Three months before my wedding, my fiancée posted a baby bump photo on her Ins. It was her with my adopted brother. The caption read: [Legally welcoming our little one!] My adopted brother, Noah, commented with a celebratory emoji. My mom liked it. [Once the baby is born, I’ll take care of them. You two can enjoy your time together.] I couldn’t help but hit reply with a question mark. The next second, Chloe’s furious texts flooded my phone. “He’s just stepping up as the father figure for a bit, to give the baby a stable start. Once the baby is here, things will go back to normal between us, and I’ll be yours again.” “Don’t be so petty. My mom also said we should wait until your career is stable before getting legally married—having the wedding first, then doing the paperwork later, isn’t that good enough?” I calmly hummed in response, then deleted every single post related to Chloe on my Ins. I updated my status: “Need a bride. Any takers?” Chloe Davis was the first to reply. [Leo Hayes, are you insane? I’m just temporarily with Noah, do you really have to make this public knowledge?] [Who are you posting this for? I’m warning you, don’t make things difficult for Noah!] My adopted brother, Noah Hayes, quickly followed: [Chloe just wants to give the baby a legal identity. I won’t steal her from you. When you two eventually marry, my child can even call you Dad.] My mom, Brenda Hayes, scolded me for being ungrateful: [You get a child without all the hard work. Noah is helping you so much; you should be thankful.] Below, a flurry of Chloe’s friends joined in the mockery: [They’re practically brothers anyway, right? Who cares who she marries? Noah can have her on weekdays, and you get the weekends!] Everyone was joking, laughing. I stared at the screen for a long time, my eyes burning. Tears eventually blurred my vision, hitting the phone screen. They were the ones who messed up, yet they were acting so righteous, pointing fingers at me. It was ridiculous. These people weren’t worth my tears. I wiped the wetness from my face with a harsh gesture. Amidst the chaotic comments, one stood out: Mia Sterling asked, “Is the bride spot still open?” Mia was my childhood friend. After college, I stayed local, while she went abroad for her master’s. Once Chloe and I started dating, Mia had intentionally kept her distance. We hadn’t seen each other in years. While I was still reeling, her call came through. “Leo, I’ve always liked you.” “You know how much I despise your adopted brother; I would never get involved with him. All these years, I’ve focused on my career, my relationship history is clean, and I have no messy social connections.” As soon as she finished speaking, a document popped up on my phone—it was an agreement to transfer all her assets. “This is all my sincerity,” her voice was a little shaky. “Would you consider me?” A lump formed in my throat. I suddenly remembered a time in elementary school when our teacher gave her two of her favorite chocolates as a reward. She was so tempted, swallowing secretly, but she didn’t keep a single one. She put both into my pocket. She’d always been like that, pouring her heart out, giving me her best. I took a deep breath. “I will.” Love had left me scarred. I’d planned to live alone. But Grandma’s dying wish was to see me have my own family, with someone who genuinely loved me. Chloe didn’t deserve that, but Mia would be the best choice. Her voice trembled with surprise. “I’ll finish up work as fast as I can. I’ll be back in two weeks to marry you.” “Leo, you won’t change your mind this time, right?” The vulnerability in her tone reminded me of our childhood promise—I’d once laughed and said I’d be her groom when we grew up. “No,” I whispered. “Mia, let’s pinky swear.”
