His Brother's Bride

~ Lily ~ "Lily, darling, you really need to smile for the cameras," my mother insisted, her voice sharp and almost rehearsed, as if she had been practicing in front of a mirror for days. I managed a smile and lifted my champagne glass, careful not to spill a single drop. The engagement party for Adrian Stone and me was in full swing at the Ritz in London, and the place was alive with chatter, laughter, and the occasional clink of glasses. Everywhere I looked, I could feel eyes on me—journalists, socialites, family friends, all waiting for me to step into a role I was hesitant to take on. "I’m fine, Mom," I mumbled, taking a small sip of the bubbly drink, hoping no one would notice how anxious I felt. My hands were trembling just a bit. "Fine? Sweetheart, you need to look happy. You’re marrying into the Stones! Do you have any idea what this means for our family?" "Yes, Mother. I get it," I replied, keeping my tone polite but strained. I forced another smile, more for the sake o

A MONTH LATER ~ Lily ~ The week leading up to the wedding was supposed to be the busiest time, packed with final presentations, meetings, and a ton of last-minute details. I was doing my best to focus, making sure everything looked perfect on the outside. But today, my body had other plans, reminding me that I was more than just a picture-perfect bride-to-be. I was in the middle of going over a bunch of floral arrangements when a sudden wave of nausea hit me. I pressed my hand against my stomach, trying to brush it off. "I’ll just… step out for a moment," I said quietly, managing a weak smile for the people around me. By the time I made it to the restroom, the nausea had become unbearable . I barely reached the sink before I was committed, my body shaking and feeling utterly drained. Minutes felt like hours as I got rid of everything I had eaten, my head spinning and my stomach churning. When it finally calmed down, I leaned against the counter, beads of sweat trickling down m

~ Julian ~ Ever since I laid eyes on her, I just couldn’t concentrate. Lily. After six long years, she suddenly appeared out of nowhere, looking… different. Colder. It felt like the Lily I once even knew even tho we weren't close or spoke much had been tucked away, replaced by someone polished and distant. When I called her name, she didn’t even flinch. No surprise. No emotion. Just… nothing. And it drove me absolutely mad that it affected me so deeply. By five o’clock, I finally admitted to myself that I couldn’t get any work done. I grabbed my suitcase and was heading for the exit when Raymond, my assistant, popped up. “Sir, before you head out,” he said quickly, “just a quick reminder, you have a meeting at Midtown Mall tomorrow at two p.m. The manager of the new flagship store wants to finalize the partnership deal.” I nodded absentmindedly. “Okay. Just send me the details.” He stepped aside as I walked out of the building. --- The next day, I arrived at Midtown Mall a

~ Julian ~I couldn’t stop staring at the photographs.For the third time that day, Marcus’s file lay open on my desk. Birth certificates without a father’s name. Medical records of twins born exactly nine months after that night making it six years now. School forms signed only by Lily Harper.But it was the photos that left me shaken.Eva and Ethan. My children.Eva’s bright smile carried my eyes—dark brown with gold flecks. Ethan’s serious face mirrored my own childhood pictures, down to the stubborn set of his jaw. I compared his school photo to one of mine that my mother had kept for years. The resemblance was undeniable.“Six years, Lily,” I muttered to the empty room. “Six years you thought you could keep them hidden.”If I hadn’t seen them at the mall, would I ever have known I have children? Would it have been a lifetime secret? The thought of all these made my grip tighten on the edge of the desk.They kids have had their six birthdays, six Christmas celebrations. Six years

~ Lily ~I couldn’t stop trembling.It had been two hours since Julian left my office, and each time my shaky hands reached for my coffee, panic grips me.His words kept repeating in my head: “I saw them, Lily. At the mall.” He said.How did he find them so quickly? He was Julian Stone, so why wouldn't he? He owns the city.I had taken every precaution over the last six years. I chose London to be far from the Stone family. I changed my name, created a new life, and built walls I thought were high enough to keep Julian and his world out.He had found them anyway—my children, Eva and Ethan.I called Sophia as soon as I could. She answered on the second ring.“You sound awful,” she said.“Can you come over tonight after the kids are asleep? I need someone to talk to.”She came at 8:30. I had already put the twins to bed. They’d been excited earlier—Eva showing me a drawing of our family, three stick figures under a rainbow, no father included. For a moment I wanted to pause the scene an