I spent years cleaning up a man. We were in love, or should I better say, I was in love, because in the end, that is what that shit felt. After all that I did for him, he heartlessly broke my heart. Found him in bed with our wedding planner two weeks to our wedding. And he had the balls to take pleasure in my pains. I almost became a murderer that night. Almost killed a man. I put the very first stain on my family's spotless name. My father could not take it. He distanced himself from me and stood a safe distance to watch the whole world raise against me. But in all this difficult and trying moment, one thing remained my solace and my beacon of all the good vibes that I yearned for - Joe Fredrick Montana. My stepbrother. And before we knew it, the connection bloomed into something we both never anticipated. It is wrong, yet so strong! It is forbidden, yet irresistible. For a while, none of us seemed to care about the consequences of our steamy undercover affairs, until something that threatens to tear everything between us and beyond happens. This, is our story!

Chapter 1 THE WEDDING FEVER

"Come on, Leon! This is the fourth time that we are postponing this, all because of your schedule again? Come on!" I fume at this ever-busy, soon-to-be husband of mine.

Well, that is, if this damn wedding will actually find favor in the eyes of the gods and push through. I actually wish it does because I have invested more than just love in it. I have done even the impossible to make this work. Things that my dad would kill me for if ever he learned about them.

They say that how much you sacrifice in love should not matter as long as the end results are as you anticipated. I wanted the best for this man, the best of the man that I would spend the rest of my life with. I wanted to scour off the inferiority complex from him so that he could match my class. And so I gave my all, ensuring that I shaped him into the best version a man can ever be. And I am glad of the results.

And all has been sunshine and roses until recently. We are in the middle of our big day preparations, and I don't like the direction that things are taking of late. I would like to understand why he seems to be drifting slowly away from this marriage thing. I mean, he should be as committed as I am, right? Why is it beginning to feel like I am the only one interested in this wedding? Why does it feel like I am the only one anticipating this day?

"You know how important my work is, don't you?" Leon's voice comes through the line.

The same old excuse that I have been hearing for weeks. And for God's sake, what is not important? Me? Our wedding? Is us tying the knots like we have been dreaming of and starting our family not important again?

"And I am not?" I squeal back through the line. "Our wedding is not important, Leon?" I quiz, and anger is getting the best of me, and this is warranted. What I am feeling right now would be felt by anybody in my shoes.

"I didn't say that, Bella," he roars back in forced calmness. "Look, my desk is so full. I don't need any more frustrations right now. I have a million things to take care of. See what you can do with the caterers if you must do this today."

Hold on!

I am frustrating him now? When will he have time for this because this is becoming too exhausting? I have better things to do as a Montana than frustrate people, you know?

"And ooh," his deep voice echoes through the line again, "the wedding planners called to say that they are coming over to the resort tomorrow to start the preparations. I gave them your number because I want you to deal with them from now on."

Shock slaps me! My anger rises threefold!

Even them? This was the only thing he had agreed to take care of because, apparently, the bitch leading the team is his best friend. But even this, he has let go? Just what the hell is wrong with this guy? How the hell does he expect me to manage the resort and handle this marriage pressure all by myself as if I am marrying myself?

Ooh, no! We can't continue this way! I also have an office to run. My table is also full in the office. It is either we are in this together or together. No more excuses!

"Hel... Hello? Leon! le...!"

Dead end! I only receive back the echoes of my own wrath. The jerk already hanged the fuck on me! That son of a nobody!

I slam the damn phone on the empty seat beside me, letting my frustrations out in a loud growl. Since when did he start disrespecting me this much?

"Son of..."

I feel like screaming through the deadline, but if only he could hear me. How dare he bundle all the responsibilities of this wedding to me? We still have a lot to do in the nothingness of the time that we have left, yet he is doing this? What sort of a motherfucker does this?

How dare he hang up on me just like that? My desk is also full, you know? I also have unattended files waiting for me back at the office. And for goodness sake, what is keeping him busy, huh? The company that I built for him? The company in which I am still the CEO? Ain't I his boss?

I won't refute that he has proven to be a witty ass, taking the company to commendable heights for the three years since it was born, but come on! That is not reason enough for him to do this to me! He should at least remember that he would still be a nobody, wandering in the stinking streets, eating garbage, or going on an empty stomach for days and sleeping on the cold streets if it weren't for me!

I, Bella Montana, picked him up from the streets, cleaned him up, clothed him, fed him, and gave him hope when life had mercilessly fucked him up. It was my money that started and funded the company he now works for. I was the one who put him in that seat that is burning his ass right now. I am the reason he can be counted as a man among men and even stand out among them right now. He is nothing without me, and he dares do this to me?

The balls he has grown, huh! I am beginning to hate him for freaking me out this way. For tossing all the burdens to me. What does he take me for?

The sound of my house buzzing again tosses that bittersweet tale aside. My dad's name on the screen doesn't do any good to my messed-up, riled self. It reminds me of the second reason why I had to abandon my office and drive all the way here to the airport.