Engaged To One Brother But Craved By The Other

The smile slipped from Emily’s face. “Grandpa, why would you suggest something like that? I don’t want to get married.” The old man beside her looked at her with pity. He too had hoped for another way out, but right now there wasn’t. “Child, this is hard. I wish there was another way to raise money for your brother’s surgery. Kevin needs the operation as soon as possible,” he explained calmly. Seeing Emily’s horrified expression, he added, “The Valencia Brothers are well known in this city. Their reputation in business and society is top-notch. Grandpa would never let you suffer.” Emily sighed, unconvinced. Marriage wasn’t something you just dove into. She was only twenty-two and still in college. How was she supposed to cope with school if she got married? “Grandpa, I know you want the best for me and Kevin, but there has to be another way to raise money. It’s never been my dream to marry a total stranger.” The old man could only watch helplessly. Kevin’s health was worse than Emily realized. After his daughter passed away, Emily’s father had remarried, and like many stepmothers, she mistreated Emily and Kevin. Unable to watch his grandchildren suffer, the old man had taken them in and raised them himself. A few years later, their father died. As expected, the stepmother claimed everything for her own children, leaving the old man to raise Emily and Kevin alone. For years he had managed, but a few months ago, Kevin suddenly developed a heart problem. The doctor had said he needed surgery, but with little money, they chose medication instead. Months passed and Kevin’s condition worsened. Now the surgery could no longer be delayed, but the old man still couldn’t afford the expenses. “Emily, I understand your pain, but it’s your brother’s life on the line.” Emily shook her head. “Kevin is strong. Let him hang in there. I’ll find a job and take care of us.” Her phone rang and she stood. “Grandpa, it’s my colleague. I’ll see you when I get back.” Without hesitation, Emily left and boarded a taxi straight to college. On the way, she could only think about her grandfather’s suggestion. “The Valencia Brothers? Total strangers!” she mumbled, the words spilling like a curse. “How can Grandpa be okay with giving me to strangers? So much for his sermons about marrying for love.” The taxi stopped outside the gates of Grenchard College. Emily paid the driver and hurried in. She was already running late for her presentation because of the hold-up with Grandpa. She dashed into the lecture hall just as the last student stepped down and the lecturer called, “Emily Duke.” “I’m here!” she panted, rushing onto the podium. “I’m sorry for being late.” She bowed hastily to the professor, who barely spared her a glance. “Go on with the presentation.” By noon, the business department had finished presenting and the students filed out of the study hall looking exhausted. Two girls, Emma and Freya, walked alongside Emily. Emma, a tall blonde, grinned as she poked her. “You did so good up there. Even Professor Crane seemed impressed. I forgot you’re also a student,” she teased. Emily rolled her eyes. “He grilled my advertising strategy twice. I’m afraid I’ll score the lowest.” Freya tilted her head. “Anyway, you knew we had a presentation this morning—why did you come to class late?” At the question, Emily stiffened, her face creasing. Her friends immediately noticed. “What’s wrong? You look down,” Emma asked. Freya stared expectantly. Emily bit her lip and steered them away from the crowd before admitting, “It’s my grandpa. He wants me to get married to someone I don’t even know.” “What? Get married?” Freya exclaimed. Emma gasped. “Gosh, why would your grandpa even suggest that? What about your education?” “He wants to use the money for Kevin’s medical bills. But why do I have to sacrifice my happiness?” The words tasted bitter on her tongue, making her feel like a bad sister. After all, it wasn’t like she had ever truly contributed to helping at home. “Is Kevin’s health that bad?” Freya asked. Before Emily could answer, her phone rang. She pulled it out. Masco Hospital flashed across the screen—the very hospital Kevin had been admitted to for the past few days. Why were they calling all of a sudden? “Hello?” Emily answered quickly. “Am I speaking to Emily Duke?” a female voice asked on the other end. “Yes, I’m Emily Duke.” “We tried reaching Kevin’s guardian but his number is unavailable. Since you are listed as Kevin’s emergency contact, I need you to come to the hospital to sign some papers and make a deposit for his surgery.” The call ended abruptly. “Hello? Hello!” Emily cried nervously into the phone, but the line was already dead. Tears pooled in her eyes. Surgery? “Grandpa said Kevin was okay! He just had to take his medicine on time!” “Who was that?” Emma asked. But Emily, dazed and trembling, ran out of the college without answering. She flagged down a taxi and headed straight to Masco Hospital. At the hospital, a nurse led Emily to her brother's ward. Her eyes blurred with tears at the sight of him lying unconscious on the bed, a respiratory tube strapped beneath his nose. She could only watch through the transparent glass wall—visitors weren’t allowed inside. His face was pale, his eyes closed, as though lost to another world. "How long has he been like this?" Emily asked, her voice breaking. "Three days. Would you like to speak to the doctor about the deposit? He needs to be operated on tomorrow," the nurse replied gently. Tomorrow? The word hit her like a knife. No wonder Grandpa had brought up the marriage proposal. She couldn’t be selfish now. Kevin was only fourteen, suffering so much. She had to act. "I’ll be back soon," she whispered, then rushed out of the hospital and boarded a taxi home. "Grandpa! Grandpa!" she called the moment she stepped inside. The old man was in the living room, coat in hand, about to leave. "My dear, back from college already?" he asked in surprise. "The hospital called. Kevin needs surgery tomorrow. Why didn’t you tell me all this while?" Emily demanded, her words trembling with anger and desperation. Grandpa’s expression darkened. "You are still young, my dear. I didn’t know how to break the news to you." "Grandpa, we have to save Kevin, no matter what. Are the Valencia brothers still interested in the marriage proposal?" Emily’s face flushed, strands of hair sticking to the sweat across her forehead. Grandpa hesitated, then shook his head. "I was preparing to go to their family house to personally tell Madam Catherine we must decline the offer." "No, Grandpa. I’ll marry—so long as Kevin survives." The Valencia brothers, Noah and Nicholas, were sons of the late Anderson Valencia, a powerful businessman who died in a plane crash with his wife. Their grandmother, Madam Catherine, had raised them ever since. Years later, the eldest, Noah Valencia, stormed into the business world and rose to fame as the most successful entrepreneur in the state with his groundbreaking tech products. But the second son, Nicholas, was a different story. Inside the taxi, Emily shifted uncomfortably. She had heard rumors about Nicholas. Her colleagues gossiped often, sharing stories about his scandals. Every week, new photos spread across the Internet—Nicholas stumbling out of hotels or bars, different women clinging to his arms. Normally Emily ignored such gossip, but now, she couldn’t. She had to know. "Grandpa…" Her brows furrowed. "Yes, child?" "Which of the Valencia brothers am I supposed to be engaged to?" Grandpa faltered, his voice low. "I never asked. Madam Catherine never told me, since we didn’t discuss further. But I’m certain it’s her eldest grandson. She spoke of him with such pride." Emily nodded slowly. Noah Valencia was a role model, admired by all. Professors encouraged students to strive to be like him. Pulling out her phone, she began to type his name—but her fingers slipped, and instead she searched Nicholas Valencia. Dozens of photos appeared instantly: Nicholas surrounded by women, his dimples flashing in that mischievous smile the media adored. The headlines already branded him the “Ladies’ Man.” He was only twenty-four. "Disgusting," Emily muttered, quickly erasing his name to type in Noah’s instead. Just then, the taxi pulled to a stop in front of a sprawling mansion. "Let’s go in, Emily," Grandpa said.