Chapter 1A week before my wedding, I sent out a survey to plan surprise gifts.
Everyone wrote: "Can't wait for Evan & Sasha's wedding today!"
Wait.
Evan WAS my fiancé.
But Sasha? My dad's mistress's daughter.
I flipped through the answers, hands shaking.
My own brother bought them matching watches.
My bestie gassed up HER photos.
My whole inner circle? They RSVP'd to my replacement.
I laughed.
So the wedding I waited ten years for? Evan gave it to that bitch.
And I was the only idiot who didn’t know.
Fine. Best gift I ever gave myself? Ghosted them all.
...
By the time I tracked down their wedding, the ceremony was almost over.
All my friends and families were on stage.
"Only Sasha's good enough to be my sister-in-law!"
That was Evan's brother.
A month ago, he screwed up a contract with our magazine and almost had to pay a million in damages.
I risked getting fired and fixed it.
That day, he cried thanking me, swore I'd be his only sister-in-law forever.
"Sasha's my favorite sister."
"You cross her? You cross me. Don't test our brotherhood."
My own brother, Ashton, patted Evan on the shoulder.
The serious look was identical to when Mom died and he knelt by her bed, swearing he'd be my rock for life.
"Six years together, finally getting to see you two married."
"Sasha, you better be happy."
My best friend pulled Sasha into a huge hug, eyes even redder than hers.
Six years.
They'd been lying to me for six fucking years.
All the details I'd forced myself to ignore came flooding back.
Late-night calls that went to voicemail. Sudden overtime. Strange perfume on his collar.
And every time I questioned it, someone would jump in with an excuse for Evan.
Tears welled up. I shoved them back down.
I lifted my hand.
Pushed open the ballroom doors.
Everyone gasped when they saw me.
Evan snapped out of it first.
He stared at me, clearly startled, then hurried off the stage.
"Brielle, what are you doing here?"
He reached for me, voice low.
"This isn't the place. Come outside with me."
I smiled.
"Evan, this is your important meeting?"
This morning, Evan had apologized.
"Brielle, I've got an important meeting today. Gotta turn my phone off."
"Don't worry if you can't reach me."
He even asked for a goodbye kiss before leaving.
But now, he was holding another woman's hand.
Sasha stepped in front of him.
"Brielle, Evan and I really love each other..."
Eyes all red, playing the victim card.
Just like fourteen years ago when she pushed me down the stairs, then blamed me.
But Evan, who used to stand in front of me and believe me no matter what, was now protecting HER.
"Just go home. I'll explain later."
"Explain what?"
I yanked my hand away.
Finally snapped.
"Explain how you turned into my dad, falling for a mistress?"
"Or explain how Sasha's following in her mom's footsteps, being the other woman?"
"Enough!"
My father finally reacted, voice booming.
"Brielle Morgan, what the hell are you saying?"
"Sasha's your sister! You should give her your fiancé. Isn't that right?"
I stared at him.
It was absurd.
This was my father.
Fourteen years ago, he made me give up my place as the Morgan family's only heiress.
Fourteen years later, he wanted me to give up my fiancé.
I closed my eyes. Didn't argue. Turned to Evan instead.
"Is that what you think too? I should step aside for your mistress?"
Evan froze. His throat bobbed. Tried to say something.
Then my best friend Lexi let out a little scoff.
"Brielle, you're being way too dramatic."
"Evan and Sasha got married ages ago."
"The mistress you keep talking about? That's YOU."
Chapter 2
Lexi hesitated at my shock in my eyes.
But she still pulled up the projector on stage.
Two striking marriage certificates flashed across the screen.
Groom: Evan Mitchell.
Bride: Sasha Morgan.
Two names side by side. No room for anyone else.
I stared at the date. June 13th.
My birthday.
That day, I worked late at the office alone. Not a single message.
Evan didn't show up until that night with a tiny slice of cake.
"Sorry, babe. I'd been swamped with work all day."
"I'll make up your birthday later. Promise."
Turns out, he wasn't busy with work.
He was busy getting married.
And that cake he brought home?
Same exact one on the screen with "Happily Ever After" written on it.
Tears fell silently, blurring the face I used to know into something I didn't recognize anymore.
I dug my nails into my palm.
"So what's our next week's wedding supposed to be?"
"Charity?"
Evan sighed, gently wiping the tears from my face.
"Brielle, I do love you."
"It's just... Sasha's been with me for six years with no title."
"That's not fair to her."
"Next week's wedding is still happening."
"Except for the marriage certificate, you'll have everything she has."
It felt like a slap across the face.
I stumbled back.
"You want me to be your mistress?!"
My mom killed herself because of a mistress.
It left me terrified of marriage.
Evan waited for me year after year, promised me I'd never end up like my mom.
And now, he was the one making me the other woman.
Evan seemed to remember too.
His hand froze mid-air, expression unreadable.
In the silence, Ashton walked over.
He sighed, ruffled my hair like he used to when we were kids.
"Brielle, the one who's not loved is the mistress."
"You and Sasha are both my sisters. You should get along."
"Sasha's put up with this for six years. She's suffered enough."
Every word dripped with sympathy for Sasha.
But when Mom was dying, the first thing he did was cut ties with the Morgans.
Swore he'd never accept the mistress's daughter as his sister.
I held back tears, staring him down.
"She's your sister? Does Mom know?"
My brother stiffened. His face darkened.
"Brielle Morgan, no need to be so bitter."
"Mom got sick because she gave birth to YOU."
"And I'm doing this for your own good. Sasha's already pregnant. Why can't you just accept it?"
