TRADING MY EX FOR HIS BROTHER

CHAPTER 4

LUNA

Two weeks.

That’s how long it took for the world to understand that I was no longer the abandoned, betrayed, rejected woman… I was the fiancée of Leonardo Delgado, the most powerful man in the city.

The ring sparkled on my left hand like a silent reminder — I won. An oval diamond, surrounded by smaller stones, delicate and luxurious at the same time. The most expensive piece ever made by a private European jeweler, commissioned by Leonardo especially for me.

We walked side by side up the stairs of his company, like a couple born to be together.

My hair was tied in an elegant bun, high heels, a sober dress, flawless makeup. I was unrecognizable — and that was exactly what I wanted.

As soon as we walked through the doors of Delgado Corp headquarters, a crowd of photographers, journalists, and onlookers waited for us on the sidewalk. Cameras flashed like thunder, blinding our vision.

“Luna, is it true you're engaged to your ex-husband’s brother?”

“Leonardo, what do you have to say about Marco Delgado?”

“Luna, did you leave Marco for money?”

“Did he try to get revenge? Are you going to sue him?”

Leonardo protected me with his arm, keeping the photographers at bay as we descended into the underground garage. The cold silence of the place was a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

My eyes widened when I looked at my car.

Or rather, what was left of it.

My heart tightened for a moment, but my feet didn’t stop. I walked toward the vehicle — or what used to be one of my most cherished possessions. Now it was covered in red, black, and blue spray paint dripping down the sides.

The words screamed.

FAT w***e.

YOU WERE NEVER GOOD IN BED.

I took a deep breath. No tears. Not one.

Only rage.

Leonardo reached my side, staring at the car with his jaw clenched.

“Son of a b***h,” he whispered.

He pulled out his phone and called immediately.

“I want the footage from the garage last night. Now. I want everything: who came in, how long they stayed, and what they did.”

He hung up and looked at me.

“It was him. Marco. I’m sure. And now I have enough to put that bastard behind bars. Vandalism, harassment, defamation.”

I stayed silent for a few seconds.

Leonardo stepped closer.

“Do you want me to handle this? I can make him disappear from your life with one call.”

I took a deep breath, then turned my face toward him.

“No.”

He blinked.

“No?”

I looked at the destroyed car, the insults dripping like venom from someone who’s drowning.

“He needs to stay free,” I said, my voice steady.

“He needs to be free… so he can see what I’ll become. He has to watch my transformation, step by step. I want every magazine cover to be a knife in his soul.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve always been.”

Then I turned, ran my hands across his chest, and without saying another word, I kissed him.

“Give me my revenge...”

The next morning, every newsstand in the city displayed the same image: our kiss.

That photo where Leonardo held my waist and kissed me beside the vandalized car. His eyes closed, his expression serene, a brutal contrast to the fury in Marco’s rumored outbursts.

"From Betrayed to Fiancée of Tycoon Leonardo Delgado"

"She Moved On. She Won. And Now, She Reigns Beside the City’s Most Powerful Man."

Social media exploded. Hashtags like #BrideOfTheYear and #RevengeWithStyle went viral.

The office phone didn’t stop ringing. Invitations to events, magazine covers, interviews… but I didn’t care about fame.

I wanted transformation.

I was alone in Leonardo’s apartment. The balcony was wide, the sunset painted the sky with golden tones, and I sat with a glass of wine, thinking about the next step.

Then the intercom rang.

“Delivery for Luna Arantes,” said the doorman.

Minutes later, a delivery man handed me a bouquet.

Flowers.

Black flowers.

The petals were deep black, like poisoned velvet. A card was attached to the arrangement.

My fingers trembled, but I opened it.

“You’ll pay for humiliating me. This isn’t over.”

No name. But I knew exactly who sent it.

I stared at the flowers for a few seconds.

Then, without hesitation, I went to the kitchen, grabbed alcohol and matches, placed the bouquet in the sink, and lit it.

The flames danced, consuming petal by petal, until only ashes remained.

Marco still believed he could bring me down.

But he was wrong.

Three months.

That’s how long I stayed out of the spotlight.

While the newspapers fed on speculation, while the curious begged for public appearances, while Marco twisted himself trying to stay relevant... I chose silence.

I woke up early every day.

Went to the gym without fail. Dedicated myself to intense workouts, a balanced diet, therapy sessions.

Strategic surgeries that completely changed my appearance.

It wasn’t just about changing my body — it was about rebuilding everything he had destroyed in me.

I avoided interviews. Declined party invitations. Refused cameras. I isolated myself — yes — but I wasn’t running away. I was transforming. And I knew exactly who I would be when I returned.

Today, I rode the elevator to Leonardo’s apartment, sweaty, hair tied in a simple bun, still wearing my earbuds, breathing deeply after another workout. I pushed the door open and there he was.

Standing in the middle of the room, in that dark suit that looked tailor-made for sin.

His tie slightly loosened, his hair purposefully tousled. And the smile… that smile that meant he was about to turn the world upside down.

In his hand, a piece of paper.

“You’re back,” he said, his eyes sliding down my body as if undressing me.

I tossed the towel onto the couch and pointed at the paper.

“What is that?”

He stepped closer, handed me the document with that look in his eyes, gleaming like he was setting up the final blow in a private war.

“This,” he said with satisfaction, “can completely crush your ex’s ego.”

I held the paper, confused. My eyes scanned the words:

Purchase agreement. Delgado Imports Company. Buyer: Leonardo A. Delgado.

I froze.

“You… bought Marco’s company?”

“I did,” he confirmed with a slow smile. “But the best part... is that now it’s yours.”

I stayed silent. My heart raced. I didn’t know if it was shock, anger, surprise, or a cruel mix of all three.

“What?”

“Surprise,” he said, stepping closer, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“The company is now in your name, Luna. You own what was once his empire. Marco’s last source of power… now belongs to the woman he humiliated.”

My lower lip trembled, but not from weakness.

For the first time, I had control. He no longer ruled anything. Not me. Not the family name. Not even his own company.

“You’ve won, Luna. And today… you’re going to show the world.”