Chapter 2After He Graduated, His Brother Took Over

The first time I suspected something was wrong with "Declan" was when he suddenly started using condoms. That was completely out of character.

It started as a nagging suspicion, but then things got worse. Sex, which had always been great, suddenly became painful.

I picked a huge fight with him over it. The next morning, I woke up covered in a painful, swollen rash. I was convinced he’d done something weird and stormed into his office to confront him.

It was only later that I found out I was allergic to the latex.

After that, "Declan" didn't touch me for a week. He was incredibly attentive, personally applying cream to the rash. This pampered rich boy, who had never set foot in a kitchen, actually started cooking for me. The day I saw him making me soup, I was genuinely terrified. In all my years with the real Declan, he’d never so much as boiled water.

At the time, I thought it was a sign he was finally changing, the playboy settling down. I never imagined the man himself wasn't the original model.

Once the rash cleared up, Rhys tried a different type of condom.

I had another allergic reaction, though milder this time. The look on his face when he saw the rash was thunderous. I braced myself for an outburst, but instead, he just said, "I'm sorry. I'll be more careful."

I was speechless. In all my time being mistreated by the arrogant real Declan, I had never once heard him apologize.

"It's… it's okay…"

Rhys pulled me into a tender embrace, his lips finding mine. I melted into the kiss, my head spinning. At the same time, a thought drifted through my mind: When did Declan get so good at kissing?

It wasn't that he was better, just… gentler. The real Declan used to bite. Especially my collarbone. It hurt like hell.

Day by day, Rhys's every action drew me in more. On weekends, he no longer disappeared to clubs with his "girlfriends." Instead, he’d hold me in his lap and teach me calligraphy, his warm breath tickling my ear as he guided my hand. His voice was a low murmur that made my heart pound.

No! If this continues, I'm going to actually fall for him.

Loving the real Declan was a losing game. It was all about his money and his face, nothing more.

But this man seemed determined to make me fall. When I was working, he’d massage my shoulders. When I was relaxing, he’d hold me close. Even in bed, he was never forceful. Afterwards, no matter how late it was, he would gently clean me up.

I was so overwhelmed by the change that I had to debrief with my friends. Their verdict was unanimous.

"He's in love with you! He wants to marry you!"

Hearing that, I'll admit, I was thrilled. But was it really possible? Could a serial cheater, a man who flirted with anything that moved, truly change his ways?

Now I knew the answer. No. Not only would he not change, he'd literally sell his own girlfriend out.

The man who had been so good to me was Rhys.

Declan's twin brother.

A bitter taste filled my mouth. But hey, if this was his choice, who was I to complain?