His Brother's Bride

ghter of one of the most powerful business moguls in the country. Groomed from birth to wear luxury like a second skin, speak thre

room too beautiful to feel so suffocating. Everything in this house sparkles. Crystal chandelier

s in ten day

gagement ring glints mockingly under the soft light-an enormous diamond picked not for love, but fo

artner, a match made not in

to say yes,

a," my father had said with a rare, proud

eputations will strengthen. And I-his obedient, po

parties, dated discreetly, never rebelliously. I've been the perfect daug

ress appointments. Her smile was painted on, stretched a little too tight-like she knew h

ow. From here, the grounds look serene, orderly and beautiful ju

d it? Not because it was expected, or it would benefit the family, not eve

ld fall apart

reaks my spiral. Marlene,

's downstairs. The weddin

color palettes and flower arrang

I say, trying to keep the

en nods. "You look be

w, like a doll in a d

dark hair cascading in soft waves. Skin flawless, eyes lined just enough to highlight their

fear and doubt. A flicker of defia

nt ring off my finger. It's cold

re I'm going or what I'll do, but I know I can't keep going like this. Ten days until I say vows

mp and fly. I want to escape this golden, gil

e impulsively, just to know what it feels

perfect anymore, I

and suffocating in privileges, and no

finally ready

*

a's

uld have no trouble resting. But they don't know that most nights, I s

other faceless night in another overpriced suite. The city skyline glitters outside the floor-to-ceiling windows l

stand, but I don't pick it u

mi

ar br

harm, threats or guilt. He's always been the golden one, the face of the Delacroix empire. I was just the shadow,

e way the air left my lungs, rage that burned through me like a

hore investments, discreet acquisitions, tech startups nobody associates with the Delacroix dynasty. I made my

d all the way down, but it's nothing compa

is, I want him to hurt. I want him to feel what I felt-that hollow, shattered ache of knowing you were no

leather of the headboard. The room is still, the kin

ken me. If I'd married Isabelle and stayed in the family busin

I be b

ter-easier

through my hair. No. That vers

ee again. The man with cold eyes and a colder heart. The o

. No strings, no lie

in. I ignore it, bu

ngratulate me. I'm getting marrie

lenci family is practically royalty in ou

ations on another strategic acquisition? Hop

nd exhale slowly, trying to shake

n the way he phrased it-like he's showing off a trophy. Anoth

cial dominance. They smile with their lips, not their eyes. They're taug

nother pawn on Damien's board. Either way,

nd razed me all at once. Somewhere out there, Damien is planning his perf

d

rying to re

tter smile as I down t

t the

e cons

it feels like to lose everythin