Marrying My Fi ance's Bastard Brother Novel by Mia _ Novel



Marrying My Fiance's Bastard Brother Novel by Mia _ Novel


Marrying My Fiance's Bastard Brother Chapter 01

Benjamin Livesey left me at the altar for the seventh time, running back to his childhood sweetheart, Clarissa Wenning.
His grandfather, Dominic Livesey, showed up at my family’s house with the rest of the clan in tow, all wearing the same tight, apologetic expressions.
“We’ll make this right,” Dominic said. “Another five thousand grams of gold, three properties in the southwest district, nine prime storefronts downtown. Whatever it takes.”
Before the words even settled, Benjamin’s lazy chuckle cut through on speakerphone.
“Grandfather, please. She’s not worth a fraction of that. Not even close.”
“Believe it or not, I could hand her a random rock from the sidewalk and she’d still worship the ground I walk on. Might as well put the money toward Rissa’s art gallery.”
Dominic ended the call with a sharp jab. He looked at me, visibly uncomfortable.
Soft snickers rippled around the room. Everyone was waiting for the usual—for me to swallow the insult, accept the bribe, and pretend it never happened. Just like the last six times.
A slow smile curved my lips.
I lifted my gaze and let it settle on the one person Benjamin despised more than anyone: his bastard brother, Alfred Livesey.
I turned back to Dominic. “Whoever I marry becomes the Livesey heir,” I said calmly. “Is that still the rule?”
***
My tone and expression made it clear I wasn't joking—and they all froze.
Benjamin had bailed six times before, yet I never once suggested ending the engagement.
I didn't even consider it when the hashtag "The Joyner Heiress Dumped" trended on every platform and my family endured six months of ridicule.
Dominic scrambled to calm me down.
"Ben isn't in his right mind," he said. "Give him a little more time..."
He called Benjamin again but was cut off mid-sentence.
"Stop lying to me," Benjamin said. "Kay might be mad, but she'd never say she won't marry me.
"Anyway, I'm not breaking up with her. I'll be back once Rissa feels better."
Clarissa's cooing voice came through. "Ben, I was just helping you see her heart.
"If she's still willing to marry you even after all these slights, then she's truly devoted to you!"
Listening to their shameless flirting, I forced a mocking smile.
"What makes you think I'll still be here when you finally decide to look back?" I asked.
Benjamin paused, surprised that I was with Dominic.
His tone softened when he spoke again.
"Kay, you know how Rissa is. She's been clinging to me since we were kids. She can't handle me getting married right now.
"Can we put the wedding on hold? Once she feels ready, we'll do it again."
Six delays. Wasn't that enough?
When Clarissa first heard we were together, she immediately flew back from abroad and caused a scene.
Benjamin had put on a stern face and told me he only saw her as a sister.
But for that "sister," he'd made me the laughingstock of Los Angeles.
Dominic was practically overcome with frustration.
"The wedding starts in three hours. I've booked your flight. Get your ass back here now!" he snapped.
"Many reporters are waiting everywhere for juicy stories. Have you thought about how this looks for Kay?"
"I..."
The hesitation in Benjamin's voice made my heart clench despite myself.
But then Clarissa's whiny voice rang out.
"Ben, I already bought the movie tickets.
"If you leave, I'll go with another guy. It's not like I don't have options!"
"No way!" Benjamin snapped, annoyed and flustered.
When he spoke to me again, his voice was dripping with weary resignation.
"Kay, I really can't leave. You've handled this so many times before. This is nothing for you."
He was completely nonchalant, as if the humiliation and mockery I'd endured in front of the media meant nothing.
A dull, suffocating pain tugged at my chest. I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"Do whatever you want."
Whether he came back or not no longer mattered.
All his attention on Clarissa, Benjamin didn't notice the shift in my tone.
"That's my girl. Don't be mad. I brought you a present."
A photo popped up on my phone: a necklace dangling from his fingers.
It was another one of Clarissa's hand-me-downs.
He'd sent me plenty of gifts that used to be Clarissa's.
I remembered his first gift: a red women's watch.
Red was my least favorite color, but I'd treasured the watch because it was from him.
Later, I took it to be repaired and found out from the serial number that it had belonged to Clarissa.
When I confronted him, Benjamin didn't look guilty at all.
"I'm bad at picking gifts. Rissa just helped me out. Don't be so petty."
He claimed he was terrible at buying gifts, but everyone in Los Angeles knew the truth.
Each year, on Clarissa's birthday, he booked the most expensive spot at the waterfront observatory and lit up the sky with fireworks that the whole city could see.
Jewels that only appeared at auctions were laid out for her to choose from like candy.
What he gave me didn't even come close to what he gave Clarissa.
Even now, he couldn't be bothered to buy me something new.
Clarissa didn't seem to pick up on my sarcasm.
She giggled, "Ben let me pick your present. Do you like it?
"You're totally welcome."

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