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After Divorce, I Married His Half-Brother

Chapter 5 The Brother You Shouldn't Trust

Word Count: 1176    |    Released on: 23/10/2025

ker's

econd the phone lit up. I

cted her

, Little

end stretched. Like she w

ce came, soft but rough as if she had be

the seat, my other ha

offers I don't

ment. Maybe the drag of a suitcase, I couldn't tell. Either way,

re else to go,"

, those words did

tion," I said. "I'll

~~

anessa

e I wanted to get away from. Now, he was sitting across from

s going to r

where to begin. "What exac

glass, eyes locked on me like h

h and far from the crowd. The silence was so heavy that

ked you out." Ryk

ack at him. "Yeah, pretty obvious, i

he table and leaning in, he placed a hard

ly what I wanted but he

u kn

I do

rather be under a bridge, counting crickets." I sn

night and I couldn't toler

e asked, then grinned when I didn

g my inner cheek. How I

this time, it all boils down to jealousy. Even if he doesn't love you,

he doesn't even-" I searched f

he leaned back on the chair, eyes

about this. I need to kn

at I know how this wo

d." I correc

s ex-wife with another man. He would wonder if you ever loved him, w

u know that's unr

s, we keep going. If not-" his voice dropped low, almost in

, his voice echoing like a promise in my ears, his

to lose if this

oth

in it for yo

some saint doing

A lot. More tha

ady so messy enough and I would love to not

Dea

s. Somewhere, my rational side told me to withdra

d myself nod

t and I sat with him in the front. The city's night beauty blurr

Fake and tempora

arge Villa. I squinted my eyes at t

huh?" I c

led his seatbelt. "Wealth lo

in response and h

mansion. Ryker paused, his hand on the doorknob. "Welcome ho

d my nose a

ed behind me. The house was a stunning display of beauty and luxury. Marble flo

a room filled with his personal constellation and that he'd bought a vacatio

ct? Didn't expect we'd be need

papers so no one forgets what we're playing at. " He s

ks were so impressive, pulling me in. Curiosity pulled me c

on a small photo frame lying flat on

g, I told myself.

to, picked it up and sa

e photo

er

other and then, to his father-someone who I'd only

eet when I saw the person standing nex

Ry

father had with their housekeeper. The lone wolf of the family. No one spoke about him openly, like he was li

er be...tha

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After Divorce, I Married His Half-Brother
After Divorce, I Married His Half-Brother
“> - Vanessa thought rock bottom was signing divorce papers with Derek Holland, a man with the emotional depth of a teaspoon. Turns out, rock bottom had a basement, and Ryker Holland was waiting for her down there with a smirk and a plan. Ryker, Derek's older half-brother (aka the family's dirty little secret), shows up offering Vanessa a deal: help her make her ex-husband, Derek Holland, jealous enough to come crawling back. In exchange, he secures his position as CEO. But Ryker isn't doing this out of kindness. He is petty and cruel. He would do anything to trample all over Derek, and now he has the perfect weapon. Vanessa, freshly dumped and just desperate enough to play along. And if she happens to enjoy making her ex suffer too? Well, that's just a bonus. As Vanessa sinks deeper into Ryker's twisted world of fake romance, secrecy and family dysfunction, things start getting real. Because fake love? It's a lot easier to control than real feelings. And Ryker has no idea what to do when the game stops being a game. Is Vanessa walking into a trap or building one of her own? Either way, the Holland brothers are going down. One's going to break, and the other's going to enjoy every second of it. _Disclaimer: This story contains morally complex and flawed characters, who often operate with hidden motives and questionable ethics. Themes explored include emotional manipulation, gaslighting, power imbalance, dual identities, and blurred lines between love, control, and obsession. Certain scenes may be intense or unsettling. Reader discretion is strongly advised.”