Chapter 3
Since that day, Burke and I had this whole secret thing going on.
Thanks to my tutoring, his grades shot up and his father handed over the keys to that sweet ride he’d promised.
Whenever anyone joked, “You two are joined at the hip – don’t tell me you’re into Sara?”
Burke would just laugh it off and curse, “Fuck that. Get real, she’s my sister. What kind of sicko would I be?”
That always stung a little.
Because behind closed doors, he’d have me pinned against walls, kissing me senseless, whispering sweet nothings that turned me into a blushing mess. But in the daylight, we were just step–siblings from a blended family. Nothing more.
After the SAT, Burke took me to a hotel, claiming he had a surprise. I opened that box like a kid on Christmas morning – only to find this skimpy white lace bunny outfit.
“Try it on, Sara,” he purred between kisses. “I had it custom–made. You’ll look smoking hot. I promise.”
After working up the nerve to squeeze into that barely–there number, shivering like a leaf, I asked, “When are we going public?”
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His slender fingers wandered over me as he mumbled a vague response. “…Soon.”
Then he chuckled softly, “The bunny look suits you. Call me ‘daddy‘ – I wanna hear it.”
I was red as a tomato. “Tu–turn off the lights.”
“No way,” he growled, gripping my waist firmly. “I want to see every inch of you. You are mine.”
He was insatiable. I was wrecked but let him have his way. We went wild on the hotel bed until 5 a.m., with used condoms and torn clothes scattered on the floor, a complete mess.
Before passing out, I kissed his palm and mumbled a confession, “Burke… I really love you.”
Next morning, a phone call jolted me awake. Burke’s voice drifted in like cigarette smoke.
“…Her mom’s just a gold–digger who seduced my dad. Like mother, like daughter – spread her legs with barely any effort.”
I thought I was hallucinating. Stumbling closer, I saw him on the balcony, phone on speaker.
Lucien’s voice crackled through, “Weren’t you her knight in shining armor back then?”
Burke sneered, “Just payback, man. Her father died early, girls
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from single–parent families are starved for love. Show a little care and they’re all yours.”
Lucien burst out laughing, “Alright. When you’re done, pass her
my way. Golla test if that waist is as flexible as you said.”
“No problem…”
Burke turned around as if sensing something, catching my ghost–white face.
Raising an eyebrow, he tucked my messy hair back. “Caught all that?”
I blinked, tears streaming. “Why would you…”
He just smirked, breathing against my face.
“Then get lost. I’m done playing.”
“Stop teasing her, Madge. First love’s goddamn special, isn’t it? Just let Sara appreciate it herself.”
Burke smirked like the smug bastard he always was.
What’s that saying?
Family should stick together for holidays, even after fighting.
Look at us now – fucking hilarious.
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Madge’s face soured instantly.
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“Why aren’t you eating that?” She pointed at the pizza she’d given me. “Sara, got a problem with your future sister–in–law?”
“I never eat that.”
Under the table, a leg snaked over, rubbing my ankle.
“Just eat it, Sara.”
Burke held his girlfriend’s hand, fingers interlocked, full of
reassurance.
“She’s visiting for the first time. Don’t be so mean.”
My stepfather started to speak, but my mother cut him off.
“Exactly. Listen to your brother. One piece won’t kill you.”
I kept my ice queen face on and didn’t move.
Madge pouted playfully, “My bad, I shouldn’t have picked that for Sara.”
“Well, forget it. She’s always that rude.”
Burke’s smirk grew as his foot got bolder under the table.
–
“Almost twenty–eight, Sara. Not exactly in your prime anymore definitely not as hot as your future sister–in–law. Clock’s ticking.”
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My nails dug into my palm as I shot up.
“Actually, I’m already married.”
“Oh? Did you?”
Burke laughed like it was the funniest joke ever.
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“Look, I know seeing me home with my girl makes you anxious, but you don’t need to lie about marriage. That’s too much.”
“Want to see the marriage license?”
I stared him down, cool as ice.
“My husband – you know him. Lucien.”
My mother and stepfather nearly choked.
“Sara, for real? You’re married to the heir of the Congreve Group?”
“Cut the crap,” Burke glanced up at me, his disdain written all over his face. “With no family background and no career, why would Lucien look twice at you?”
Since Lucien took over the family business and brought in that fancy algorithm technology, the Congreve Group has become a top–tier company in the country.
