TRADING MY EX FOR HIS STEP BROTHER

COMMOTION AT THE REGISTRY

CHAPTER 5: COMMOTION AT THE REGISTRY

KIMBERLY:

I didn't notice her earlier, didn't even know when she came in. But when I heard her venomous voice and felt her firm hand on my shirt collar, I knew something was about to change.

I held her hand and peeled her fingers off my shirt collar.

“What are you doing, ma’am? Take your hands off me.”

Everly halted in her tracks and turned. “What's the meaning of this, Barbra?”

Barbra is Roland's mother. She glared at me. “She had it all planned out. She connived with her sister and set Roland up so she could marry the heir to Carter's Dynasty. Don't you get it? Roland has said several times that Tess seduced him.”

Evelyn’s voice was low and cold. “Behave yourself Barbra and walk away. You should be ashamed of what your son did. But instead, you're here defending him. I guess apples don't fall far from the tree.”

Barbra seemed furious. “If you succeed in marrying Damien, I will make your life a living hell.”

I looked at her and nodded. “Challenge accepted.”

A few minutes earlier, I wasn't certain about marrying Damien but hearing her say that made me make up my mind.

I followed them to the Range Rover waiting at the garage and we all headed to the marriage registry.

My mother’s car was already parked in front of the registry. Dad must have called her and told her to come.

"Why is my heart pounding this way?" I muttered under my breath as Damien guided me up the steps.

He looked every bit the billionaire heir as he walked with confidence strides.

Our parents followed behind us. My father… Well, he had nothing but disappointment etched across his face.

"Are you nervous?" Damien asked, his hand brushing against mine.

"You mean aside from the fact that I’m marrying a man I barely know to spite another man who broke my heart? No, not at all."

He chuckled. "You’ve got fire, Kimberly. That’ll make this interesting."

"I’m glad this is entertainment for you, Damien," I snapped, but there was no real venom in my tone. I was too emotionally drained to be vicious.

We stepped inside the registry, and the official behind the desk looked up and gave us a polite smile.

Then he turned to Evelyn. "Mrs. Carter. Welcome ,” he beamed at her and it seemed she had informed him that we were coming.

"Let’s make it quick," Damien said, adjusting his cufflinks again.

I was about to say something to him when the door burst open with such force that it slammed into the wall. We all turned around in alarm.

It was Roland.

His face was pale, hair disheveled like he had been running. His chest heaved as his eyes landed on me. Rage. Hurt. Desperation. All of it swirled in his eyes.

"You’re not doing this," he barked. "You’re not marrying my brother."

My heart lodged in my throat.

"Roland—"

"No!" he shouted, cutting me off. "I won’t stand here and watch this madness happen. Kimberly, please—don’t do this."

Damien crossed his arms. "You're not exactly in a position to object, brother."

Roland ignored him. He moved towards me with slow, deliberate steps.

"I made a mistake," he said. "I was weak. Tess… she came to me. She seduced me. I—I didn’t want any of it. You have to believe me. I love you, Kim. I’ve always loved you."

I stepped back, my hands trembling. "You didn’t even try to stop it. You looked into my sister’s eyes and betrayed me. Don’t come here acting like you're innocent."

"I was drunk! She cornered me! Please, Kim, you know me! We grew up together! You know my heart!"

Damien rolled his eyes. "Jesus, this is pathetic."

Roland’s eyes flicked to Damien. "You always wanted everything I had. My toys, my friends, my life—and now her? You think you can swoop in because I made a mistake?"

Damien smirked. "You lost her the moment she saw who you really are. I’m just the consolation prize."

"Don’t you dare!" Roland’s voice cracked.

And then… he pulled out a knife.

Everyone froze..

Gasps echoed around the room. My step mother screamed. Damien stepped in front of me instinctively.

"Roland!" my father shouted, raising his hands. "Put that down!"

Roland’s hands trembled, but the weapon was steady. His eyes were glossy now, red-rimmed with unshed tears.

"If I can’t have her, no one will," he whispered. "I swear to God, Kim… I’ll end it all. Right here. Right now."

Damien spoke calmly. "Don’t be stupid, Roland."

"I’m not being stupid! I’m in pain! I’m in hell!"

"So your solution is murder-suicide? That’s your grand redemption arc?"

"You don’t understand! You’ve never loved anyone but yourself!"

"You’re right," Damien said, pulling me closer behind him, his body tense. "But maybe I’m learning now. Maybe she’s changing that."

Roland’s eyes flicked to me again. "Tell me you don’t love me. Look me in the eyes and say it."

My mouth was dry. My vision was blurry. I wasn’t afraid of dying—I was afraid of how much he had already broken me.

"I don’t love you, Roland. Not anymore."

His hands shook harder. "No… no. Don’t say that. Please…"

"Roland," Damien said quietly. "Look around. There are too many witnesses. And cameras. You won’t get away with this. You’ll spend the rest of your life in prison, and Kim will still be mine."

Roland screamed and pointed the knife toward me, but before he could lunge…

Bang!

The door slammed open again.