All Chapters of OWNED BY MY EX-HUSBAND’S STEPBROTHER : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

After she was done paying at the counter, Gloria walked out of the school building feeling weak from head to toe. Her entire body ached with exhaustion, as if the forty-thousand-dollar weight had physically drained every ounce of strength from her muscles. The bright midday sun glared down mercilessly on the parking lot, turning the asphalt into a shimmering heat wave that made her head throb. She tottered unsteadily toward her beat-up old sedan, the one she'd bought second-hand years ago with savings from her first real job. Each step felt like wading through thick mud; her knees buckled slightly, forcing her to grab the car door for support just to stay upright. She fumbled the key into the lock, yanked the door open, and collapsed into the driver's seat with a heavy sigh. For long minutes, she just sat there, staring blankly at the dashboard and the concrete wall ahead. The engine wasn't even on yet. Her mind was a whirlwind of panic—the burden of forty thousand dollars now sat sq

Now, Gloria understood the truth about the two rich men in her life. Victor Anderson had way more money than Lukas Anderson, the hard boss CEO. Victor's wealth was about 10 times bigger than Lukas's. And that did not count all the special family friends and power the Anderson family had for many years. They knew important people like politicians and big business leaders. Those connections helped them get anything they wanted.Victor was born with all that luck and money. He got big houses, cars, and help from day one. But Lukas was different. He was the mistress’s son. Who’s name mysteriously vanished from the original will and after that sent away. He left with nothing. He slept in his old truck. He ate cheap food. He bought bad buildings and fixed them to sell for profit. Now he had Phoenix Tower. All from his own hard work.When Gloria heard Isaiah made seven hundred thousand dollars a year, she felt hope inside. Isaiah was just a helper with papers and calls. If Gloria got that mu

Gloria hugged Lukas tightly, and he remained completely stunned and motionless for a full five long minutes. He had no clue how to respond or react because her behavior and words had totally exceeded every single one of his expectations and predictions.After all, he was only offering his Gloria a modest two hundred thousand dollars each year. Breaking it down further, that meant roughly just fifty thousand dollars every six months at the very most—and that was before subtracting any additional repayments she might owe if she dared to splurge on extras, like luxury items charged to his personal credit card.If his quick mental math was anywhere close to accurate, Gloria wouldn't have a single dime left to her name by the end of the year. Of course, the wife of a wealthy billionaire must love indulging in extravagant shopping sprees, right? That's what he assumed without a doubt.Lukas had plenty of firsthand experience dealing with women who constantly begged him to shower them with h

But please, promise you won't tell this to Lukas, okay?" Gloria asked softly, her eyes pleading."You mean about all the awful things Victor did to you?""Yeah, exactly...""Isn't it better if he knew just how much of a total jerk his own brother can really be?""Ah, please don't say anything..." Gloria tightened her gentle hold on Isaiah's hand, squeezing it for emphasis. "I'm not close to Lukas at all, and I honestly have no idea if he'd take my side or stick up for his brother. Especially since Victor's business empire, connections, and influence are completely unmatched and overpowering. I don't think Lukas would dare challenge him unless he was being reckless or foolish beyond belief.""But Lukas is literally the only person who could actually step in and help...""I don't want to become a burden to anyone. No—I just don't want him to start seeing me as some kind of pathetic burden weighing him down. All I really need is this steady money so I can save up and finally escape for g

Lukas gripped the steering wheel of his sleek black luxury sedan, the engine purring like a contented predator as he navigated the rain-slicked streets toward one of his big brother's sprawling offices in the heart of the city's financial district. Towering glass monoliths pierced the stormy sky, their facades reflecting the chaotic dance of lightning bolts that illuminated the night. As the designated heir to the formidable old-money dynasty known as the Anderson Family, Victor had inherited not just the lucrative empire of real estate conglomerates, tech startups, and international shipping lanes, but also the crushing weight of responsibilities that came with it. From boardroom battles to geopolitical negotiations, Victor's days were a relentless grind, a throne built on the bones of ruthless ambition.At first, the late Mr. Anderson's will naming Victor as the sole successor had ignited a firestorm of outrage among the covetous branch families. Whispers of favoritism and legal cha