Marrying His Billionaire Brother After Divorcing My Husband

CHAPTER ONE : The Family Dinner Party

LEILANI

The pain came faster than I expected as I gasped.

My head was turned abruptly to the left from the force of his slap, my cheek was burning as I felt the pain.

My body moved a bit from the initial impact, but I held myself against the dresser, shaking.

I could taste the coppery stain of blood and salt. My lips trembled from pain, but I didn't dare say a word.

"Look at you," Adam spat angry as he hovered over me like a giant I couldn't outrun.

His hands were clenched into fists, shaking from anger and his suit jacket was moving as well as he stepped forward towards me.

"Do you even see your face in the mirror? You are bruised all over like some common whore. And you thought it was okay to dress up and show up looking like that in front of my allies and business partners?"

I opened my mouth to speak but the words wouldn't come out.

They were caught in my throat, as I was battling with a lot of different feelings, shame, pain, and all the things I was too tired to explain again.

"I-I didn't know the bruise was showing that much," I managed to speak my voice sounding sore from sore throat. I was still having pain from where he had choked me earlier that morning.

"I tried covering it up." I explained knowing fully well it was futile to him.

"But you failed to cover up properly. Again."

He grabbed my jaw roughly as I winced trying my best not to resist as it only made it worse as he roughly turned my face from left to right as if I were a doll.

His fingers were digging hard into my skin,as blood was beginning to show and I whimpered, sounding pathetic to my own ears.

He finally let me go with an angry grunt, turning his back to me as he fixed his tie in the mirror.

I watched him, while he did so. He was everything a woman needed. Handsome, rich a and dangerous. He was dressed like a predator in fancy clothes.

"Now everyone thinks I hit you," he said scoffing loudly rolling his eyes.

"Great. This is just f****** great. Do you know how that looks like to me in public? What it does Tommy reputation out there? Five years of marriage and you're still a liability to me."

How accusations stung me as I hissed taking a deep breath and spoke,

"Maybe if you actually treated me like a human being-"

The second slap caught me off from completing my sentence. It was more harder than the last one and a lot louder as well.

My ears was ringing from the impact this time, and I stumbled back, barely managing to catch myself against the wall.

"Don't you fucking talk back to me," Adam yelled as he pointed at me with scorn all over his face.

"You think I don't know what you've been up to lately when I am not around? You have been doing nothing but wandering around at night like a lost dog without an owner. Maybe that's where the bruise came from, huh? When you were falling into some other man's bed?"

I stared at him with shock written all over my face, my cheek burning from the pain and bruises, and my eyes were filled with unshed tears. I wasn't hurt by his words, not anymore, especially when he was trying to gaslight me.

This was all about one thing in particular and that was control.

Adam was getting out of control, bit by bit. His mistress had been more demanding a lot of things from him lately, he thought I didn't know about his infidelity.

But I did. Her perfume was on his shirts when he came back home, her lipstick found was all over his collars of his suits, and once, I found her earring on our sheets showing he must have brought her home and slept with her on our matrimonial bed. He didn't even bother hiding it anymore.

"Say something," he yelled at me.

I didn't know what to tell him. What was there to say? That I had been drugged by someone he loved the most? That his mistress, the ever sweet yet scheming Amara had done this to me as she wanted me out of his life. That I only escaped because his twin brother of all people-Adrian, the man who seemed to despise me as much as I feared him, had forced his way into that hotel room and pulled me out of there before irreparable damage could be done to me.

Adam didn't know about all this because he was blind to it. And he didn't care to ask.

"You better get your act together," Adam said turning away as he went to smoothen his hair before picking up his phone.

"We're going to my parents' house tonight for dinner. The whole family will be there, and you will smile and play the role of a perfect and happy wife. You will not cry your crocodile tears. You will not flinch when I touch you. And for the love of God, you will not embarrass me."

My heart twisted in pain from hearing all this.

His parents were people who adored and loved me once upon a time. Before things started changing, before the rumors began. Before the coldness that crept into Adam's heart and turned him into someone I didn't recognize.

Before Adrian started looking at me like I was something he could not stand at all.

"Do you understand me?" he asked pulling me back into the present.

I nodded my head.

"Say it."

"I understand," I whispered, barely audible enough to be heard by him but somehow he did.

"Good. Now put something on that doesn't make you look like an abused wife."

I made my way slowly toward the closet, trying to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat.

My fingers shook a bit as I searched through the dresses. Most of them were gifts from Adam but none of them could hide the bruise that was showing on my cheekbone, a painful and permanent reminder of the life I now lived.

