Ten years after I stood in for my brother at his own wedding, he suddenly came back. The whole family stared at him in dead silence. He yawned, stretching lazily as he spoke. "Thirteen countries. Man, I am exhausted." "Where’s Lily? She must be in elementary school by now. Why isn't she here to greet her real dad?" Lily is my brother’s daughter. Ten years ago, he suddenly announced he had a child. Then, on the day of his wedding, he faked his own death, abandoning both his newborn daughter and his fiancée. The Vance family is New York old money royalty. My parents didn't dare offend them. Desperate, they practically gift-wrapped me—a fresh college graduate—and shipped me off to the altar. For the past ten years, I’ve been a devoted husband and a loving father. Now, watching my brother act like he owned the place. My parents turned their hesitant eyes toward me. I just smiled faintly. "Lily and her mother are on vacation in the Bahamas." Hearing this, Julian frowned, his face twisting in annoyance. "Didn't I tell you guys I was coming home? Didn't you tell Audrey I'd be back?" I calmly took a sip of my coffee. Ten years of navigating the business world had changed me. I was no longer the invisible, quiet kid living in my brother’s shadow. My silence pushed Julian over the edge. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his voice screeching. "Ethan! What is that supposed to mean? Don’t forget, I was the one betrothed to the Vance family! Now that I’m back, did you really think you could keep playing the wealthy son-in-law?" I glanced up at him and chuckled. "Julian, I have no idea what you’re talking about. My wife and I are doing great." Over the years, I had accompanied Audrey Vance to countless charity galas and high-society events. We were known as the golden couple of New York's elite. Audrey’s image as a devoted family woman had earned her massive respect—and lucrative deals—from her business partners. Maybe there was no burning romance between Audrey and me, but we shared something far stronger than love. Leverage. Mutual benefit. And that was exactly why I was so confident. Julian looked at me in disbelief. He pointed a trembling finger at my face. "Ethan! Have you no shame? Audrey was supposed to be mine!" I set my coffee cup down and replied calmly, with absolute dignity. "No. Audrey and I are legally married." My gaze was firm. I stood up, completely done with this circus. Our parents stood by, looking utterly helpless. Julian lunged forward, grabbing our mother's arm. "Mom! He's insane! Audrey and I were together all through college! If it weren't for my connection to the Vances, how could our family business have grown this big?" My parents had always favored Julian. But this time, Mom stole a glance at my cold expression before mumbling in a weak voice. "But... you ran away, Julian. You even faked your own death. We didn't hear a single word from you for ten years." "There was no groom at the altar. If Ethan hadn't stepped in, the Vance family would have been humiliated. They would have ruined us, and our company would have gone bankrupt!" Julian froze for a split second, stammering to defend himself. "I... I just wasn't ready for marriage back then. But I'm back now, aren't I?" "Besides, you know how arrogant the Vances are. They always looked down on our family. If I had married into their family back then, I would have been treated like a dog. I would have been humiliated every day!" My eyes grew cold as I asked, "Then why are you back now?" Julian answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Because the Vances have accepted you now! That means they'll accept me too. It's perfect!" "I'll take over as Audrey's husband. I'm sure they won't treat me too badly now. Lily can finally be with her real dad. It's a win-win for everyone." With that, he took a few steps forward and grabbed my hands, looking at me with forced sincerity. "Ethan, you're free! You can finally go and find your own happiness." I stared blankly into his eyes. Those clear eyes carried the absolute, cruel naivety of a child who had been spoiled his entire life. A naivety that was sickening. He genuinely believed that I, the neglected younger brother, was born to sacrifice myself for him. With a cold laugh, I yanked my hands away. "I'm perfectly happy with my life, Julian. You’re the one who needs a reality check." I turned and walked out of that heartless house.
