Don’t Mess with Her Brothers

Chapter 1 Not With You

To my husband, I was nothing more than a fraud—a woman who took advantage of his blindness, posing as his first love and marrying him.

The divorce papers. The pregnancy test results.

Both of those things appeared before me at once, absurd and heartbreaking.

I was Lily, the wife of Brad Garcia, the only heir to the Garcia family. But if I signed these papers, I would become Brad's ex-wife.

The Garcia family had business interests across every major industry. As the heir, Brad shouldered the family's legacy and reputation. As for me, I was just a shadow behind his success.

Brad was now in a room not far from mine. I was alone in the bedroom. This was the reality of our marriage. We were husband and wife, yet we lived like strangers.

I took a deep breath, forcing back tears.

This day was inevitable. A marriage built on lies had to end someday.

And the baby—what did that even mean?

Could this prove Brad ever loved me, or was it just punishment for crossing a line he never wanted me to?

But that night, a little over a month ago, the first time we made love after he regained his sight, I couldn't forget it. Although he seemed drunk, he held me tightly and kissed every inch of my skin with such intensity. His breath was heavy, and the heat of it against my bare skin made me burn with desire.

I forgot everything. I forgot that the woman he truly loved wasn't me. I just gave in, doing whatever he wanted. I didn't think about protection, or any of the consequences, because I naively believed we belonged to each other.

That night was so intoxicating that, even though Brad grew more distant afterward, I couldn't stop reliving it in my mind, still hoping our marriage could turn around.

Today, I went to the hospital because I'd been feeling constantly weak and dizzy from low blood sugar.

The doctor looked at me and said, "You're pregnant."

It took a moment to sink in. Was it really that easy to get pregnant?

Or was it because I stopped resisting, that I wanted a baby so badly that it just happened?

Having a child could mean a fresh start. With this baby, ours together, we could finally be a real family, raising the child and building a life together.

My heart raced as I rushed home, excitement bubbling up inside me. Then I received a text from Brad.

Brad: Let's meet tonight.

I should've known better. My proud, aloof, workaholic husband rarely came home. Yet today, out of nowhere, he said he would be home to meet me.

I should've realized something was wrong. Behind this sudden decision, there was a trap, not a beautiful coincidence.

But I was too caught up in my excitement. I even started planning where to put the pregnancy test results, and imagining Brad's thrill when he saw them.

But when Brad walked in and sat down, he handed me the divorce papers.

It felt like a slap to the face. But thank God, I had hidden the pregnancy test results. Brad didn't know how vulnerable I was right now. I wasn't going to let him crush me just yet.

"Take a look. If you have any other requests, feel free to ask," Brad said as he sat across from me. His tone was as calm as if he were discussing the stock market, not our marriage.

I looked down at the divorce papers in my hands.

Fate had played its cruel trick, wrapping garbage in a nice package and toying with me.

And it succeeded. I could almost hear the helpless cry of the child inside me.

My hands trembled as I met Brad's cold gaze. His eyes were beautiful, but there was no warmth in them.

Maybe it was the way I looked—so pitiful—that made Brad let out a sigh, his face full of helplessness. He looked at me, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a hint of pain in his eyes. "Lily, you know you were never meant to be my wife."

Yes. From the beginning, we were two strangers, bound together by outside forces. But now, after a year, Brad suddenly wanted a divorce. I could only think of one reason...

"Has she come back?"

I saw Brad's eyes flicker, and his voice became defensive. "It's not about Emily."

My heart turned to ice.

So, Emily Lynn had returned. I was about to be replaced as Brad's wife.

Pain stabbed at my chest, and I feared that my pain might disturb the baby inside me. I gently placed my hand on my belly, where new life was growing—my last hope.

I looked at Brad. "If we're having a baby, will you still want a divorce?"

Brad's gaze shifted to my hand resting on my stomach, his expression distant, as though watching a bad performance. His brow furrowed. "Are you saying you want a child?"

A sharp pain hit me, and I quickly pulled my hand away, stubbornly resisting any further response. "Don't you want one?"

"No, not with you!" Brad said firmly, without a hint of hesitation.

"You’d better think about what you want to ask for in the divorce—whether it's money or the house, I can arrange it." With that, he left.

At that moment, nothing else mattered. I quickly signed the divorce papers and returned to my room.

Where would I go after leaving Brad?

I looked at my belly, like seeing a fragile, lonely version of myself from the past. I whispered, "My angel, I'm your mother. Let's leave this man who doesn't love us."

The next morning, while I was still deep in sleep, the bedroom door was suddenly thrown open. A sharp, piercing voice demanded, "Who is she, and why is she in Brad's room?"

Her voice sounded so much like mine—so eerily familiar—that for a moment, I felt as though my soul had been jolted awake. I blinked, and when I opened my eyes, I saw a stunningly beautiful woman standing in front of me.

Her face... It was so familiar that it sent a chill down my spine.

I had studied her face countless times, mimicking her gestures and the way she spoke. But now, here she was, standing before me, and I felt as if the real princess had arrived to strip away the crown and gown of the imposter.

She was Emily—Brad's former lover, the one he had never truly let go of.

"Who are you?" I forced my voice to sound steady, trying to cover up my unease with an act of indifference.

But as soon as I spoke, I saw confusion flash across Emily's face. Then, almost instantly, a knowing smile spread across her lips.

She must have realized the similarity in our voices. Maybe she had already figured out why I was here.

The maid, standing behind Emily, looked both flustered and helpless. "This is Ms. Lynn. Mr. Garcia isn't home, and you were resting, so I... I wanted to inform you, but she—"

"What? She had the nerve to stop me from coming in?" Emily rolled her eyes, clearly irritated. "Don't any of you understand whose house this is?"

Brad was not home?

I couldn't decide whether I was relieved—was it because Brad hadn't brought her here to confront me?

But did it even matter?

The maid, still trying to explain, turned to Emily. "This is Mr. Garcia's wife."

"Brad's wife?" Emily scoffed, her tone laced with clear disdain. "I haven't heard anything about that."

A flood of bitterness washed over me. Emily's every glance, every movement, seemed to unravel the thin veil of "Brad's wife" I'd so carefully constructed.

But I couldn't let her see me break. I forced a smile and said, "Ms. Lynn, do you always barge into other people's bedrooms like this?"

"You know my name. That only means one thing—he's never forgotten me." Emily's voice was smug, dripping with the arrogance of someone who thought they had already won.

I felt a pang of humiliation. How could I not know who she was? Even if Brad had somehow forgotten her, I never would.

Emily's gaze was full of contempt. "And you, Brad's wife? The so-called lady of the Garcia family? Who even remembers who you are? Has the Garcia family really sunk this low, or is it just that no one gives a damn about you?"

Her arrogance was suffocating. I no longer cared about being Brad's wife, but I still had my dignity. I looked her in the eye and said, "This is my room. Please leave."

Emily sneered and then yanked my covers off, looking down at me with pure defiance. "Let's get something straight. The only woman Brad ever loved was me. I'm the only one who's meant to be his wife. You should just pack up and get out of here."

Why did I have to take this humiliation?

A wave of pain hit me. I stood up, my hand raised to push Emily out of the room. But before I could move, someone stepped into the doorway, blocking me.

Not only did they stop me, but I was shoved roughly back onto the bed. It hurt—so much.

My vision blurred, but I could still make out the figure standing in front of me. It was Brad.