I found a blue dress with a high neckline and long sleeves. It was modest enough to be worn since it covered my whole body. It wouldn't be able to cover my face, but maybe if I kept my head low and not do anything stupid, no one would notice.

As I changed, I saw my reflection in the mirror and I grimaced at what I saw. My skin looked very pale like I had no blood in me, my lips were swollen beyond reason and the side of my face was a shade of purple. My eyes were dull and empty. I looked like a stranger.

I looked like a woman who had stopped fighting for herself.

I felt the urge to throw up hit me again, this feeling that had been becoming more frequent over the past week.

I rushed to the bathroom, vomiting the little that was left in my stomach. My hands shook a bit as I washed my mouth, trying to ignore the meaning of this. I was late and I haven't seen my period for about three weeks now. And the sickness came without fail every morning.

But I couldn't think about that now. Not with Adam waiting for me. Not with the dinner that was coming this night.

The drive to the family house was silent. Adam was on his phone the entire time, sending voice notes and responding to emails while I sat quietly in the passenger seat, clenching my fingers on in my lap. I didn't dare cry at the silent treatment he was giving me. Crying only made him angrier.

He got to the estate some minutes past six.

The security guard opened the gates without any question, waving us in with a wide smile I didn't return for fear of more complications from Adam.

The mansion was situated ahead, it was grand and huge, its white walls seemed to be glittering in the golden evening light. For anyone else, it would be paradise on earth. For me, it was a beautiful cage.

Adam stepped out of the car first, adjusting his collars. Then he came around to my side, opening the door like a perfect gentleman he pretended to be.

"Smile," he said under his breath. "Or I'll give you a real reason not to."

I plastered a smile on my face as I stepped out of the car, legs shaking a bit like they didn't want to hold me up anymore.

Inside, his mother welcomed us with open arms. She kissed both of Adam's cheeks and gave me a hug that seemed formal more than anything else.

His father said a hello from where he sat in the living room, already drinking from a glass of scotch.

And just after the parents was my worse nightmare.

Adrian.

The man who looked like my husband in all manner of speaking but wasn't.

Adam's twin brother was standing near the fireplace, he had a drink in his hand and a neutral look on his face.

He wore black suit, like always. His eyes were fixed on me, as he looked at me from head to toe.

His eyes widened when he got to my face.

I turned away too quickly, pretending not to notice the stare, but it was too late. Adrian had seen the bruise.

Dinner was awkward and tense. As always.

Adam laughed and joked with his family like he had no skeleton in his closet.

His mum complimented on his latest business deal. His father asked when they'd be getting grandchildren from us. I nearly choked on my water at the question, my hand immediately going to my stomach before I caught myself.

Adrian noticed the slight movement from where he sat. His eyes narrowed at me, noting it with an intensity that I haven't seen before, before returning to his plate.

I ate slowly, my cheek too sore to chew properly. My stomach was turning with every bite, I could feel the nausea building up in my throat.

"Leilani isn't feeling well," Adam said placing a hand on mine when I pushed my plate away half-eaten. "She's been under the weather lately."

His mother frowned looking at me with a concerned look on her face. "Oh dear, is it that stomach flu that's been going around?"

"Something like that," I said carefully, not looking up to see her.

"Well, you should see a doctor," she continued like my behavior wasn't strange in the latest. "You're looking too pale. Adam, you should take better care of your wife."

"I take excellent care of her," Adam replied, his smile fake enough to be noticed by anyone who had eyes as his hand found my knee under the table, squeezing it painfully. "Don't I, darling?"

"Of course," I whispered.

Adrian's fork fell against his plate. Everyone turned to look at him.

"Sorry," he said, sounding a bit hoarse like he was trying to keep his temper in check. "Slipped."

But his eyes remained on me throughout the dinner.

After dinner, I manged to take some excuse and move away to the guest bathroom. I needed a moment to myself. I could feel the walls were closing in on me.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, breathing hard trying to regain my composure and wipe away the tears that had managed to slip out.

Someone knocked on the door which made me tense up immediately in fear. Was it Adam?

I replied. "Occupied."

"Open the door, Leilani."

It was Adrian.

I didn't move one bit from where I was standing. What was he doing here? What did he want now?.

"Please."

There was something in his voice that made me want to open the door and I did. Our eyes met immediately as I could see that his eyes were darker than I remembered. His jaw clenched from how he was gritting his teeth.

"What do you want?"

He pushed the door open and stepped in before I could stop him, closing it behind him with a soft click.

"You shouldn't have come tonight," he said, eyes on my bruise. "You look like hell."

"Thank you," I said bitterly, trying to step around him and leave the room before I regretted it. "That's exactly what every woman wants to hear."

