Chapter 1: The return

“Ethan Ethan,” I screamedI was twelve years old when my brother disappeared.The Hart Estate always felt too big for kids like us, so large we could even hear our thoughts. It was quiet, strict, and everything had to be perfect. That afternoon, the sun was bright over the gardens, lighting up marble statues and neat hedges that stretched farther than we should have gone. Ethan ran ahead, laughing, his little shoes kicking up dust as our dog led us deeper into the green maze.“Don’t go too far,” I called, already feeling older than I should have at that age.He turned and gave me that soft smile that always made things feel safe. He trusted me. I protected him. That’s how it always was.We walked, laughed, played, and wandered.And then he was gone .Just like that, he vanished.At first, I thought he was hiding. Ethan loved games. Loved making me search until I pretended to cry just to make him come running back. I called his name once. Then again. Each time louder than the last, but

Chapter 2: Back in Chicago

As I rushed into the living room, fists tight at my sides and my heart pounding so loudly it felt as though everyone could hear it. The polished marble floors reflected the chandelier lights above, but nothing about the room felt beautiful at that moment.It felt impossible. The quiet, confident stranger standing there couldn’t be Ethan; it felt strange. He couldn’t be my brother.The detective cleared his throat and reintroduced Ethan as my brother, as if saying the name again somehow made it more believable. “This is Ethan Hart. He has no memory of his childhood.“How is that even possible?” I screamed, then let out a bitter laugh afterwards, my voice echoing off the high ceilings. “Every time, someone comes here pretending to be him!” I yelled at the top of my voice, my hands shaking with anger. “Fraudsters! Have you all forgotten how often this has happened? “Seems like you have”, I said, and now we’re just supposed to believe this?”I turned, scanning the faces around me, despera

Chapter 3: Mirror lies

Edward’s POVTwo weeks had passed since the company’s gathering, and they all welcomed Ethan back into the Hart family business, “Diamond Harts”.To everyone else, it was a moment of celebration, relief, and closure. To me, it felt like the beginning of something fragile, something carefully balanced that could collapse at any moment.My father, Simon, made it clear that Ethan would now be learning the details and inner workings of our family business from me. His tone had been firm, final, the kind that left no room for negotiation. He also made it clear that at every business meeting I attended, he had to be by my side.I took a stroll in the estate, my mind heavy. The burden of responsibilities rested on my shoulders, not only for Ethan but also for the family, for Sophia, and for the legacy that had been bestowed upon me since I set foot into the mansion.I stopped outside Sophia’s room without realizing it. I had always admired her quietly from afar; I never dared to cross. She w

Chapter 4: The scars we keep

Simon’s POVLeading and protecting the Hart family legacy, deception and fraud were never easy, and it certainly didn’t bring peace. My family and I grew up poor; we couldn't even afford the necessities of life but by my determination and stubbornness, I came out of poverty. Years later, my parents died. The Hart Diamond business was known for its wealth and power, but running it was never simple. Every choice mattered, not just for profit, but for the family and the fame we carried along with it.The business was never mine to begin with. I inherited it from my father-in-law, due to the fact that he didn't have sons; the company was then passed onto me. Vivian, my wife, was his only child. We got married under pretenses. I needed an escape route to get out of poverty; I didn't care if someone got hurt in the process, and at the same time, they wanted someone to carry out the family's fame and fortune. The business became my responsibility the moment the marriage was over. That inheri

Chapter 5: Veil of truth

Sophia’s POVThe week had been exhausting. I spent days preparing for the family ball, making sure every detail of the menu, both food and drinks, was perfect. By the time the evening arrived, I already felt worn out. Although the heart estate felt too huge for me, it was also more than a home to me; it was a place where expectations ruled. Tonight, it was my job to ensure the family ball was perfect.I looked at the tall candelabras and the carefully arranged flowers in the dining hall, but no matter how I tried, my thoughts kept returning to Ethan. Even though I had just seen him come back, I couldn’t shake my doubts or trust him. Was he really my brother? I had watched him, questioned him, and tested him in ways the rest of the family never would, but still, part of me wanted to believe it was him.As the night grew, the family ball began. I adjusted the hem of my dress, a soft golden fabric that hugged my figure just right, and sighed. Attendance mattered tonight more than excitem

Todos los capítulos de The man I loved twice: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 5

Chapter 1: The return

Chapter 2: Back in Chicago

Chapter 3: Mirror lies

Chapter 4: The scars we keep

Chapter 5: Veil of truth