All Chapters of After Divorce, I Married His Half-Brother: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"We... we can't find your sister." My stepmother choked out, her voice trembling. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Today's her wedding to Derek Holland and she ran off with that rich Italian man!" My father stood near the window, pale and stunned like someone had punched the air out of him. He didn't speak right away. Just ran a hand down his face, then he looked at me, really looked at me for the first time in a long time. I was standing by the doorway in my lilac bridesmaid dress, frozen. His voice was low, almost like a whisper. "We can't afford to lose the Hollands." His gaze sharpened on me. "Vanessa... you'll have to step in and be the bride. Save us from this shame." I felt my chest twist at that moment. Not with fear or confusion, but with a dangerous hope. I knew Annie had been two-timing Derek Holland with some ridiculously wealthy Italian businessman. She always chased the thicker wallet. I knew she planned to vanish and leave everyone hanging,

RYKER — — The door slammed shut behind me, and the noise from the bar faded as I stepped out of the bar and into the night. I didn't get to enjoy the soothing breeze before my phone started to buzz inside my pants pocket. My shoulders slumped slightly as I fished out the phone while walking towards the garage. I didn't need to look to know who was calling.. DAD I swiped the answer button and placed the phone close to my ear, my brows knitting instinctively. "Yeah?" My father's voice came in cold. "Ryker, do you still remember what's at stake?" He went straight to the point. "Nice to hear from you too." I spat out. "Where are you??" "Out." I squeezed out while staring at the sidewalk. "Ryker. I shouldn't have to remind you but two weeks is what's left. The deadline is approaching and you're yet to present a woman to the board." Here we go again—the deadline. I massaged my forehead to reduce the tension from folding there. "You're not reminding me. You're repeating yourself

Getting told I had cancer, replaced by my sister, and divorced all in the same day wasn't enough? Now I was standing here, clutching a photo that made my stomach twist, wondering who the actual hell Ryker was. "What are you doing there?" Ryker's voice rang out from behind, and I flinched. My heart slammed against my ribs as I spun, breath catching in my throat. He stood at the top of the stairs, a puzzled expression on his face, holding a brown file—probably the contract. He raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for an explanation. "This..." I held up the photo. "Who are these people to you, Ryker?" I kept my eyes on his face, watching his every expression. My breathing slowed, waiting for an answer. If he really was Derek's brother... Hell, I'm out. "Vanessa." He started down the stairs in the most casual manner ever, closing the distance between us. My fingers tightened around the photo. "I need an answer, Ryker." "Firstly, were you snooping around?” "Dodge

RYKER — — Heaven knew how unsettled I was after she left. If it was any other woman, I wouldn’t bother chasing after her. But this wasn’t just any woman. This was Vanessa Thomas— someone who had been the center of my attention for a while. Maybe not for a while—maybe for years. One moment she was hellbent on leaving. But in the next moment, she changed her mind after checking her phone. Blessed be onto whatever it was that changed her mind. "I want to see the contract." Now, that's a good girl. I followed behind her, controlling the triumph inside me. We arrived back at the house and Vanessa dropped onto the living room couch, letting out a deep breath. Her posture screamed exhaustion, and the bruises on her neck caught my eyes—had to be Derek's handiwork. "What made you change your mind?" I asked, quietly. "None of your business.” She pulled her arms around her chest. I settled on the chair across from her and reached for the contract folder on the table. "Is

I woke to the sound of pages turning. For a moment, I simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, trying to remember where I was. Then my eyes drifted across the room. Ryker sat by the window, one leg crossed over the other. A fluffy white cat rested comfortably in his arms while he skimmed through a business magazine, lazily stroking its back. He looked up. "Morning." I blinked. "Good morning. " "I figured you'd still be asleep." He said without raising his gaze from the file. "Oh." "I came to wake you." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if that completely justified trespassing. I pushed myself up against the headboard. "By sitting there?" "I knocked by the way, but you were snoring so loud you probably didn't hear me." "No, i wasn't—" "Yes, you were." I stared at him for a second. "You're exhausting." "I've been called worse." "I don't even doubt it." Something that looked suspiciously like amusement flashed across his face. He closed the magazine and stood, the cat stil