I turned stiffly and stared at Evan in disbelief.
"She's PREGNANT?"
"Yeah."
Evan cleared his throat, stepped forward, took my hand.
"You've always wanted a kid, right?"
"Sasha agreed to let you raise the baby."
"You should thank her."
The warmth in his eyes was the same as all those nights we talked about having kids together.
Back then, he said: "Brielle, I only want your child."
Now, he was saying: You can raise hers.
A violent wave of nausea hit me.
I doubled over, gagging.
Evan's expression shifted. He instinctively reached for me.
But Sasha's eyes turned red.
"Brielle, I've already given up so much. Why are you still acting like this?"
His hand snapped back. Evan's face went cold.
"Brielle Morgan, don't push it!"
"Go home. Next week's wedding is still happening. Or else—"
Marrying Evan was Mom's dying wish.
And now, he was using it to threaten me.
The last thread of hope inside me snapped.
I pushed myself up off the ground, tears streaming, a bitter smile on my face.
"Wedding's OFF."
"Wishing you both everything you deserve."
I turned and walked out.
Outside the hotel, my phone lit up.
Final confirmation for the LA transfer.
If I took it, I'd be promoted to Editor-in-Chief.
Before, I turned it down for Evan.
This time?
I hit confirm.
Chapter 3
I got home and canceled everything.
The dress. The photographer. The venue.
Then I started packing.
Halfway through, my phone lit up with Evan's Instagram post.
Guess now that it was all out in the open, he didn't bother hiding anymore.
In the video, Evan stood on stage, making his vows.
"Sasha, from now on, I don't want to be your hero. I want to be your home."
The words hit me.
Fourteen years ago, Mom and I got kicked out of the Morgan house in the middle of the night.
Nowhere to go.
Evan showed up and gave us a home.
Back then, he said:
"Brielle, I don't want to be your hero. I want to be your home."
I remembered that promise for twelve years.
Turns out, I wasn't the only one he made it to.
I'd just finished packing when Evan came home.
When I didn't greet him like usual, he chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.
"Mad at me?"
I was about to pull away—
A purple gemstone necklace appeared in front of me.
I froze.
That was Mom's wedding jewelry.
Sasha's mom took it years ago.
I'd mentioned it once, offhand. Didn't think Evan remembered.
"Sasha and I... it was just a mistake..."
Evan came around in front of me, coaxing me like always.
"You're the one I love. Always have been. Don't be mad, okay?"
"I'm not mad."
I took the necklace. My fingers wouldn't stop shaking.
Before Mom died, she touched my face and said:
"Brielle, you can lose anything. Just not your dignity."
I was about to tell him we were done when he suddenly smiled.
"I knew you'd understand."
The next second, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the door.
"You upset Sasha this morning."
"Doctor says she can't handle any more stress."
"Come with me to the Morgan house and apologize."
"Then we can move on."
I stopped dead.
"You want me to apologize to your mistress?!"
Evan's eyes flickered. He looked away.
"Let's not dig up the past."
"Sasha's pregnant."
"Your dad's heart hasn't been good these past couple years."
"You made a scene in front of everyone today. Nobody could save face."
"I'm not asking you to admit defeat. Just give the elders an explanation."
"You'll see each other all the time. Might as well smooth things over."
I stared at him. Wanted to laugh.
Smooth things over?
The night Mom got kicked out, she begged Dad for explanation too.
All she got was a door slammed in her face.
I yanked my hand free.
"Evan, we're DONE."
His pupils shrank.
But then, he pulled the purple necklace out of my hand.
"Stop it."
"You're apologizing. And don't say we're done again."
"Unless you don't want this necklace either."
I closed my eyes.
The warmth I'd felt a second ago turned to ash.
"Fine. I'll go."
We got to the Morgan house.
Sasha sat on the couch, eyes red.
Ashton and Lexi on either side of her.
The second I walked in, Lexi glared at me.
"This is all your fault!"
"You made Sasha upset. Apologize. NOW."
My brother handed me a cup of strong drink.
"A proper apology."
I stared at that cup. My fingers curled into fists.
The Morgans always had this rule.
If you screwed up, you served drink and apologized.
But I remembered something else too.
Years ago, when Sasha's mom showed up pregnant, Dad shoved a cup of drink at my mom.
Told her to be reasonable. Give that bitch a title.
That day, Mom threw the cup on the floor and walked out with me.
Now, years later, they wanted me to do the same thing to the mistress's daughter.
"Brielle?"
When I didn't move, Evan dangled the necklace.
"Don't make this uglier than it already is."
Humiliation crashed over me.
I bit my lip hard, finally bent down.
Held the drink out to Sasha.
"I'm. Sorry."
"Brielle, you don't have to—"
Sasha stood up to take it。
But the second I let go, she knocked the whole cup onto me.
I jerked back, gasping.
Before I could steady myself, Lexi shoved me hard.
"You did that on purpose?!"
I stumbled backward, hit the floor.
My stomach slammed into the ground. Sharp pain shot through me.
"Brielle!"
Evan reached for me instinctively.
But then Lexi screamed.
"Sasha fainted!"
His hand froze for one second.
Then he turned the other way.
The pain in my stomach got worse.
I grabbed Ashton's arm, panicking.
"Ashton, my stomach hurts..."
He ripped his arm away, his voice breaking with anger.
"Stop faking!"
"If anything happens to Sasha, you're not my sister anymore!"
Then he ran after Evan.
My head hit the floor with a thud.
Everything went black.
