I Went Mad After My Brother’s Lover Provoked Me

The day I returned from an overseas business trip, my brother’s lover opened the door for me.

I was long used to his string of mistresses, so I said nothing and headed upstairs.

But she grabbed my arm and barked, “A new maid? Perfect. Wash my feet.”

I curled my lips, too tired to waste words, and turned away.

“Stop!”

Her shriek pierced the air, followed by a stinging slap across my cheek.

“How dare a servant glare at me? I own this house now! Obey, or you’ll be out by tonight.”

My cheek burned, but my voice was ice as I pulled out my phone.

“You have ten minutes to get that woman out of my house,” I told my brother. “Otherwise, kiss your last shares goodbye.”

——

My family always favored sons over daughters.

Sons were indulged; daughters were expected to carry the business.

So while I studied finance, my brother kept mistresses.

While I built trade overseas, he kept mistresses.

My parents weren’t worried about his ruin—only that his debauchery might rub off on me. So they sent me abroad at eighteen, calling it “further study.” In truth, they wanted to look away.

Now, the family’s survival rests in my hands, and my brother long ago learned to obey me. How dare his lover try to trample me?

Just as my brother was about to pick up, the woman snatched my phone, hurled it to the ground, and crushed it beneath her heel.

“There’ve been ten girls like you today, all pretending to be Thaddeus' sister.” Her smirk dripped arrogance. “Don’t you know? His real sister, Cassandra, went abroad years ago. She might even be dead. This villa is mine now. Unless you want to vanish from Chicago, be smart and wash my feet.”

I crouched, gathering the shards of my phone, her words ringing absurdly in my ears.

Did Thaddeus really not tell her that the Langley family survives only because of me?

“You ignorant fool,” I sneered. “What decisions has Thaddeus ever made for this family?”

She tossed her curls and crossed her legs. “Listen well. First, I’m the eldest daughter of the Morrow family. I’ve never wanted for anything. Second, I’m here for Damian Cross. The Langley family is under his management now. Even Thaddeus has to beg for his approval. And you—just a maid—dare mention him to me?”

Damian?

My chest tightened. Wasn’t he the childhood fiancé my parents chose for me? I’d asked him to handle a few of my parents’ businesses while I was abroad. How had he become the general manager?

Seeing my silence, she mistook it for fear and kicked my suitcase.

“What are you standing there for? Go boil water! Fail to serve me, and you’ll disappear from the capital tomorrow.”

I ignored her tirade. My eyes locked on the necklace at her throat.

I recognized it instantly—it was the gift I’d instructed my assistant to give Thaddeus last year. He’d claimed it was for someone important.

So this was “important”?

Hiding behind Damian’s name while seducing my brother right under my nose.