After hanging up, my mom, Brenda, pushed open my bedroom door. “Where are those sapphire cufflinks your dad left you before he passed?” I remained silent, not answering. Mom frowned, annoyed. “What’s with that attitude? Noah just thinks they’re exquisite and wants to borrow them for his formal wear. Hand them over. Don’t be so petty!” My adopted brother, Noah, clung to Mom’s arm, looking forlorn. “Never mind, Mom. Leo never saw me as a real brother. If he doesn’t want to, then he doesn’t have to. I won’t force him.” “He dares not to recognize you! Those cufflinks belonged to my husband, they’re your father’s. Today, I’m making the decision to give them to you.” Mom hugged Noah, glaring at me sternly. “If you don’t hand them over now, don’t blame me for having someone search your room.” I stared at her, stunned, then curved my lips into a smile that was uglier than a cry. The gentle, understanding mother I remembered had long become unrecognizable. But, I was about to leave this place forever. Unwilling to engage in another meaningless argument, I silently retrieved the velvet box containing the cufflinks from the back of my drawer and handed it over. Mom nodded, satisfied. “That’s right. Noah is your brother; you should naturally take care of him more.” After she left, Noah fastened the cufflinks onto his shirt right in front of me, raising an eyebrow. “Bro, don’t blame Mom for being biased. Honestly, these cufflinks look better on me.” “Just like Chloe is a better fit for me as a girlfriend.” “What’s mine, no one can ever take away.” I watched Noah’s smug expression, saying nothing. With people like him, the more you engage, the more they cling. I grabbed my backpack and walked straight to the stairs, ignoring him completely. “Ah! Why did you push me… ” Noah suddenly darted in front of me, pretending I’d shoved him, stumbling backward. Though I loathed him, I instinctively reached out to grab him—twenty-some steps was no small fall. “Leo, don’t you dare lay a hand on him!” Chloe rushed up, violently swatting away my hand reaching for Noah. My hand slammed hard against the metal railing with a dull thud, instantly swelling and bruising. The sharp pain made me break out in a cold sweat. “Chloe, good thing you came…” Noah cowered in Chloe’s arms, trembling with teary eyes. “Don’t worry, I’m here.” Chloe gently patted his back, then shot me a cold glare. “You know he’s fragile, yet you’d be so cruel?” I looked down at my rapidly swelling hand, then back at Noah, carefully shielded by Chloe. The irony felt like ice water splashed on my face. This woman, who had sworn to love me forever and was supposed to marry me in three months, how had she become so utterly unrecognizable?
After comforting Noah, Chloe turned to me, her expression grim. “I know you’re upset that I hid my marriage and pregnancy with him from you. You can vent your anger at me, since I didn’t tell you upfront.” “But you can’t hurt Noah. He’s already weak and pitiful enough.” “He only asked for a chance to be a father, is that so wrong? Why should he suffer your anger?” She pointed a finger at me. “You will apologize to Noah today!” I struggled to control my trembling body, rasping, “What did I do wrong? What exactly did I do wrong?” Chloe stared at my bloodshot eyes, momentarily stunned. “It’s okay, Chloe,” Noah interjected, tugging her sleeve, his voice filled with feigned sobs. “Even though I almost fell down the stairs… I don’t blame Leo. He doesn’t have to apologize.” “You and Leo are still getting married. I don’t want you fighting because of me.” Chloe sighed, her voice laced with pity. “Noah, your thoughtfulness sometimes breaks my heart.” Her gaze hardened as she looked at me again. “Ultimately, you’re just jealous of Noah, can’t stand to see him doing better than you.” “Today, for his sake, I’ll let the apology slide.” “But if you ever dare to harm him again, I will make you pay.” She lifted Noah into her arms, and as she left, she threw a remark filled with disappointment at me: “You’re nothing compared to Noah.” The silent living room was empty except for me. I stared blankly at the withered leaves falling outside the window, finally unable to stop myself from crouching down, burying my face in my hands. This was the last time I’d cry for Chloe. That afternoon, Chloe updated her Ins. It was a nine-picture grid, showing off various meticulously decorated corners of what she called a bridal home. The caption read: “Every room, every piece of furniture, every decoration here was chosen and arranged by me, all to give my baby a warm and happy home.” The comments section quickly filled with well wishes. “Congrats, Chloe, on your impending bundle of joy!” “So, Chloe and Leo are having a shotgun wedding! Congrats, congrats!” “Leo, you’re so lucky to have such a wonderful partner like Chloe!” “I’ll cancel a hundred-million-dollar deal if I have to, but I won’t miss the wedding in three months!” Just as the blessings poured in, Noah suddenly commented to clarify: “Everyone, please don’t misunderstand. This isn’t Chloe’s bridal home, this is my house.” The comments section fell into an awkward silence. I broke the deadlock, replying: “Three’s a crowd. I’m out. Wishing you two happiness.” After sending that, I didn’t bother with the reactions. I just deleted Chloe and Noah from my friends list. Minutes later, Chloe’s call came in. “Leo, are you done causing trouble?” My tone was calm. “I’m not causing trouble.” She exploded. “What you wrote on my Ins was practically slandering Noah! Are you only happy if you brand him as the third wheel? If you keep this up, our engagement is off!” Listening to her cold accusations, my heart was like stagnant water, completely still. “Chloe, why do you think I’d still want something that’s been used by someone else?”
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