Chapter 2

Samuel's POV

My older sister, Lilith Brooks, stepped out in her bridesmaid dress. Her brows knitted tight the moment she saw me.

Behind her followed a massive crowd, every single face intimately familiar.

There was my partner of five years, my best friend of ten years, childhood pals, and even the underprivileged student whose college tuition I'd fully funded.

I was the only one standing alone.

Clustered like knights around Xander at the center, they glared at me with guarded eyes as if I were the lone wicked villain intruding on their beautiful fairytale.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Yeah, I'm here. So are you going to call the cops and have me dragged away?"

Lilith's expression stiffened. A flicker of discomfort crossed her face.

Dad sighed in defeat and explained, "Samuel, don't blame Lilith. Her hands were tied. Xander's health is poor. If he'd known you were back early, it would've triggered another episode."

Mom chimed in as well, "Exactly. You're his older brother. Can't you just yield to him for once?"

I had heard that phrase my entire life. Yet in truth, I was born a mere 27 seconds ahead of Xander.

Because of those 27 seconds, I was forced to take whatever was left over when choosing sneakers, toys, birthday cake, and even my fiancée.

Simply because I was the older brother, nobody ever asked what I wanted or how I felt.

Xander's eyes rimmed red as he stepped forward to tug at my sleeve. "Samuel, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide this from you. Rosa just didn't want me going abroad for treatment with regrets. If you're angry, I'll take off this suit right now and give it back to you."

With that, he reached to unpin his boutonniere, only for the friends surrounding him to hurriedly stop him.

"Xander, you're just too kind. You're always thinking of others."

"Seriously. He's worlds apart from his brother, who insists on causing a scene at a time like this."

Shielding Xander in her arms, Rosa let out a tired sigh. "Xander is just taking back what was rightfully his to begin with. Don't worry. This wedding is only to grant Xander his dream. Once his treatment is done, I'll marry you officially."

I stared at her blankly, as though looking at a total stranger. "What was rightfully his? Rosa, what do you mean?"

Lilith sneered, her patience wearing thin. "Did you really think Rosa fell in love with you at first sight back then? The person she met first was Xander. You two just look identical.

"When she ran into you later, she mistook you for him and asked for your number. If Xander hadn't discovered the truth when you brought her home, Rosa would've ended up marrying a man she didn't love."

I froze in place, a loud ringing echoing through my mind.

In an instant, every lingering doubt from the past found its answer.

Four years ago on my birthday, I brought Rosa home to meet my parents for the first time.

In the brief moment I stepped out to buy Xander a pack of cigarettes, Rosa's attitude toward me shifted entirely.

She started acting strangely toward me, sometimes distant and sometimes affectionate. She would even stare at me in a daze and tell me I looked better with glasses.

But I didn't need glasses. Xander was the one who wore them.

So from that day on, four out of five years of our relationship had been a complete lie.

I turned to face the crowd shielding Xander, my voice trembling. "What about the rest of you? Adam, when your startup went bankrupt and loan sharks hounded your home, I withdrew my entire savings of 50 thousand dollars to clear your debt.

"Olivia, when your parents tried to marry you off for money, I saved you and paid your way through college. And you, Zane. You're my cousin. We grew up together. You copied my homework as a kid and joined my company as an adult. How did I ever wrong you?

"I poured my heart out to all of you over the years. Why did all of you team up to deceive me?"

The crowd fell dead silent, save for Olivia Parker, who pursed her lips. "See? I told you he'd hold his favors over our heads.

"What's that little bit of money worth anyway? Xander introduced me to a wealthy boyfriend! You kept telling me to focus on studying, yet here you are relying on a career woman like Rosa yourself."

My childhood friend, Adam Hayes, nodded along. "Samuel, didn't you only help us to make yourself look noble? If Xander hadn't comforted me when I hit rock bottom, I would've jumped off a building long ago.

"Compared to your fake sympathy, Xander is the one who's genuinely kind."

As I looked at these faces, deep regret washed over me.

They used to eat the meals I cooked and spend the money I earned. Yet for Xander's sake, they didn't hesitate to trample me into the dirt.

All those days and nights I poured myself out became a cruel joke.

A flash of guilt crossed Rosa's eyes as she instinctively reached out to wipe my tears. "Samuel, stop making a scene. Once Xander gets better, I'll take you to Savelle to make it up to you…"

I dodged her hand and straightened my back to look her in the eye. "No need. Rosa, this time, I'm walking away from you. We're done."