Richard is only a year older than me, but he has always used his status as my older brother to pressure me. When we were kids, he would scold me for skipping class, and as we grew up, he would still interfere in my love life. My friends joked, "Your brother can't possibly like you, right? You two aren't even real siblings." Since then, I deliberately distanced myself from him, but during the New Year, he suddenly brought home a girl. "Tricia, call her sister-in-law." That night, I locked myself in my room and cried uncontrollably. He pulled me out from under the covers and gently wiped away my tears. "You're allowed to make me mad by dating a boyfriend, but I can't be upset with you?"
Richard was only a year older than me, but he had always used his role as an older brother to control me. When I was younger, he'd scold me for skipping classes. As I grew older and started dating, he still interfered.
One time, my friend joked, "Maybe Richard likes you? You guys aren't even related by blood." Since then, I had tried to keep my distance. But during the holidays, he suddenly brought a girl home.
"Tricia, this is my girlfriend. Say 'Hi'." That night, I locked myself in my room and cried uncontrollably.
He pulled me out from under the covers and gently wiped away my tears. "You could find a boyfriend to annoy me, but I couldn't do the same to you?"
Lately, luck hadn't been on my side. Every time I found a boyfriend, Richard scared them off.
I complained to my friend, "My brother is stricter than my mom!"
Sandra handed me a bag of chips and thought for a moment.
"Could it be that Richard likes you? You guys aren't even related by blood." It was true. My dad and his dad had been old friends, and ever since my dad passed away, his family had been taking care of us.
My mother had always told me to treat Richard like a real brother.
Even though we weren't related by blood, he was more responsible than any real brother.
Back in school, he would watch me do my homework every day and even lecture me if I skipped class.
He was only a year older than me, but he had always acted like an adult.
Whenever I did something wrong, he'd scold me faster than my mom.
"Tricia, that's not polite. Don't do that." "Tricia, don't talk badly about people behind their backs."
The thought that he might like me sent chills down my spine. "Don't say that! You're going to give me nightmares!" After leaving Sandra's house, her words kept echoing in my head, as if they had put a spell on me.
That night, I dreamt that Richard cornered me at the stairwell, gripping my chin and kissing me forcefully. "Who said you could get a boyfriend?" I woke up in a cold sweat, terrified, and immediately blocked his number.
Thankfully, I was about to start my internship and wouldn't be home much longer.
When I opened the door the next morning, Richard just happened to be walking by.
Instinctively, I stepped back and slammed the door shut.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his cold, piercing stare. It felt like a blade cutting right through me.
Later that evening, we went to his apartment for dinner. In front of everyone, he asked why I had blocked his number.
I stammered, unable to come up with a reason, and had no choice but to unblock him.
"I must've clicked the wrong button..." Trying to appease him, I offered him a piece of chicken with a flattering smile. "Richard, you look so thin! You should eat more meat." But something I said must've annoyed him because he even moved his plate farther away. "No need." I had found my internship on my own, even though Richard strongly opposed it and insisted I join his company.
But this time, I stood my ground and firmly refused.
I was too afraid that if we spent too much time together, something would happen.
The apartment we were living in had been rented by Richard, thinking I'd work at his company and we'd commute together.
But after starting my job, I found a new place to avoid seeing him as much as possible.
My mother would text me every day, asking what I wanted to eat. She'd have the servant cook it and then deliver it to me.
I'd give her a whole list of dishes, but Richard was always the one who showed up at my door.
I almost slammed it shut again.
But when I saw the angry look in his eyes, I stopped myself.
I forced a smile and took the food container from him. "Richard, I've missed you." He ignored me, walking around the apartment to inspect the place.
"Tricia, I send you so much money every month, and this is where you live? Where's all the money gone?" I hadn't touched a cent of the money he gave me. I didn't want to owe him or his family too much.
But I didn't dare tell him that. He'd just accuse me of treating him like a stranger.
Honestly, my mother gave me plenty of money every month too, but I had a habit of splurging on my favorite celebrities, so I had to cut costs elsewhere.
"I'm investing. High returns, you know." Being a fan was an investment, especially for a toptier star like Lanny-his merch was incredibly popular.
Once I got him out of my apartment, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I swore I'd never overindulge again! Starting my new job, I often joined my colleagues for meals to fit in better.
Eventually, I ran out of money and had to call my mother for help.
She transferred $50, 000 to me but gave me a strict warning. "If you waste this money on a man again, I'm cutting you off."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."