My Husband's Stepbrother Is My First Love

“I refuse to let an orphan give birth to the first Blackthorne heir.”My hand froze inches from the living room door, and suddenly I couldn't breathe,the paper bag hanging from my wrist slipped, but I caught it just before the bottle of Cabernet could shatter against the floor and resting beside it was a small vanilla cake decorated with four tiny candles.Today was my fourth wedding anniversary,I’d spent the entire afternoon convincing myself that this year would be different, but hope was a fragile, foolish thing.Inside, my mother-in-law spoke again, her voice sharp and clinical. "Every time I introduce Aurelia as my daughter-in-law, people look at me with pity.""Aunt Vivienne... please don't upset yourself," a gentle voice replied,Bianca.Of course she was here,my stomach tightened as Vivienne gave a cold laugh."Tell me, Bianca, what has she actually brought into this family? She’s an orphan with no influential family and no connections and after four years of marriage..." Her t

I hardly slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the faded photograph.His smile.The way he used to look at me, as though I was the only person in the world,I had spent four years trying to bury those memories beneath the life I'd chosen, yet a single picture was enough to bring it all rushing back.By morning, I returned the wooden box to the bottom drawer and turned the key.Some memories were safer in the dark.Blackthorne Global was unusually lively when I arrived.Employees who normally walked through the lobby with quiet professionalism were huddled in small groups, whispering excitedly."He's finally back.""I heard he doubled the international profits.""They say he turned down three Fortune 500 companies just to come home."I frowned, stepping into the elevator,whoever they were talking about had certainly captured the building's attention.The moment I reached the executive lobby, I saw Cassian standing near the stage, talking with several board members. Unlike the staff,