My brother is a male mermaid. I’m a female mermaid. Since we were born with tails, our mom thought we were disgusting monsters and abandoned us without hesitation. Later, through sheer grit and working three jobs each, we became billionaires. Just when we thought we could escape and live our own lives, three domineering CEOs showed up at our door. Facing their overwhelming presence, my brother and I backed away in panic: “We can explain!” 0Our father was a mysterious merman from the ocean. After a random encounter, our mother gave birth to us. Hoping to make our father come back, she decided to keep us, even though she knew we weren’t like regular children. But three years passed, and our father never returned. As time went on, she became more impatient. Every time she saw the tails on me and my brother, her irritation turned into madness. Her hateful gaze would linger on us for hours. Overwhelmed by her growing frustration, she would sometimes lose control, grabbing us and yanking out the scales from our tails. Since we didn’t have legs, my brother and I were forced to stay in a filthy, rusted bathtub. She would scream at us, her voice filled with venom: “Monsters! You ugly little freaks—why don’t you just die already?” “I can’t believe I gave birth to you two. I should’ve strangled you the day you were born!” “You’re just like your useless, good-for-nothing father!” Eventually, she put an overdose of drugs in our food, stuffed us into a bag with rocks, and dumped us into a pond to drown. But she underestimated us. Our merfolk bodies were far more resistant to toxins than humans, and we could breathe underwater. Somehow, we survived. Despite being abandoned, my brother and I managed to grow strong on the fish in the pond and made it to the age of five. One day, we discovered that we could transform our tails into legs. Excited, we climbed onto land for the first time—only to be promptly arrested for wandering around naked. We didn’t know it was inappropriate. After all, no one ever taught us about clothing, manners, or shame. With no family to claim us and no records of our existence, the authorities sent us to an orphanage. We didn’t speak a word until we were five, so everyone thought we were dumb. And since we ate more than any of the other kids, no one wanted to adopt us. So, we stayed in the orphanage until we turned 18. My brother and I shared one dream: to buy a private island where we could live freely without constantly hiding our true selves. To achieve that dream, we each began working three jobs. My brother became a butler, driver, and something else to three separate CEOs. I, on the other hand, became a stand-in for one CEO’s lost love, a shameless simp for another, and a housekeeper for the third—a CEO who happened to prefer men. Yes, you read that right. My brother and I worked as a team. We didn’t care about love—only money. 0
My brother hurriedly changed into his butler uniform while I slipped into the signature white dress of the “lost love” I was pretending to be. We had just rushed back from another gig, and with time running out, we were both scrambling to get ready. The doorbell rang, and my brother immediately put on a stoic expression, standing stiffly to the side. I adjusted my face into a gentle, delicate expression, fully embracing my role. Zane pushed the door open and walked in. My brother greeted him with a straight face: “Welcome home, Sir.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing and pinched my thigh to stay in character. Zane stopped in front of me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. “What did you do today?” he asked coldly. From the very beginning, Zane had been upfront with me: I was hired because I looked like his ex, his “ture love.” One million dollars a month for the role. My brother, as his butler, earned half that. Facing Zane’s question, I responded with utmost professionalism, my voice soft and tender: “I read some books, cooked a meal, and… thought about you.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my brother in the corner, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, his teeth practically bared. Zane sat down beside me, his intense gaze never leaving my face. “Jenna’s coming back soon,” he said abruptly. “You won’t be needed anymore.” My smile froze. It felt like a bucket of money—no, a bucket of gold—was slipping through my fingers. “Wait,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes as I looked at him pleadingly. “Can’t you let me stay a little longer?” If I could just finish out the month, I’d earn another $100,000. Zane mistook my desperation for genuine emotion. “She’s fallen for me,” he thought smugly. But his heart belonged to Jenna. To him, I was nothing more than a replacement. His expression remained cold as he said: “You’re just a stand-in. I’ll never fall for you. I’ve already transferred $1 million into your account as a breakup fee. Disappear before Jenna returns.” My eyes lit up like a stadium under