I didn't care what Julian was feeling behind my back. It couldn't be anything good. But I knew his stubborn, petulant nature all too well. He wouldn't give up easily. Exhausted, I drove back to the Vance estate. Lately, I had been buried in corporate projects, working late into the night almost every day. As I walked through the door, I massaged my aching temples. An hour ago, when my parents texted me on Snapchat that my brother was back, my entire body had frozen. I always knew this day might come, but when it actually did, it still caught me off guard. I hung my briefcase on the rack and spotted a pair of high heels on the floor. I blinked, quickly forcing my usual polite, perfect smile onto my face. "You're back?" a warm voice called out. I turned around. Audrey was wearing a black lace nightgown. Even in simple sleepwear, her stunning curves, porcelain skin, and flawless features were captivating. A gentle smile played on her lips. She frowned slightly, concern washing over her face. "Why do you look so exhausted? Haven't you been sleeping?" I smiled. "Just too many things at the office. Did you have fun on your trip? How is Lily?" Audrey walked over and slid into my arms. She pressed her face against my chest, her slender fingers gently tracing my back as she whispered, "Lily loved it. She was so tired she fell asleep immediately. The only pity was that you weren't there. Next time, we'll go as a family of three." "I missed you," she murmured, her voice laced with intimacy. I kissed her soft hair, but my heart felt as cold as ice. When her soft lips pressed against mine, my body stiffened. My mind was completely flooded with the venomous words Julian had said to me earlier. For the first time, I didn't kiss her back. Instead, I gently pushed her back, creating a small distance between us. "I..." I stopped mid-sentence because I felt Audrey's body freeze. My sharp instincts told me she was unhappy. After a long, tense silence, Audrey smiled, finding an excuse for me. "You're just too tired. Go take a shower and get some sleep." She saved us from the awkwardness. With that, she gave me a quick peck on the cheek and let me go. I nodded and headed upstairs. Behind me, standing in the shadows, Audrey's expression darkened. The warmth drained from her face as her sharp gaze locked onto my retreating back. The next morning, I drove out of the estate to head to work. Right outside the residential gates, a familiar figure blocked my path. My hands gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. Julian saw my car. He ran straight into the middle of the road, forcing me to slam on the brakes. The cars behind me honked furiously. It was morning rush hour. The neighborhood security guards rushed over, trying to pull Julian away. But Julian fought them off, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Ethan! Stop hiding in your car! You stole my woman! Have you no shame?" His screeching voice drew the attention of everyone nearby. I pulled my car over to make sure I wasn't blocking the gate, then got out. I glared at him. Julian offered a smug smile, running a hand through his messy hair. He sneered, "What? Embarrassed? Or are you afraid Audrey will dump you once she knows I'm back?" My voice was like ice. "Julian, you are harassing me. This is my final warning. Stay away from me." Julian didn't take my warning seriously at all. Instead, his smile turned triumphant. "Stop acting. You're terrified. You've lived in my shadow your whole life, Ethan. It's only natural that you'd be jealous of me and try to steal my life." He took a few steps closer, leaning in to whisper in my ear. "Too bad a parasite always gets thrown out in the end. I'll wait right here. When I see Audrey, I'll explain everything. She'll take me back." "And Lily? She's my daughter. We share the same blood. You'll never be her real father!" Without a word, I got back into my car and drove off. This time, Julian didn't block me. In the rearview mirror, I could see him smiling as my car sped away. A chill ran down my spine. Julian had been spoiled since childhood. He had no boundaries. Whenever things didn't go his way, he threw tantrums like a giant toddler. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Over the past ten years, I had poured my heart and soul into this marriage and my career. If we divorced, both Audrey and I would suffer massive financial and reputational losses. Audrey had a family empire to fall back on. But I only had myself.
Sitting in my office, my mind drifted to the past. Back in elementary school, Julian spent every break playing basketball, never touching his homework. Afraid of the teachers' wrath, he would take my completed assignments and put his name on them. My parents always justified it. They said I was a straight-A student, so the teachers wouldn't mind if I "forgot" my homework. But Julian was different. If he didn't hand it in, the teachers would scold him in front of the whole class. A boy's pride was everything, they said. So, to save Julian's pride, my hard work was routinely stolen. Eventually, I learned to write two copies of every assignment just to keep the peace. In high school, Julian was the popular kid. He chased the prettiest girls, got into fights, and charmed his teachers. Even though his grades were terrible, his outgoing personality earned him tons of friends. His entire life, someone had always been there to clean up his messes. Meanwhile, I had to walk on eggshells, calculating every single step. In college, he met Audrey Vance at a music festival. They formed an indie rock band and played in local bars. For two months, while I was working three part-time jobs just to afford my tuition, they were living out their wild youth on stage. I thought that once I graduated, I would save enough money to escape my toxic family forever. Until one night, Julian stumbled home late, reeking of alcohol. My parents stayed up to make him soup and undressed