Not to mention my mother’s just my stepfather’s second wife –
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even if Burke and I shared blood, I’d still be nobody to Lucien.
Madge jumped in, “Serious? For rich families like that, no way Lucien would have married you. Those rich guys are all for arranged marriages.”
She chuckled, “I know you dream of marrying into a wealthy family, but you can’t just make things up.”
Madge was basically calling me a gold–digging liar.
Yet none of my family members tried to speak up for me.
I took a deep breath, finally explained, “He told his family to shove his arranged marriage. For me.”
Back then, Lucien was beefing with his old man. I told him to part on good terms; there was no need to make a big deal out of it for me.
But he just grabbed my head, kissing me hard enough to hurt.
“Part with you? Hell no. None of those women were equal to you… especially in bed.”
I shot him a look, but he covered my eyes.
“Don’t give me those eyes, baby. You know I can’t control myself.”
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He sighed. “I see you’re playing it cool, you little heartbreaker. But I can’t help worrying about you slipping through my fingers. Dating’s one thing, but marriage feels safer.”
*****
“Bullshit.”
Burke tapped his fingertips on the table, showing impatience.
“If Lucien really got married, everyone would know.”
“Exactly.”
My stepfather chimed in, “I know his father, and we have cooperated once. If his son’s going to marry, we’d get an invite.”
“We… kept our marriage quiet.”
A bitter smile appeared on my face.
I’d asked Lucien why keep it secret at that time.
He said, “Because you’re not good enough, honey.”
He said those cold words with a smile, yet it cut deep.
“We don’t match. Going public would hurt my reputation, start office gossip.”
“Be good, baby. Our life’s private. Don’t you feel my love?”
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So that’s it.
His “love” was using marriage to chain me down.
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“Enough, Sara. Show us the license, otherwise we won’t buy that.”
My mother finally spoke up.
“Fine.”
I reached into my pocket.
But it was empty.
Something suddenly dawned on me.
Lucien had already taken away the marriage license I worked so hard to swipe.
“Whatever.” I gave up arguing with them, feeling utterly drained.
What’s the point?
We’re divorcing anyway.
“Think what you want.”
“I need a break.”
When closing the bedroom door, I heard Madge whisper.
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“You may not know. Sara was always fake bougie in school.”
“Once when I was teaching her an experiment, she stole my necklace while I was in the restroom.”
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“That was the first gift Burke gave me, luckily I caught her on the spot…”
I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a long time.
Turning off the bedside lamp, I curled up in the corner of my bed, and fell asleep to the sound of firecrackers outside the window.
Burke aced his SAT back then, we both hit the same top school.
And we met Madge there – she was a senior.
Being the awkward loner I was, friends weren’t exactly my strong suit. She was the only one who bothered to stick around – my one light in a world full of shadows.
But our friendship didn’t last long. It all ended on the day she started dating Burke.
I didn’t know what Burke had said to her, but she began to see me as a rival in love.
One day, while I was asleep, she stole my card. That was everything I had, with every penny I’d saved in it.
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Freaking out, I went through her bag trying to find it.
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And what happened? She turned around and accused me of stealing her precious necklace.
The card’s password was Burke’s birthday – hadn’t gotten around to changing it yet.
That’s how the snake cleaned out my entire account.
Finally, I was forced to work part–time at a pool hall off–campus.
That was where I met Lucien.
“Oh my, is the top student short on cash now?”
“I’ve got a job here, want to do it?”
From then on, I became his “contract girlfriend” to dodge marriage pressure.
I was woken up by the sound of heavy breathing.
These walls are paper–thin – even the slightest noise next door is crystal clear.
“Isn’t this naughty?” Madge purred. “What if we wake your sister?”
I knew it. That bastard Burke did this shit on purpose.
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My parents were downstairs in the master, with plenty of empty rooms on the second and third floors.
But they just had to pick the room right next to mine.
Sure enough, I heard his lazy voice.
“If she wakes up, she can deal with it. Since when does a brother need his sister’s permission to fuck?”
“Besides, we’re not blood related, so who cares?”
“Spread those legs wider, baby.”
“Gentle…”
“I deliberately teased her at dinner,” Madge giggled. “You know, having a crush on her brother, how pathetic…”
“As her future sister–in–law, you did good putting her in her place,” Burke chuckled softly. “Now focus.”
