little brother's amazing look and charm?".

"First of all you're not little, you are six feet tall and second of all, yes I don't have, I'd rather praise the beauty of a monkey than you". Her words are as cold as ice.

Carlton's face sank down. His gorgeous smile suddenly disappeared and his eyes are automatically filled with sadness. If other people could see his state right now a rush of pity will overflow for him.

Azalea's eyes rolled. She's very used to this kind of scene.

Before, she always fall for her brother's give me a sympathy act. But now that she knows all about it she just laughed at him.

"Oh please, don't give me that lost puppy eyes who wants a very kind master to pet him look." Then she rolled her eyes and knit her brows.

"That kind of act won't work on me anymore, I am not Lindy for goodness sake". She crossed her hand on top of her chest and squint her eyes.

Lindy Strauss Laurent is Carlton's girlfriend after college. She came from a dignified old rich family and she is her bestfriend from high school to college.

Back then she was a bit chubby and she is his little brothers worst enemy. But before college end, Lindy became a very desirable woman. Thanks to all the weight loss and exercise she pulled. She is a very successful model now and her brother's beloved girlfriend.

"Okay... okay... I give up." He even raise his two hands up as a symbol of surrender.

"Spill!!!". She cast her annoying brother a serious command.

She knows there is something he wants, that's why he is in her room.

"Aren't you coming?".

"Where?".

"_" His perfect brow knit.

"Really now!. He look at her seriously. "You know what I mean."

"Why?... Am I invited?". She mocked him.

"Of course!!... we are family after all". Slowly he starts to walk beside his sister's table.

Azalea sigh. She knows why her brother is bothering her right now but she wants to play dumb.

Today is Camilla's 21st birthday and the event will take place in one of the most luxurious hotel in the city THE DIAMOND SHIN Hotel and Casino. It was awarded with eight stars a year ago. The very first.

Her brother told her that the place of the event is a gift from the old Shin.

The old SHIN is an acquaintance of their father but not really that close. They've just met from different occasions according to her younger brother. The old man also met Camilla in one of those occasions because she is always dragging by her mother to almost everywhere just to show her off.

The old Shin seems to be fond of Camilla he always praised her beauty and elegance and asked her mother once if she wants to meet his grandsons. Her stepmother Leda agrees but their father didn't because Camilla is already been promised to Griffin Dela MonRuiz, son of a business tycoon from the south and also one of the investors of Son Corporations.