The Brother I Wasn't Meant To Love

Chapter 1.

Lydia never expected her life to change this quickly. That morning, when the sun hadn't fully risen, her father called her into the study. The man's face was pale, his eyes sunken, as if he hadn't slept all night.

"Father?" Lydia's voice was soft and hesitant.

The man looked up, trying to smile, but all he could see were lines of fatigue. "Lydia... sit down."

She sat on the creaking wooden chair and waited. Her heart was pounding, a bad feeling pressing against her chest.

"We're... broke," her father finally said.

The word hit her hard. For a moment, Lydia felt the air around her disappear.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm in debt. More than we can pay. This house, the family shop... everything's been pledged. If there's no miracle, tomorrow we won't even have anything left."

Lydia looked at her in horror. The shop was her mother's legacy, the only memory she had. And now... gone?

She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but her father intervened.

"There is someone who... offers a way out."

"Who?" asked Lydia quickly, hoping for a glimmer of hope.

"William Blackwell."

The name made her blood freeze. Everyone knew who William Blackwell was. The heir to the Blackwell family, a handsome man with a reputation for being cold and uncompromising. He was known to lead the company like a battlefield, and every one of his business opponents ended up destroyed.

Her father looked her straight in the eye, his voice hoarse. "He's offering you an engagement. If you agree, all our debts will be paid off."

Lydia was silent. She wanted to laugh bitterly, wanted to say that this was crazy. But her father's gaze was full of desperation, keeping her silent.

"If I refuse?" his voice was almost a whisper.

"If you refuse... we'll lose everything. I will lose everything." Her father's eyes were red, almost brimming with tears.

A long silence fell over the room. Lydia looked down, clasping her hands together. She knew the answer from the start, though her heart resisted.

"All right," she said finally. "I'll do it."

---

That night, the Blackwell family party was held. The large room was filled with crystal chandeliers, the marble floor sparkled, and the orchestra played elegant music. Everyone was whispering, waiting for the formal introduction of the new son-in-law.

Lydia stood beside William wearing a simple white dress given by the Blackwell family. From the outside, she looked elegant, her smile thin but charming. Her heartbeat was beating chaotically.

"Ladies and gentlemen," William's father's host's voice echoed, "today we are proud to introduce William Blackwell's future wife. Lydia Hartmann."

Cheers and applause filled the room. The guests smiled, some even clapped enthusiastically. They looked at Lydia as if she was the luckiest woman in the world.

William leaned closer, kissing her cheek in a sweet gesture that made the camera blink. The man's smile was almost perfect, as if sincere in the eyes of the public.

However, to Lydia's ears, his whisper was cold as a knife.

"Remember, Lydia. This is a contract. Play your role perfectly. If not... you know what will happen."

Her smile did not change. Her hand still clasped William's arm, as if they were an intimate couple. But inside, Lydia felt like a doll on display.

---

A few days later, Lydia moved into the Blackwell family mansion. It was a magnificent house with towering white marble columns, large glass windows, and a beautiful and spacious garden. From the outside, the house was like a palace. But once she entered, the air felt cold, as if the walls held secrets.

The long corridor filled with ancestral paintings stared at him, sending chills down his spine. Passing servants bowed silently, as if afraid of breathing too loudly. Lydia's room was spacious and luxurious, but she felt uncomfortable. Everything felt too perfect, too sterile, no trace of warmth.

That night, she walked in the back garden, trying to breathe in the fresh air. The moon hung dimly in the sky, illuminating the stone path between the trees.

The sound of footsteps could be heard. Lydia turned her head, then froze.

A man emerged from the shadows. Tall, broad shoulders, messy black hair. His face was similar to William's, but with a different aura, darker, more dangerous.

His gaze was piercing, as if he could read Lydia's mind.

"I didn't know this family had a new habit... bringing dolls home," the man said in a sarcastic tone.

Lydia paused, trying to calm her breathing. "Who are you?"

The man smiled faintly, almost in mockery. "Damien. William's younger brother. A name that is rarely mentioned in these family gatherings."

Damien. Lydia had heard vague rumors about William's brother, but had never seen him. He was like a shadow, rarely appearing in public.

"I'm Lydia," she said quietly, trying to maintain her demeanor.

Damien gave a lopsided smile. "Yes, I know. The new doll of the Blackwell family. Hope you feel comfortable here."

"I'm not a doll," Lydia said finally, though her voice trembled.

Damien came closer. His gaze didn't leave Lydia's face. "Everyone here always says that... until they break."

Lydia's heart beat faster. She wanted to turn away, but her steps felt heavy.

Damien came a little closer, his voice low but clear. "Be careful, Lydia. This house never lets anyone leave safely."

---

When she finally returned to her room, Lydia closed the door with bated breath. Damien's words kept echoing in her head.

She knew from the moment she accepted the offer of engagement that her life would not be easy. But now, she began to realize something even more frightening. It's not just William she has to deal with, but the entire Blackwell family-and the dark secrets they hide. And among them, Damien... the cold faced man with a gaze that can pierce the soul.

And Lydia? She's just another pawn in their game.