floodlights. This man. This generous, money-throwing man. He was my favorite client by far. But I was a professional. Even at the very last moment, I stayed in character. Tears streamed down my face as I gazed at him with heartbroken devotion. “Okay,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’ll do as you say.” Zane nodded, satisfied. He seemed almost reluctant as he added: “You should give up on any feelings you have for me. You can stay in this house—I won’t be coming back.” From his corner, my brother gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up. This house, in an upscale neighborhood, had to be worth millions. If Zane wasn’t coming back, we could rent it out for a fortune. My brother and I exchanged a glance, instantly reading each other’s thoughts. Sometimes, it felt like we shared a single brain. 0
I brought out the takeout I had already plated and walked over to Zane with a look of heartfelt devotion. “This is the last meal I’ll ever make for you,” I said softly. “Please, Zane, let me watch you finish it, just this once.” Zane sighed inwardly but eventually gave a slight nod. “Fine. Since you like me so much, I’ll eat a little.” Right on cue, my brother chimed in from the side, his voice full of admiration: “It’s been a long time since the young master has eaten this much.” The problem with working alongside my brother is that we know each other far too well. Whenever he acts all serious and composed, it just makes me want to laugh. The moment we make eye contact, neither of us can hold it in. As soon as Zane finished eating and left, I finally let myself burst into laughter. “He’s so clueless! Have you been watching too many CEO dramas? What kind of butler even talks like that?” My brother rolled his eyes and plopped down beside me. “Your acting is too good. Seriously, though, don’t get too carried away. Remember, we’re here for the money, not the romance.” The laughter faded from my face as I nodded, sobering up. “I know. Of course, I know. With bodies like ours, no one would ever truly accept us.” We only had each other. Still, I couldn’t help but warn him in return: “You should be careful too. That sugar daddy of yours doesn’t look like someone you can mess with. Don’t let him swallow you whole.” My brother shrugged, scooping up the leftover food without a care. “Not a chance. I’m just his fake boyfriend to piss off his parents. He doesn’t even like men.” I wasn’t so sure about that. From what I’d seen while working as his housekeeper, the way Peyton looked at my brother was practically predatory. But my brother, blissfully oblivious, was still playing his role with utmost professionalism. After finishing his meal, he started talking about the island again. The one we wanted to buy was a remote, uninhabited paradise surrounded by endless ocean. There, we could finally shed our human disguises, swim freely in the sea, and never have to hide who we truly were again. 0
After tidying up, I listed the mansion online for rent. Every little bit of extra cash helped, and we were still a ways off from reaching our goal. My brother changed into another outfit, this time slipping on a pair of white gloves for his role as a driver. “Let’s go. We’re meeting with Ethan Greyson next.” I nodded. This was our second gig. I played the lovesick admirer, while my brother worked as Ethan’s driver. This job came about by sheer coincidence. When we first arrived in the city, fresh from the countryside, we witnessed a young woman chasing after Ethan, begging him to give her a chance. He humiliated her on the spot, throwing a wad of cash at her before walking away. “Here,” he said coldly. “This should be enough for you. Stop wasting my time.” My brother and I were stunned. We’d never seen such a display of wealth before and were instantly mesmerized. That’s when I decided—I wanted to be a “simp” too. I tracked down Ethan’s whereabouts, orchestrated a “chance” encounter, and confessed my feelings to him on the spot. Predictably, he rejected me without hesitation. But he also tossed a designer jacket at me, muttering something about it being dirty. I couldn’t see a single stain on it, but I sold it online anyway and made my first real profit in the city. As for my brother, he became Ethan’s driver by accident. Desperate to avoid me, Ethan hailed a random three-wheeled taxi—driven by none other than my brother. That was the first time Ethan experienced the thrill of riding in the open air, and he immediately hired my brother as his personal chauffeur. My brother even got his driver’s license out of the deal, saving us the expense. None of the CEOs knew about our connection. To keep up the act, I always got out of the car early, leaving my brother to drop Ethan off alone. This time, I jumped out about 500 meters from the destination and sprinted the rest of the way. When I arrived, Ethan was already walking toward me, surrounded by his entourage. One of his obnoxious friends sneered at me, his tone dripping with mockery. “Here she comes again. Ethan, your charm really is something else. Who would’ve thought she’d show up just because you called her?” Ignoring them, I focused on Ethan with a look of genuine concern. “You shouldn’t be drinking so much. Your stomach can’t handle it,” I said softly. 0