He blocked my path calmly as he spoke gently to me. "Did he do that to you?"

"It's none of your business." I retorted looking away.

"The hell it isn't." He snapped as he glared at me.

"Why do you care, Adrian? You've made it pretty clear what you think of me." I said crossing my hands across my chest. I didn't know where I was getting this courage from. Maybe it was because I knew he wouldn't hit me for talking back at him.

His eyes was filled with anger as he narrowed them at me. "And what exactly do I think of you?"

"That I'm weak and that I'm pathetic for staying with him." I lifted my chin, trying to sound and look defiant despite the shaking that was in my voice. "That I deserve this somehow."

"Is that what you think?" He stepped closer towards me backing me against the sink. "That I blame you?"

I could smell his cologne it was different from Adam's. And his sudden closeness to me made my heart beat quickly and that terrified me.

"You've hardly spoken ten words to me since that night," I said, keeping my voice low Incase anyone was eavesdropping.

"What else am I supposed to think?"

That night. The one I couldn't remember well. The night that ended with me in Adrian's arms, my clothes were torn from the fight and the almost rape, my dignity shattered and gone.

I'd begged Adrian not to tell anyone what happened that night.

He hadn't.

But that didn't mean he forgave me for putting myself in that position in the first place.

"I saved you that night because I couldn't stand the thought of anyone hurting you," he said angrily pulling me back to reality as he stepped closer to me and continued, his hand trailing my hair.

"And now I have to watch my own brother do worse, day after day to you."

"It's not-it's not that bad," I lied, even as I could feel the residual pain from my wounds.

"Don't." His hand was in the air near my face without touching me as he said. "Don't make excuses for him."

"I'm not." I couldn't help but speak in his defense.

"You are. You always do." His eyes was looking for something in mine as he added "Why do you stay? Why don't you just leave him?"

I couldn't tell him that I had no where to go. And that I might be carrying his child.

I felt nauseous at the thought as i pressed a hand to my mouth, trying to stop myself from throwing up.

Adrian's expression changed from anger to worry as he spoke. "Are you sick?"

I shook my head, but it was too late. My knees seized and I fell but Adrian managed to caught me as I leaned against him.

"How long?" he asked, his voice sounding a bit scared and light.

"What?"

"How long have you been feeling like this?"

I pushed away from him, using the sink to steady myself as I cleared my throat shaking my head.

"It's just a stomach bug. I'm fine."

"You're pregnant," he stated confidently as I felt like my whole world was tilting now with my suspicion being confirmed.

"I think so," I whispered looking down feeling scared as I wrung my hand. "I haven't taken a test yet."

"Is it his?"

I stared at him, wondering what he meant by that and why his voice was sounding bitter.

"Of course it's his. Who else would it be?"

He stepped backwards, suddenly giving me the space that I didn't need.

"Congratulations," he said looking at the wall behind me. "I'm sure Adam will be thrilled."

"I haven't told him yet."

"Why not?"

I looked away from his face as I gave him my sincere answer. "I don't know how he'll react."

"He's made it clear he wants children," Adrian said, sounding strange with every minute that passed like he was trying to detach himself emotionally from the conversation. "An heir to the family fortune."

"Yes," I agreed, but I still felt scared to tell him

I would be tied to him . even more permanently now. "But things haven't been good between us lately."

"That's one way to put it." Adrian's eyes was on my bruised face as he cleared his throat. "When are you going to tell him?"

"Soon. I need to be sure first."

"If you need anything-"

"I won't," I cut him off quickly shaking my head. It was best he didn't interfere in a private matter.

"This is between me and my husband."

He flinched when I spoke the word husband like it was something he didn't want to accept.

"That night," he said suddenly. "In the hotel room. What do you remember?"

"Not much at all. Why do you ask me this now."

"Do you remember who was there? What they gave you?"

I shook my head, uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going now. It was an incident that I didn't want to even acknowledge happen to me. "Just flashes of some things. Amara was there at first, then she left. Then men I didn't know. Then... you."

"And after I got you out?"

My cheeks turned red from embarrassment. I remembered being carried feeling safe in his arms.

That was when I started crying because I knew then and there it wasn't Adam like I had foolishly believed it to be.

"Not really," I lied. "Why?"

Adrian stepped closer again, as he held my face gently caressing it as he spoke. "Because I think you're missing some important details, Leilani. Details that might change everything you are thinking."

"Like what?" I asked feeling my heart beat faster wondering what he was implying.

Before he could answer my question, the door was pushed open.

Adam stood in the doorway, glaring at us.

"What the fuck is going on here?" he demanded angrily as Adrian's hand fell from my face.