Chapter 2

"Leave," Jeremy said, and my eyes widened in shock.

Was he serious? After he used me, he was just going to toss me aside like a toy?

"You get to fuck me and then kick me out?" I hissed, unable to believe his sudden change.

Was this the same man who, just moments ago, had seemed like a complete gentleman?

"You want a tip, is that it?" he said with a smirk.

I stopped myself from slapping him. How could he have turned into such a jerk so quickly after pretending to be so nice? "You know what, you're a total asshole!" I snapped, then turned on my heel and slammed the office door shut.

Back at the club, I checked my watch. It was past midnight, and there were no familiar faces around. My mom and her friends had probably gone home to get ready for the wedding tomorrow. I hailed a taxi and went straight to the hotel where we were staying. The moment my head hit the pillow, I was out.

I woke up the next day to Sunny gently shaking my shoulder. I opened my groggy eyes to see her sitting next to me, a huge smile on her face.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Sunny exclaimed cheerfully. "Time to get up. You have an hour to get ready for your mom's wedding."

She seemed more excited about it than I was. I groaned, stretched, and glanced around the room.

My eyes went wide when I saw a pink silk dress displayed on a mannequin. "Oh," I whispered, finally remembering. "I'm the maid of honor, aren't I?"

Right. It was my mom's wedding, and she had made me her maid of honor without even asking.

My mother was a dominant woman, and believe me when I say she always got what she wanted. That became even more obvious after my dad went to jail for armed robbery. I was only seven years old, and as I grew up, I watched my mom move from one man to the next. We would also move every time she broke up with one of them because she either found someone richer or he broke up with her. That was the routine for my mom and me for all those years.

Even at forty-five, she was still one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen, and I guess that's how she got the men she targeted, especially the billionaire she was marrying now.

Her fiancé's name is Victor Pemberton. Victor isn't just an ordinary guy; he's a billionaire who owns a shipping company and an airline. He proposed to my mom after only five dates last week, and my mom wasted no time planning what she called "the perfect" wedding.

Victor is in his mid-fifties, and from what I had heard, he has a son named Jeremy Pemberton. Rumor had it that Jeremy was a tyrant, a cold and cruel CEO known for his conquests and infamous reputation as a player.

I hadn't met him yet because he lived in London, where he supposedly grew up. But I knew I would see him today. And I had no idea how to act as a stepsister because, even though many men had come and gone in my mom's life, this was the first time I would meet one of their children.

Sunny brought me back to reality when she gave me a cup of tea. "Drink this. We need to go with your mom in a few minutes," she said with a smile. "Come on, you can't show up like this. This is your mom's wedding; you should look beautiful," she added, teasing me.

I rolled my eyes at her. "I haven't even brushed my teeth yet."

Ignoring my complaint, I rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower and came out to find Sunny waiting patiently. I carefully slid into the pink dress, making sure not to damage it. It was my mom's gift to me for her grand wedding to her new husband.

In front of the mirror, Sunny helped me arrange my dark hair. The soft pink dress stood out against my skin. After a quick application of makeup, we headed to the main suite. My mom walked out, glowing in her ball gown. She looked stunning, her perfectly styled hair and a diamond necklace sparkling against her elegant neck. But the moment our eyes met, I saw a flash of disappointment. She had wanted me to wear heavy makeup and the necklace she bought—to be a symbol of her new husband's wealth. I refused to be a walking parade of her success, not on the day we became a public spectacle in his family.

I stood beside her as we walked toward the waiting car, the tension between us thick in the air. The car ride felt suffocating. Paparazzi surrounded us, eager to capture a glimpse of the newest addition to the Black family.

My mother smiled brightly for the cameras, basking in her moment, while Sunny and I exchanged silent, knowing glances. This was the life my mom had always dreamed of, the one she never got with my dad.

When we arrived, the sheer opulence of the ceremony hit me. It was an extravagant affair, a sea of elegantly dressed guests amid lavish decorations and an overwhelming display of wealth that I found difficult to stomach.

Sunny nudged me gently. "It will be over soon. Just play your part," she whispered.

I nodded, bracing myself for the act. The ceremony unfolded with all the grandeur one would expect from a billionaire's wedding. I stood there, forcing a smile, pretending to share in the joy of the occasion. Before long, it was time for me to walk behind my mom as she headed toward her new husband. I prepared my best smile for the cameras, trying to keep my composure.

When we got to the altar, Victor greeted my mom with a wide smile, gently taking her hand as he helped her stand next to him.

And then I saw him...

Standing next to Victor was a man, tall and imposing, his dark hair a perfectly fresh cut.

My breath hitched, and before I could stop myself, I let out a loud gasp. Everyone looked at me. Even my mom and her groom glanced back at me. I quickly forced myself to regain my composure, but inside, my heart was pounding.

I could never forget that face. Memories from the previous night came rushing back to me all at once.

That was him...

That was the man who had gone down on me just hours ago.

I swallowed hard, glancing at him again in his perfectly tailored suit. His resemblance to Victor Pemberton was undeniable, almost as if I were looking at a Pembertoner version of my new stepfather. And in that moment, the truth hit me like a lightning bolt.

I slept with... Jeremy Pemberton, my stepbrother!