Ethan Greyson grabbed my chin roughly, his voice dripping with mockery. “Luna, is it really that hard for you to live without me?” Tears welled up in my eyes, and I gave him my most pitiful look. “Ethan, I really do care about you,” I said, my voice trembling. Behind him, his friends burst into laughter. “A penniless orphan like you, trying to match up to the Greyson family? Luna, stop dreaming. Ethan has plenty of admirers—you’re nothing.” Ethan chuckled coldly, then shoved me away. He pulled out his wallet, took out a thick stack of cash, and tossed it at my face. “You’re so annoying. Just look at yourself—pathetic.” Right on cue, tears slid down my face as I took on the perfect expression of someone utterly humiliated. “Ethan… I really do like you,” I whispered, my voice cracking. Without sparing me another glance, he got into his car, his back radiating cold indifference. As soon as Ethan drove away, leaving only his friends behind, I caught my brother giving me a thumbs-up from a distance, his grin practically splitting his face. “This was a good haul!” his expression said. I silently wiped my tears, waiting until Ethan’s group of friends left. Then, I immediately crouched down and started picking up the cash. Not bad, not bad at all. Today’s take was pretty decent. I counted the money—$4,500. Sure, it didn’t compare to what Zane had given me, but for us, it was a small fortune. At least now, my brother and I wouldn’t have to worry about living expenses for the rest of the month. My brother wouldn’t be done chauffeuring Ethan for a while, so I decided to treat myself to a nice meal in the meantime. I went to a restaurant Zane had taken me to before. It was a bit pricey, but the food was excellent, and today I felt like splurging. I picked a table toward the back, out of sight, to enjoy some privacy. But no amount of caution could have prepared me for what happened next: I spotted my brother’s “boss” sitting at the table behind me. It was Holden Reid, my brother’s sugar daddy. To my relief, he didn’t seem to recognize me. He sat with a troubled expression, a stunning woman standing beside him. Immediately, I felt a sense of danger on my brother’s behalf. Holden Reid was, in every way, a perfect man. Polite, thoughtful, and kind. He even treated me—the “housekeeper”—with respect. But when it came to my brother? He was next level. Holden was attentive to the point of perfection. If not for the secret my brother and I were hiding, I might’ve even encouraged him to marry Holden. But right now, watching the beautiful woman beside him, I couldn’t help but wonder: was my brother wrong? Did Holden actually not like men? I perked up my ears, trying to catch their conversation. Holden sighed heavily, his tone filled with frustration. “Do you think there’s something wrong with me? It all started because I wanted to piss off my parents, so I found a guy.” He paused, his voice growing softer. “But now, every time I see him, I can’t control myself.” The woman across from him practically jumped out of her seat, her voice bursting with excitement. “Go on! What do you mean?” I leaned in closer, trying to hear every word. Holden’s voice was barely audible, almost embarrassed. “I’m… attracted to him.” My eyes widened, and I nearly bit through my chopsticks. I knew it! I knew it! Holden always looks at my brother like he wants to eat him alive. I swallowed my excitement and continued eavesdropping. The woman, clearly Holden’s sister, clapped her hands together in delight. “Well, that’s great! When are you going to introduce me to your boyfriend?” I let out a quiet sigh of relief. So, she was his sister. Good. Holden’s expression turned bitter. “Forget it. He still thinks I’m just using him as an excuse to avoid marriage. He doesn’t feel anything for me.” I nodded to myself. That sounded about right. My brother definitely believed that Holden was only with him to defy his parents. I wanted to hear more, but suddenly, my phone rang, startling me. I fumbled to answer it, embarrassed. Zane’s voice came through the line, cold and direct. “I have a gala tonight. You’re coming with me as my date. I’ll send someone to pick you up.” I blinked, confused. Weren’t we supposed to be “broken up”? He had even wired me a breakup fee and told me never to show my face again. So why was he calling me now? But hey, only a fool would turn down easy money. I quickly gave him my address. On the other end of the line, Zane stared at the address I sent, his expression smug and self-assured. “She really does love me,” he thought. “She’s so obsessed she can’t even stay away—she’s gone back to the places we shared memories together.”
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