TRADING MY EX FOR HIS STEP BROTHER

CHAPTER 1: BETRAYED

KIMBERLY:

I held the neatly wrapped gift in my hands, and headed to the Carter's. My heart was filled with excitement as I stepped into the family’s estate.

The mansion was an architectural marvel of glass and stone, and the gates had been left open probably for Roland’s birthday celebration.

Tonight was Roland’s birthday. And I'm here to celebrate with him.

I walked through the grand entrance, exchanging greetings with a few servants. But there was something about the looks on their faces that I didn't quite understand.

"Miss Walker, good evening!" Henry, one of the butlers greeted me with a polite nod. "Mr. Roland is upstairs in his quarters but he'll come downstairs soon. Do you mind waiting for him in the living room?"

"No need to wait downstairs, Henry," I said with a smile. “I'll just see him briefly before the party begins.”

He nodded nervously.

My flat heels made no sound as I headed to the second floor where Roland's room was located. I wanted to personally deliver the gift to him before the party began.

I couldn’t wait to surprise Roland. I had spent days searching for the perfect gift, a watch engraved with the words Forever Yours. It was meant to be a symbol of the feelings I had begun to develop for him and of the future we are planning to share.

As I walked through the grand hallway, I fished out my phone and texted Roland.

Kim: Happy Birthday, my love. Where are you?

No reply.

I sighed, and slipped the phone back into my purse. Maybe he was trying to put things in order. I climbed the spiral staircase, my heart racing with excitement. But as I neared his bedroom, I frowned. The door was slightly open.

And I could hear the sound of a woman moaning.

I froze.

Another moan. Followed by a breathless giggle.

I recognised the woman's voice.

Tess’s giggle.

My heart dropped into my stomach. No. It couldn’t be.

I moved forward and peered inside.

I saw Roland, my fiance and Tess, my sister tangled together in bed. Her nails raked down his back as she moaned while his thrusts went in and out of her.

“Oh Roland, I really feel we're meant for each other. What is it you want in Kim that I don't have?” Tess said seductively, as she wriggled her body under Roland.

Roland paused. “You know I don't have a choice in this arrangement, Tess,” Roland responded. “My relationship with Kim was an agreement between both of our families. Kim has been betrothed to me since she was sixteen. And I can't go against my grandmother’s wishes.”

“That sounds so dumb. Don't tell me you want to sacrifice your future just to please your family. Kim is too boring for an exciting young man like you. We can get married and damn the consequences.” Tess cooed.

“I can't take that risk, Tess. I don't want to be disinherited. I'm already in my family’s bad record. If I do anything so stupid, I can't guarantee what might happen next.”

“Come on, Roland, as long as there's a marriage between our two families, the agreement still stands,” Tess continued, trying to convince him.

Roland looked like he couldn't make up his mind.

Even though my heart was pounding so hard and fast, and my fingers trembled, I instinctively did something that surprised even me. I recorded everything they said and did.

Their act was caught on camera.

Tears burned my eyes, and I was about to walk away.

I took two steps backward when I heard Roland's voice call out to me.

"Kim?"

I stopped as my heart hammered in my chest and I could barely contain my rage. He was looking at me and he looked a bit panicked.

Tess gasped, and scrambled to cover herself with the sheets.

"Shit! Kim, wait…" Roland stammered, shoving Tess off him and reaching for his pants.

But I was already moving.

"Kim, please, just listen…" he called after me desperately.

"Listen?" I laughed bitterly, my voice trembling with fury as I paused in the staircase. "To what, Roland? To your lies?"

"It’s not what it looks like!" He fumbled with his shirt, his hands shaking.

"Not what it looks like?" I snapped, whirling around. "I recorded it, Roland. Every second of your pathetic betrayal. So don’t you dare insult me with that excuse."

Tess scoffed from behind him, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Oh, please. Stop being so dramatic, Kim. What makes you think you have a right over Roland in that manner?"

My nails dug into my palms as I tried to stop myself from lunging at her "Oh so I don't have a right over my fiancé? Is that what you're trying to say, Tess?" I hissed. "You’re my sister. How could you do this?"

She smirked. "Well, it’s not my fault Roland couldn’t resist me. Maybe you should’ve tried harder to keep him satisfied."

I froze.

"You’re disgusting," I spat, crumpling my fists. “You're nothing but a bitch.”

Roland tried to take my hand. "Kim, please. Let’s talk…"

I jerked away. "Don’t. Touch. Me."

And then I ran.

I didn't want to hear any lies he wanted to tell me.

I stormed down the grand staircase, ignoring the curious stares from the servants. I just needed to get out. I needed air.

I had worked so hard for my family over the years, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and any household chores that needed to be done. Yet here I was, being used as a pawn for their selfish interest.

I was raised by my grandmother and returned to live with my parents after she passed. I was fifteen years old then.

So just one year after I came to live with my parents, they got me betrothed to a man I barely knew.

My father's company had gone bankrupt a few years ago when I was just sixteen years old. He was desperate and needed help. When he came to the Carter's, they agreed to help him on one condition. And that was marriage between the two families.

My father did not hesitate to agree and I was the pawn he had used for that game since I was the first daughter in the family. I was immediately betrothed to Roland so the two companies could merge.

I'm twenty one years old now and just graduated from college. The wedding between Roland and I was scheduled to take place next Saturday.

But now, how can I marry a man who betrayed me with my own sister?

My vision was clouded with tears, and in my haste, I slammed into someone.