Marrying My Ex’s Older Brother

“Weren’t you supposed to marry Vanessa today? Aren’t you worried she’ll be angry if you don’t show up?” “Everyone knows she can’t live without him. Even if she finds out you ditched her for Nat, she won’t dare complain.” “Exactly. Vanessa isn’t as important as Nat. Adrian’s looked after her since they were kids…” They were talking about Natalie Ashford, the girl Adrian treated as his sister. Standing outside the private dining room, Vanessa Bennett felt her blood run cold. This was the man she’d loved for years. A man who wasn’t worth it. She clenched her fists until her knuckles cracked, but the pain was nothing compared to the emptiness inside her. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Bang! The noise stopped. Silence fell over the room. “Vanessa…” Several people stared at her in surprise. She stood in the doorway, fair-skinned and beautiful, her long legs beneath a pink dress that emphasized her waist. Her hair was swept into a simple updo. But her gaze was fixed on Adrian and Natalie. She let out a bitter laugh. “So this is why you couldn’t make it to the registry office?” Adrian looked briefly guilty and walked toward her. “We can register our marriage anytime. Nat just got back from abroad. As her brother, the least I could do was throw her a welcome party.” “Our anniversary only comes once a year.” Vanessa gave him a mocking smile. “Does that really mean nothing to you? You know that if we don’t do it today, we’ll have to wait until next year.” They’d agreed on it together. They wanted their dating anniversary to become their wedding anniversary. But he clearly had no intention of making their marriage official. The person he cared about was Natalie, his childhood companion. Perhaps sensing something was wrong, Adrian reached for her arm. “Don’t start this again. I’ll explain when we get home.” Vanessa pulled away sharply. Natalie spoke up. “I’m sorry. This is my fault. I didn’t know you were going to the registry office today.” She lowered her head, sounding so miserable that anyone would have thought she was the victim. Vanessa had resented her for a long time. She didn’t answer. Natalie looked up with tearful eyes, appearing fragile. “Please forgive me. I really do wish you and my brother all the best.” “All the best?” Vanessa scoffed. “Would you stop acting? If you really wanted that, you wouldn’t have come back.” Adrian’s expression hardened. “Don’t be rude.” “Did I upset you by talking about your sweetheart?” Vanessa looked at him as though he were a stranger. His irritation was plain now. “Watch your mouth. Don’t talk nonsense.” He was so determined to protect his precious little sister. Fine. Vanessa would give him something to defend. “If you’ve already done it, why are you so afraid of people talking?” Natalie’s eyes reddened, her face falling. “There’s nothing like that between my brother and me. Can you stop taking everything the wrong way? If I’d known coming home would make you fight, I wouldn’t have come back.” Her voice broke, and she began to sob. The people around them immediately felt sorry for her and turned on Vanessa. “That’s going too far. They’re like siblings. How can you be jealous of that?” “Exactly. Nat left the country three years ago because you couldn’t stand her. She sacrificed so much for you two. Are you going to start again?” “Careful, Vanessa. Adrian might get sick of you and dump you.” She looked at their indignant faces and remained calm. For Adrian’s sake, she’d always tolerated his friends. She’d said nothing when they mocked her or talked behind her back. This time, she wouldn’t let it slide. Her gaze sharpened. “So a sister who’s constantly hanging off her brother is in the right? Were you all kicked in the head, or do you enjoy watching that kind of forbidden relationship? I can step aside and let you enjoy the whole show.” Nobody answered. They hadn’t expected the woman who’d always been so submissive around Adrian to speak so bluntly. “How can you insult me like that?” Natalie looked ready to collapse. “It’s fine if you don’t like me, but my brother loves you. He’s done so much for you. Why can’t you be happy?” Vanessa frowned. Other people might not know how manipulative Natalie was, but she did. They’d known each other for ten years, and Vanessa had been Adrian’s girlfriend for five. The first time, on Vanessa’s birthday, Natalie had called to say she’d been in an accident. Adrian had left to find her. The second time, on Valentine’s Day, Natalie had called in tears, supposedly threatening to kill herself after a breakup. Then there’d been a third time. A fourth. There was always an excuse to leave Vanessa alone, and Adrian always chose Natalie. When Natalie had gone abroad three years earlier, everyone had assumed Vanessa had forced her to leave. Vanessa stared at her in disgust. “Would a normal relationship between siblings make someone miss something as important as registering his marriage? One of you is shameless, and the other is throwing herself at him. Yet somehow I’m the villain, and I’m supposed to be understanding. Why? Because neither of you has any shame?” Natalie flushed with humiliation. Unable to answer, she started crying. Adrian lost his temper. His face reddened as he shouted, “Enough! Don’t you realize how ridiculous you look? It’s just a piece of paper. If we couldn’t do it today, we’ll do it on your birthday. What’s the big deal? Why can’t you grow up?” “Grow up?” An odd calm settled over Vanessa. “Fine. Adrian, we’re done.” Everyone froze. He stared at her for a few seconds before irritation took over. “This again? Three years ago, you threatened to break up, and Nat left so we could stay together. Are you playing the same game to get rid of her? You’re unbelievable. I’ve already agreed to marry you, and you still won’t leave her alone. Are you going to torment her until she dies? If you insist on being this vicious, I won’t marry you!” Natalie lowered her head, enjoying his protection. A flash of triumph crossed her eyes. Vanessa smiled brightly. For the first time, the way forward seemed clear. “Perfect. Then we won’t get married. It’s all off.” She turned to leave. Adrian shouted after her, his voice threatening. “If you walk out that door without apologizing to Nat, I’ll never forgive you!” Everyone expected her to give in and apologize. They knew how much she loved him. They were wrong. Vanessa stopped and turned to face them. She lifted her chin as though taking an oath. “Since you’re all here to witness it, listen carefully. I, Vanessa Bennett, swear that my relationship with Adrian is over and that I will never marry him. If I break that promise, may he end up alone, childless, and miserable!” Ignoring their stunned faces, she walked out. Once she was in the car she’d booked through an app, she began blocking Adrian everywhere. She was lost in thought when an incoming call brought her back. The number looked strangely familiar. Her heart seemed to stop for a moment. She answered, and a composed male voice came through the phone. “If you want to get married, why not consider me?”