him. The whole house revolved around him. But then, a drunken Julian dropped a bomb that shocked everyone. He was going to be a father. For weeks, a suffocating silence hung over the house. My parents were in a frenzy over the sudden scandal. I was busy working my summer jobs to save for my final year of tuition. The only relaxed person in the house was Julian. He had absolutely no concept of what being a father meant. To cover up the scandal, my parents kept him locked in the house. Meanwhile, our family negotiated a marriage alliance with the Vances. They agreed to hold the wedding after a paternity test proved the child was Julian's. Everything was set. The Vances had reluctantly accepted the arrangement. After all, if the scandal leaked, the Vance family name would be dragged through the mud, and their stock prices would plunge. The night before the wedding, I took a four-hour train ride home to attend. But the next morning, Julian vanished. The bridal suite was left with nothing but baby Lily in her crib and a room full of furious Vances. Audrey’s face was dark, while my parents stood trembling in the corner. Then, their eyes slowly drifted to me. My mother grabbed me as if I were a lifeline. "We have another son! He's never even been in a relationship! We'll give him to you to make up for this!" My father immediately chimed in. "Yes! Ethan! Hurry! Your brother is gone. You have to take his place!" I stood frozen, my mind unable to process their words. Before I could speak, my parents grabbed my arms, trying to drag me into the dressing room to force me into a tuxedo. I struggled against them, my heart sinking into a bottomless abyss. Anger and disbelief clashed violently inside me. I had lived the first twenty years of my life in Julian's shadow. Now, they wanted me to sacrifice the rest of my life for him too? The sheer injustice of it made my throat tight. For the first time in my life, I snapped. I screamed and yanked my hands free. "Why?! Why do I have to pay for his selfishness? This is his mess, not mine!" My father's hand flew across my face, delivering a vicious slap. "Julian is your family!"
I stumbled back, my cheek burning with pain. My mother sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "What Julian did was terrible, I know! But you can't just watch our family get ruined! The guests are already waiting in the chapel!" I face went pale. I forced the words out through grit teeth. "I am not getting married!" No matter how much they begged or tried to push me, I refused to budge. I grabbed a fruit knife from the table, pressed the blade against my neck, and hissed with bloodshot eyes, "If anyone forces me, I'll end it right here!" At that, everyone froze. I didn't care if they were worried about my life or just terrified of the legal mess a suicide would cause. It didn't matter. I had already graduated. Once I got a job, my freedom would be absolute. The room fell into a tense standoff. Finally, Audrey suggested we speak in private. Everyone was ushered out of the room. In the dressing suite, only Audrey and I remained. Thirty minutes later. The doors opened. I walked out in a tailored tuxedo, placing my hand flatly in Audrey's. With a smile that looked more painful than crying, I got married. My thoughts snapped back to the present. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of my high-rise office, looking down at the city. It had taken me ten years of blood, sweat, and tears to earn this office. Just as a sudden chill washed over me, a pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I flinched slightly, but the sweet scent of cherry blossoms immediately put me at ease. "What are you thinking so hard about? You didn't even hear me walk in," a soft voice whispered in my ear. I smiled. "Just preparing for the Business Gala tomorrow." Audrey took my hand, looking up at me with a smile. "I believe in you, Ethan. Your capability is unquestionable." The corners of my lips curved upward. "Why did you come by the office? Isn't the headquarters busy?" "It's fine. I wanted to drive you home. Also, Lily mentioned she wants to see that new movie tomorrow." I nodded absentmindedly. Audrey leaned up and pressed her lips to mine. I gently ruffled her hair. When we got home that night, there was no sign of Julian. He was surprisingly quiet. I figured my parents had locked him in his room to protect their own business interests. Just like they did years ago. I was physically and mentally drained. The moment my head hit the pillow, I fell into a deep sleep. In the middle of the night, a warm, soft body wrapped tightly around me from behind. The next evening, the grand hall of the annual Business Gala was packed with elite guests mingling with champagne glasses in hand. After doing my rounds of socializing, I took a quick break and headed to the VIP lounge. Lily was sitting obediently on the plush sofa, waiting for me. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. "Are we still going to the movies after this, Daddy?" I smiled warmly, gently tapping her nose. "Of course. Have we ever broken a promise to you?" Lily giggled happily. Seeing her smile eased some of the tension in my chest. Still, since the start of the gala, I had been plagued by an uneasy feeling. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy doors of the ballroom. As I scanned the crowd, my eyes locked onto a familiar figure, and my entire body stiffened. Not far away, Julian was holding Audrey's arm, speaking to her urgently. Audrey had her back to me, so I couldn't see her expression. A second later, Julian spotted me. He pointed a finger at me, his face twisting into a hideous snarl. "I'm your real husband, Audrey! He’s a shameless thief who stole you and our daughter!" In an instant, every eye in the ballroom turned to me.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "NovelMaster" app ? search for "469229", and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster