Chapter 1He Brought His Adopted Sister Home

My best friend discovered her husband’s old flame a year after their wedding.

The woman ruined her life. Left with nothing, she sank into a year-long depression.

Visiting her, she clutched my hand, crying:

“If I’d known, I would’ve died before marrying him.”

When my father arranged my marriage, I researched Sean Blackwood thoroughly.

Perfect reputation, no past lovers, clean break from exes.

Only odd detail: the Blackwoods adopted a girl ten years ago, studying abroad since.

My father brushed it off:

“She’s just his adopted sister. They set up a trust fund for her at eighteen—enough to live comfortably abroad.”

I married Sean.

But on our third wedding anniversary night, he brought his adopted sister home.

She timidly opened our bedroom door, wearing a thin white nightgown.

“Brother, it’s so quiet here… I’m scared to be alone…”

Sean sighed, got out of bed, and told me to go back to sleep.

I sat alone in the dark for hours.

Then I invited over a dozen models to throw a party at our home.

* * *

The sound of music and laughter was what finally drew Sean out of the guest room.

“Get out!”

His voice was deceptively calm, but it sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

The handsome men scrambled away like frightened animals, leaving just the two of us in the vast living room.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Sean frowned, his gaze fixed on me.

Behind him stood Lily, still wrapped in that scandalously short, white lace nightdress, her long hair framing a picture of delicate innocence.

I lounged comfortably on the sofa, crossing my legs and swirling the wine in my glass. “Isn’t your little sister scared of being alone? I just found her some company.”

Lily’s face went pale. “What do you take me for!”

I smiled, a bright, sharp thing, and enunciated each word with chilling clarity. “A shameless little tramp trying to seduce her own brother.”

Sean’s expression turned to ice. “Rebecca Pierce.”

Lily’s eyes welled with tears, her body trembling with rage. “What right do you have to talk to me! Everyone knows what a player you were! You’re a slut! If it weren’t for the marriage contract between our families, my brother would never have married a woman like you!”

“Lily, that’s enough!”

She froze, hurt flashing across her face before the tears began to fall. “You’re yelling at me? You’re yelling at me for her? Didn’t you hear how she insulted me? Fine, I’ll leave! I’ll leave right now!”

The girl made a dramatic dash for the door, her pathetic excuse for a nightgown threatening to fall apart with every overwrought step.

Sean’s frown deepened. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to her room before finally turning his attention back to me.

“Go to bed.”

I didn’t move, just watched him with a cold smile.

He sighed, a note of exhaustion in his voice. “I’m tired, Rebecca. I’m really, really tired. Can we not do this right now?”

“Did you hear what your sister called me?”

“Lily’s young. She doesn’t always think before she speaks. I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “She’s not wrong, though. It’s true. Our families are well-matched, this was a business merger, the contract was signed a long time ago. But I, Rebecca Pierce, was a player. I was never short on men, especially the handsome ones.”

The warmth drained from Sean’s eyes, leaving them cold and hard.

He pinned me against the sofa, his kiss a punishment, his voice a low growl. “Rebecca, need I remind you that you are now my wife?”

I laughed, but my eyes were burning and my voice trembled despite my best efforts. “But don’t you forget! Who was the one who dragged me out of bars night after night? Who was the one who shamelessly declared himself my fiancé to every man who looked at me? Who was the one who begged and pleaded for me to marry him?”

Sean pulled me into his arms, his voice softening. “It was me. It was always me. I couldn’t live without you.”

I shoved him away and slammed the bedroom door shut. “Sean, it’s her or me. Get her out of this house by tomorrow.”

The next morning.

Lily, wearing one of Sean's dress shirts, greeted me cheerfully at the dining table.

“Hi, sister-in-law! Good morning!”

I froze in place.