Epilogue
If you had told me ten years ago that I'd be the “wife” of two brothers—one who can’t keep his pants zipped, and the other who barely acknowledges my existence—I would’ve laughed so hard, spit would've flown out my mouth. But guess what? The joke’s on me now. This… this is my life.
I sit in a chair that costs more than my first car, in a house too big for any one person to ever live in, yet I feel smaller than ever. Reo’s voice echoes in my head, the last words he spat at me before he tossed me like a rag doll to his brother Leo: *“You’re nothing but a placeholder, Jennie. Do your job and stay outta sight.”*
"Outta sight." That’s all I ever was to him. A dirty little secret. An inconvenience. A baby mama he never intended to acknowledge, except for the kid growing inside me. The kid he won't ever admit he fathered.
And now? I’m stuck. Legally married to Leo Cuss, the perfect little brother. Leo, the one who always had it together, yet couldn’t even keep his fiancée from falling into Reo’s bed. Reo didn’t just sleep with Leo’s girl—nah, that would be too simple. He knocked her up. And me? I’m the sacrifice to keep his mess under wraps.
But here’s the kicker: I’m pregnant. Again. And not with Leo’s child. With Reo’s.
Reo thinks he’s invincible. He thinks his money, his power, his legacy will keep everything in line. Well, here’s one for you, Reo Cuss—nothing stays hidden forever. Not the lies, not the secrets, and certainly not this baby growing in me. I used to think this mansion was my prison. Now? It’s my battleground.
Tick-tock, Reo. You can gaslight me all you want. You can shove me off to Leo like I’m some worthless toy you’re tired of playing with. But the minute you lose control, the minute this whole charade falls apart—guess who’ll be holding all the cards?
It sure as hell won’t be you.
~$$$~
Chapter 1:
If anyone could’ve told me ten years ago I’d be here, spoon-feeding a baby whose father abhors me more than I abhor the devil, I would spit at them. I, Jennie Streams, the unknown baby mama of the top executive at Stealth Inc.—Reo Cuss. The devil with braided red hair and pink skin.
Yes, I hooked up with an Irish devil, a gobsmackingly rich one at that, and now… I’m stuck. Forced to marry his junior brother, Leo Cuss. Cut from the same arrogant, dickheady cloth their entire family seems to be cut from, and bound to this 50-foot square mansion in the suburbs.
I glance down at my baby boy, his little mouth opening and closing like a tiny fish as I feed him. Blue. My Blue. His soft coos are the only thing keeping me sane in this twisted life. My mansion-prison. People might look at me, stuck in a mansion with maids, fancy cars, and a private chef, and think, *Girl, why the hell are you complaining?*
But let me make one thing clear—I never wanted this. I never asked for any of this. I was forced. Forced to cover up a mistake that wasn’t mine. Forced because Reo couldn’t keep his dingy in his pants and knocked up Leo’s fiancée, Adele, the same famous supermodel you see on billboards.
*Classic Reo.* Always screwing up, always finding a way to make his problems mine. And now? Now I’m the one married to his brother, carrying his child for the second time, and forced to live with the knowledge that my baby daddy is playing happy families with his brother’s ex.
I snap out of my thoughts as my baby gurgles, his soft fingers curling around the spoon I’m holding. I brush a strand of hair from my face, catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror across the room. My face looks pale, my eyes tired, but I can still see the remnants of the woman I used to be—back when I had a choice.
The door creaks open, and Leo walks in. His face is as cold as ever, not a single emotion betraying his indifference toward me. He’s tall, built like Reo but more subdued, with the same pale pinkish skin but darker, shorter hair. His eyes don’t even land on me. He walks straight past me, like I’m just another piece of furniture.
I swallow hard, pretending like it doesn’t bother me, but it does. It always does.
This is the man I’m *legally* married to, the one I’m supposed to share a life with, but he won’t even look at me. And Reo? Reo’s somewhere out there living his best life, acting like none of this is his fault. Acting like he didn’t ruin both of our lives.
Leo’s voice, monotone and detached, breaks the silence. “You have a ride waiting for you. Reo’s men are here to take you to the city.”
My stomach tightens. Another day, another public appearance. Another charade where I have to play the perfect wife to a man who barely acknowledges I exist. I force a smile, but inside, I feel the weight of it all crushing me.
I glance down at my baby one last time before handing him to one of the maids. “Be good, okay?” I whisper to him, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.
As I head toward the door, I catch Leo’s eye for the briefest moment, hoping—maybe just for once—he’ll say something. Anything. But he doesn’t. He just turns away, like I’m not even there.
I let out a long breath. This is my life now—caught between two brothers, forced to live a lie, all because Reo couldn’t keep it in his pants.
And every time I think it can’t get any worse… it does.