He Chose My Stepsister, So I Chose His Brother

Isabella’s POV

Marcus was feeding her gently with soup, smiling at her with so much love.

Watching them before would have caused my heart to ache, but now, I felt nothing. I turned to leave to avoid them seeing me, but like always, I had terrible luck.

“Isabella?” Marcus’s voice reached my ears, and I tensed, gritting my teeth in annoyance.

I turned slowly keeping my face blank and emotionless as I stared at him. His expression faltered the moment our eyes met. I could see the guilt burning in his eyes, as if he had just realized that I existed.

“I… I didn’t know you were awake,” he stammered, standing up from beside Bianca. “How… how are you feeling?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t even blink. I just stared. My silence spoke louder than anything I would have said.

He looked down with shame on his face. “Your sacrifice… it wasn’t in vain,” he said gently, lifting his eyes to look at me. “Look, Bianca is fine. The baby is very healthy and strong. You saved them both.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed bitterly and humorlessly, and Marcus flinched at the harsh sound.

Bianca rested a hand on her belly, smiling sweetly, but her eyes shone with glee. “Marcus has been taking such good care of me. He never left my side for once.”

I wasn’t interested in hearing any more, so I turned without saying anything, ready to walk away, but Marcus jumped up, reaching out to me. “Wait please, Isabella, just wait.”

I paused, not because I wanted to, but because I wanted to hear the nonsense he would say.

“I’m throwing a party this evening,” he said quickly. “To celebrate your recovery… and Bianca’s safe return home. We all went through a lot, and I just want to bring everyone together. My father will be there, he really wants to see you.”

Still, I didn’t say a word.

He stepped closer, trying to soften his voice. “Let me give you a ride home. We’re all going the same way anyway.”

“I’m not going home,” I said flatly. “I’m going to the orphanage.”

Alexander had promised to protect the orphanage when I agreed to his proposal, so I just wanted to make sure everything was in place. I wanted to make sure no one could ever use it against me again, and that Marcus could never touch the only piece of my father I had left.

Marcus blinked in confusion. “The orphanage? Why?”

I tilted my head, expression still blank. “Because I have business to handle. Don’t bother yourself about it.”

Bianca perked up. “Oh! That’s perfect. I’ve been meaning to visit anyway. It is our father’s orphanage, after all.”

I lifted an eyebrow at her in surprise. She had always wanted nothing to do with the orphanage.

Marcus nodded immediately. “Then we’ll come with you. That sounds great.”

I stared at him, stunned for a moment by the speed of his agreement. This was the same Marcus who always rolled his eyes at the mention of the orphanage. The same Marcus who said it was a burden, a waste of money, an unnecessary sentiment.

But now that Bianca mentioned it, he quickly agreed.

I scoffed under my breath, watching them with a sneer on my face.

“Fine,” I said coolly. “You can come with me. But I need one last thing from you.”

Marcus straightened slightly, looking hopeful. “Anything.”

I reached into my bag, and pulled out the document that I had been carrying since he brought Bianca home. “Sign this.”

He blinked at me, furrowing his eyebrows as he took the papers from me. “What is it?”

“My discharge form,” I replied with a blank expression.

He hesitated for a second.

Marcus had always been very careful with whatever he signed. He made sure he read it carefully, no matter what it was. However, immediately he glanced at Bianca, and she smiled coyly at him, batting her lashes, he forgot all about his carefulness.

“I’m getting tired, Marcus,” she said sweetly. “Let’s go home fast..”

He nodded, barely glancing at the document before signing the document. The moment he finished signing, a small satisfied smirk crossed my lips.

“Thank you,” I said, placing the document back in my bag. “Now I’m free.”

He didn’t understand the double meaning in my words as he kept fussing over Bianca.