After Divorce, I Married His Half-Brother

Getting told I had cancer, replaced by my sister, and divorced all in the same day wasn't enough?

  Now I was standing here, clutching a photo that made my stomach twist, wondering who the actual hell Ryker was.

  "What are you doing there?"

  Ryker's voice rang out from behind, and I flinched. My heart slammed against my ribs as I spun, breath catching in my throat.

  He stood at the top of the stairs, a puzzled expression on his face, holding a brown file-probably the contract.

  He raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for an explanation.

  "This..." I held up the photo. "Who are these people to you, Ryker?"

  I kept my eyes on his face, watching his every expression.

  My breathing slowed, waiting for an answer. If he really was Derek's brother...

  Hell, I'm out.

  "Oh. That." He started down the stairs in the most casual manner ever, closing the distance between us.

  My fingers tightened around the photo.

  "Yeah, 'that' ."

  "Quick question; were you snooping around?"

  "No. I saw it. But dodge all you want, Ryker. You still haven't answered the question." I kept my voice even. I wasn't yelling...not yet. Maybe because I refused to let another Holland make me lose my mind twice in a day.

  "What question?"

  "These people in the photo-who are they to you?"

  "Most people would label them as family."

  I blinked. "Family?"

  He gave a subtle nod.

  And it was all clear. Ryker was a Holland. He was Derek's Brother. Current CEO of the Hollands Group. Another damn Holland Brother.

  "Where is this conversation going?" He asked, finally stopping in front of me. His eyes were as clear as day, blinking at me as if I were the crazy one. "You okay?"

  "Do I look okay to you?"

  "No." Ryker scanned me slowly, like he was staring at some toddler. "You look...dramatic."

  He didn't even blink as I stared at him, whispering the words I'd been swallowing. "You're a Holland."

  "Last I checked, that wasn't illegal. Should I be worried?"

  That annoying calm just added to my anger. He knew. He had to have known from the beginning. Yet...he approached me. Why?

  I dropped the photo on the table.

  "I'm done here." I turned, grabbing my luggage with the most dramatic flair I could muster.

  God forbid I stayed a second longer. I might explode.

  "Hey..." His hand caught my wrist. "What's going on? Do you have some personal vendetta with..."

  "Yes, I do." I snapped.

  Why couldn't I just have one normal night?

 Why did fate have to play dirty with me again?

  I still loved Derek. Pathetic, right? My feelings haven't changed overnight and I still want to fix what's shattered.

  Instead of seeing to it, I was here, thinking Ryker might help. Turned out he was just another Holland.

  Ryker looked thrown off. Like he was genuinely confused about my reaction. It looked too genuine that I almost wondered if he really had an idea or if he was just so good at pretending.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, my ex-husband is the man in that photo. Derek Holland. Your brother."

  His face stiffened, a curse slipping out of his mouth.

  "Oh shit."

  "Yeah, shit is the word." I let out a bitter laugh. "First I got kicked out, now I'm stuck playing accidental mistress to the other brother. Cinderella, but with worse taste in men."

  "I'm not Derek. I'm sure you already know that judging by our faces, yes?"

  "You are his brother."

  "Half-Brother."

  "Still his brother." My voice dropped low. "Still a Holland."

  He could have been any man. But no, fate just had to hand me the Holland Sequel.

  "This ruins everything," I muttered. "Instead of Derek getting jealous, He'll set both of us on fire."

  He wouldn't even look at me. He would spite me even more and...

  I couldn't risk it. Never.

  "I don't think that's an actual problem though." He said calmly.

  "Well, it's definitely mine. I want nothing to do with another Holland."

  "You don't think that makes this more deliciously chaotic?" He stepped closer.

  "Did you know?" I asked, sharply.

  "Know what?"

  "That I was his Wife? Is that why you came after me?"

  He grimaced. "Who knows."

  "That's not the answer to my question."

  He chuckled but not in the nicest way. "What do you want, a full confession?"

  "You're unbelievable." I turned. "That's it. I'm done."

  "Then, I guess this is the part where I get to chase after you, Cindrela?"

  "Try it and I'll throw my heels right between your eyes. My aims are quite decent when I'm pissed. And it's Cinderella, not Cindrela!"

  "What-fucking-ever. Just stop spiraling, Lamb."

  "Then watch how I spiral all the way out of your life."

  I twisted the doorknob, ready to leave.

  "While you're out there" He called after me. "I'll have the guards lock the gates."

  I froze. "You won't do that."

  "Wouldn't count on it if I were you." His voice dropped low. "Because you don't get to crash into my life and then, run off like I'm some villain in your personal tragedy."

  He wouldn't do that, right?

  He wouldn't lock me in.

  "Suit yourself."

  With that, I wrapped my arms around myself and stormed out into the night. My bones almost froze in the process.

  'You're doing the right thing.' I told myself.

  But the truth?

  I really had nowhere to go..

  I had no one. And Ryker?

  Fucking kill me already.

  I dragged my luggage along with me, the big lamps in the compound lighting my path towards the gate.

  Just then, a vibrating sound came from my bag. Quickly fishing out my phone, my heart raced abnormally.

  One glance at the caller's ID and my stomach dropped.