Chapter 1

Chris' frown deepened. He hadn't expected me to utter those words—words I refused to say even when his enemies held a gun to my head.

Break up.

"Really, Lisa Landale?"

Chris' voice turned chillingly dark. He looked at me with displeasure, waiting for me to take back what I had just said.

In his eyes, the peaceful life we now had was everything I had ever dreamed of. He couldn't understand why I was making a fuss.

And I couldn't understand either. Yet, I stubbornly refused to back down.

"Yes, that's right."

The air grew tense, and Chris' expression grew darker.

It was Jessica Sanders who spoke up first, breaking the hostile atmosphere.

Jessica was the young side chick Chris had hidden away for over a year.

Very naturally, she scratched his palm with her finger, a gesture that was both seductive and comforting.

"Chris, if this puts you in a difficult position, I don't mind postponing our wedding..."

I instantly raised my head. Looking at her pure and delicate face, my mind went blank.

For ten years, Chris had always refused to marry me for various reasons. He was afraid that having a weakness would make him vulnerable, afraid that he couldn't protect me, and afraid that he couldn't give me the stable life I desired.

Even though I told him "it doesn't matter" countless times, Chris never gave me that marriage certificate.

Yet, he was going to marry Jessica.

A sharp pain pierced through my heart, leaving me breathless.

"No need. The baby will be born soon, so the wedding cannot be delayed any longer."

Then, looking at me coldly as if waiting for my compromise, Chris said, "As for Lisa, she can't tell me what to do."

Our eyes met, and my heart turned cold.

I suddenly recalled the time I took a bullet for him and nearly lost my life. He had rushed desperately through the crowd and pulled me into his arms.

Lying in the crook of his arm, my blood wouldn't stop flowing.

Chris cried, called my name, and kissed my lips. For the first time, I developed feelings for him that went beyond the boundaries of a subordinate.

It was also after that incident that the guys started treating me as their sister-in-law.

In a trance, I realized that besides me—the "older sister-in-law"—there was also a "younger sister-in-law."

But very soon, I wouldn't be their sister-in-law anymore.

I couldn't be bothered to watch their display of affection any longer, so I gathered my thoughts and turned to leave.

I had only taken two steps when I heard a cold scoff from the room behind me.

"Chris, did I do something wrong? Why is Lisa so angry?" Jessica sounded terribly aggrieved.

Chris let out a soft chuckle. "It's not your fault. She just doesn't know her place."