“Well, well, just don’t bite me there…”
She screamed even louder. Those enjoying moans sounded like a carefully staged performance.
I reached for my phone, texting Lucien.
[Can’t sleep.]
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But I withdrew it the next second.
Yet, a video call request popped up immediately.
I declined, but texts flooded in.
[Did he bully you again?]
[Sent by mistake.]
[Who else would you text at this hour?]
I could almost picture his tense jawline and cold, sharp gaze through the screen.
[Cut the divorce. Let’s go public. I’ll come pick you up right now. What do you say?]
Before I could send no, someone knocked.
Putting aside the phone, I went to open the door.
Burke stood there, shirt half–open, hickeys on his neck, lounging against the door.
“Just used my fingers. I didn’t fuck her really.”
I took half a step back. “Not my business.”
He let out a laugh.
Then, the door clicked shut, his shadow swallowed me.
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“It’s been three years, Sara. I thought you’d never come back.”
“This is still my home,” I gripped the sheets. “And you’re still my brother.”
He sneered, “Calling me brother won’t help.”
“Wanna know why I turned her down?”
His hot breath hit my ear.
“Because, I’m saving myself for you. To celebrate the Christmas.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, I slapped him so hard my hand went numb.
My chest heaved violently as I clenched my teeth, cursing, “Your girlfriend’s right fucking there, you sick bastard!”
“Wasn’t it enough screwing with me ten years ago? Now you’re pulling this shit again? Don’t test me, Burke!”
Veins popped on his temple, his face dark as thunder.
“Little sister’s got balls now, hitting her big brother.”
He grabbed my wrist, yanking up my sleeve. The dark red marks on my pale skin exposed completely to the air.
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“What’s this? Looks like… a tie?”
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Before he finished speaking, he ripped down my turtleneck and then my pants, exposing the hickeys on my neck and bruises on my knees.
I snatched the blanket, covering myself, and slapped him again.
“You fucking psycho!”
Burke tilted his head, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
“Who did this to you?” He snarled through clenched teeth. “Had quite the wild time, huh, Sara?”
I held back my tears and took a deep breath. “I told you I’m married. Who else would it be?”
I escaped from the Congreve Family villa.
Two months ago, Lucien came home drunk, wrapped his arms around me like always.
When his hot breath brushed against my ear, I declared, “Let’s divorce, Lucien.”
What he said next was a blur. But those words cost me dearly.
He locked me in the empty villa, tied my hands with a tie, and tormented me day and night.
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He tried to force me to take back the idea of divorce this way.
It wasn’t until I took a cold shower in the freezing winter and ended up in the hospital that I found a chance to escape.
“You mean Lucien?” Burke’s face changed. He grabbed his phone.
“I got his number right here. I’ll call him now.”
“You better not be lying, Sara.”
Lucien answered fast.
“Who’s this?”
Burke said harshly, “Tell me straight – did you marry my sister?”
After a brief silence, a man’s soft laugh came through the
receiver.
“What’s her name?”
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‘…Sara.”
“Oh, the nerd?” He sneered. “If she’s got issues, that’s her problem. I’ve got women lined up for blocks. Tell her to take a number and wait.”
He hung up like he was throwing away trash.
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“Who’s the scumbag? Are you that desperate?”
Burke stalked closer with each word.
“Believe what you want.”
Since Lucien didn’t admit it, there was nothing I could do.
Burke kept ranting, throwing insults like confetti. He still hated me as much as he did ten years ago.
But I wasn’t that starry–eyed eighteen–year–old naive girl
anymore.
I brushed past him, knocking next door. “Madge, keep your boyfriend in check.”
Later, lying in bed, Lucien called.
“What now?”
His voice was winter–sweet, sending chills down my spine.
“Come down.”
I jogged to the balcony and saw a blue Rolls–Royce parked downstairs. Lucien was lounging against it in his gray coat, smoke curling from his cigarette.
Too far to see his expression clearly, I could vaguely make out the swirling smoke.
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Sensing something, he looked up and caught me looking and
waved.
In the receiver, he repeated it.
“Come down, Sara. I miss you.”
Ice spread through my veins. “When did you get here?”
“Probably around your little spat with Burke. Olnbridge’s tiny, and my home isn’t far from yours.”
I bit my lip. “Kidnapping’s illegal. I’m not going back.”
