Chapter 1
My three stepbrothers were totally into another woman.
After my parents passed away, I was adopted by my mom’s friend, Maria Miller
Her three sons became my stepbrothers.
They doted on me so much that their affection had surpassed the bond of kinship.
I naively thought I’d marry one of them.
Yet, when Maria asked them who would wanna marry me, they all said
- no.
Maurice Miller said, “Grace Parrish is an orphan, and nobody wants her. I ain’t gonna marry her.”
Brooke Miller said, “She’s my stepsister. That’s all.”
Hearing their words, Samson Miller said, “Since you won’t marry her, neither will I.”
I was completely heartbroken.
After my stepbrothers left, I told Maria, “I’m okay with marrying into the Kaufman family.”
Maurice, Brooke, and Samson left. I sat by the window in silence till
When Maria was heading out, she sighed, her tone filled with pity.
“I can’t have you as my daughter–in–law, Grace. What a pity… Well, the mariage deal of the Kaufinan family in Boston still stands. Maybe your wanna think it over.”
I stared at the empty dining table blankly, a trace of bewilderment flashing across my eyes.
Suddenly, a car horn sounded outside. Upon hearing the sound, I turned. around and happened to meet the eyes of Maurice, my eldest stepbrother. as he walked in.
He squinted imperceptibly and headed to the study without saying a word.
Maurice was so indifferent as if I were a stranger to him.
Feeling a lump in my throat, I couldn’t help but call out, “Maurice, I…”
He interrupted me, his deep voice tinged with annoyance, “Didn’t I tell you not to bother me?”
Before I could explain, my second and third stepbrothers, Brooke and Samson, entered.
The twins were chatting and laughing, yet when they saw me, they frowned. Brooke said coldly, “Why are you still here?”
Samson echoed impatiently, “You’re not welcome here. Don’t come here anymore.”
Sighing, I suddenly lost interest in explaining. I lowered my head and said, “Sorry. I won’t bother you again.”
As I walked past Brooke, I nodded at him slightly.
Unlike before, this time, I didn’t greet them intimately. All I did was grab my bag and leave in silence.
They never treated me like this before.
I had been weak and sickly, and seeing the doctor was almost a daily routine for me.
They grew up with me. During those fourteen years together, they took great care of me..
Once, I recovered from a bad cold, and I had no appetite at all.
Maurice drove five hours overnight to go home just to make me soup.
Brooke went to every supermarket nearby just to find my favorite marshmallows to cheer me up.
Samson skipped classes, went back, and stood by my bed, staying with me for an entire day.
From then on, they were super attentive to me. Even a subtle change would worry them greatly.
However, everything changed after Amanda Hoyles showed up.
Maurice started to distance himself from me, no longer favoring me.
Brooke stopped caring about me; instead, he worked overtime and attended business gatherings more and more frequently just to avoid seeing me.
Samson never mentioned marrying me again. He’d moved on to someone else.
I didn’t know why, and there was nothing I could do.
Leaning b
in the cab on my way home, I called Maria.
“Maria, I’ve made up my mind. I’m okay with marrying into the Kaufman family.”
Maria sighed with mixed emotions, “Grace, are you sure? Marriage is a big deal. Don’t be impulsive.”
Maria was my mom’s close friend.
When I was eight, my parents died in a plane accident. Maria took me in, treated me like her own daughter, and told her sons that they must look after me.
Perhaps they felt bad for me; anyway, I became the apple of their eye.
Maurice always chatted with me, teaching me and answering my questions patiently.
Brooke cracked jokes to make me laugh and cared about my well–being
all the time.
Samson took me out to exercise every weekend to strengthen my body.
I grew up being doted on by them.
None of them ever had a problem when Maria said she wanted me to be her daughter–in–law, so I always thought I’d marry one of them.
When the time came, I was even wondering when they’d propose to me.
But everything had changed ever since Amanda moved next door last month.
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In the past. I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and didn’t know how to choose among my three stepbrothers.
Yet now, I realized I was just an orphan who lived under their roof.
I should have been more sensible and left a long time ago.
Then, just as I was about to book a flight on my phone, Amanda’s latest post popped up.
“I mentioned it casually and then received the latest bags. Thanks, guys. I love you so much! You’re the best!”
Her smug expression and the three identical Hermes bags in her hands. stung my eyes.
She was leaning on the bench in my private lounge.
The ring on her finger and the bracelet on her wrist were the graduation gifts my three stepbrothers had prepared for me last weekend.
I deleted Amanda from my WhatsApp contacts in silence.
“Maria, I’ve thought it through. You’ve been taking care of me for years,
it’s time I repay you,” I said to Maria.
When I came home last time, my assistant told me the Miller family’s factory had been facing some difficulties lately.
The marriage alliance with the Kaufman family would be of great help.
The Millers needed to link up with the Kaufinan family to save their business.
And I needed this marriage to embrace the new chapter of my life.
Maria said. “OK. I support whatever decision you make,
Madam Kaufman has reached out to me. The next Wednesday is a good day. You can head to Boston; I’ll take care of everything else.”
Perhaps Maria had already understood everything.
She added before hanging up, “Since you’ve made up your mind, maybe you should talk things out with the three of them.”
I took a deep breath, and the salty smell of the sea breeze filled my
nostrils.
I had six days before heading to Boston to get married.
Well then; I guessed I should make good use of those six days to say a proper goodbye to everything and everyone here.