“Then I’ll wait here until you come down.”
“Suit yourself.”
“What’s so good about going home? Sara, don’t you get it? No one loves you like I do.”
Classic Lucien – beat me down, then sweet–talk me back.
Denying our relationship in front of Burke was punishment for
my escape.
Now he was here playing nice, trying to make me forget about divorce.
I shut the curtains and went back inside.
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Sleep was rough.
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I dreamed of the first time I attended a banquet with Lucien; he asked me to drink on his behalf, doubling my salary.
I got completely drunk, and the next day I woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a truck.
Lucien lay beside me with his bare chest, casually playing with my hair.
“Burke was right. Getting you in bed was easy.” His fingers trailed lower. “And your waist, hmm… is indeed soft…”
I trembled as I tried to slap him, but my wrist was restrained instead.
“I’m calling the cops,” I choked back tears.
He kissed my hand, laughing. “Drunk adults hooking up? No cop will care.”
“But I’ve got one up on Burke – I take responsibility.”
“Be mine, Sara. I’ll make it right.”
I slept in until late morning, woke up full of energy, feeling like I made up for all the sleep I missed in my life.
My parents took Burke and Madge to Grandpa’s house early in
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the morning. Their Rolls was gone from the driveway.
I started to check my phone, and there was a message from
Lucien.
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[I’m leaving, a 6 a.m. flight.]
He was a typical workaholic, didn’t even rest on holiday, flying all over the world.
He loved sweet–talk, but when it came to serious matters, feelings always took a back seat.
[You’re really cruel.]
He was the one who left first, yet he was also the one complaining.
[Good luck with work.] I typed.
He sent a voice message, his tone a mix of helplessness and
affection.
“If it wasn’t for you, your husband wouldn’t be hustling like
this.”
“Burke’s negotiating a project with a Fortune 500 company. Knowing you’ve been wronged, I went ahead to cut off their collaboration. Moved?”
[Thanks.]
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[That’s all I get?]
[You’re loaded anyway.]
[Just missing a wife who won’t divorce me.]
I caught myself smiling.
[Maybe if you lock Burke up, I’ll reconsider.]
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After thinking it over, I felt it was inappropriate and withdrew
- it.
“Easy enough.” Lucien, always arrogant, said, “He joined the Gregory Group’s management right after graduation and became CEO at such a young age. Do you think he can withstand an investigation?”
“After how he treated you… Even if you let it slide, I won’t.”
I left him on read.
Burke’s a jerk, but you are not someone better.
*****
Burke’s been pissy since his deal fell through. Without the couple’s constant harmony, the family dinners had become much quieter.
After the holiday, I returned to work at the Congreve Group.
a b
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Lucien wanted me to be a full–time housewife at first. But I refused, and I gave him a three–day silent treatment.
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Finally, he arranged for me to work as a financial analyst in his
own company.
Just as I was feeling drowsy at my desk, someone slammed a file heavily on the desk.
“I need to verify all financial transactions from last year. Get them organized and send them to me as soon as possible.”
My head snapped up.
“Madge?”
She flipped her hair arrogantly and said, “Surprised? I earned my way here as the financial director.”
She deliberately raised her voice, “Unlike some who got in on connections and slack off at lunch.”
“I’m now in charge of the finance department. If you don’t want to work, you can leave anytime.”
All eyes turned to me as whispers rippled through the office like wildfire.
*****
At 7 p.m., most of the office was empty. While rubbing my eyes and continuing to work on the report, I saw Burke appear in the
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director’s office.
He came to pick up Madge from work.
The two spoke in low voices, looking serious.
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“Stop working overtime, go home and rest,” Burke said, gently squeezing my shoulder. “Your sister–in–law is just a bit sensitive.”
If others saw this warm scene, they would really take it as a harmonious sibling relationship.
“No way! I need that report!”
Madge clicked over in her stilettos, her lipstick almost brushing
my nose.
“We don’t keep dead weight. You can’t leave until it’s done!”
Burke frowned. “Enough. You’ve been on her since Christmas. What’s the point? She’s my sister, after all.”
Madge suddenly screamed, “Isn’t it because you always say she
“SHUT UP!”
Burke cut her off with a look my way.
Suddenly, a voice came through the tension.
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“Are you trying to get fired by making things difficult for my wife?”
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