Part 2Two Brothers One Perfect Life

The expression on Cas’s face cycled through disbelief, horror, and confusion, like a computer trying to process an overload error.

“Want an apple? Your fiancée will peel one for you.”

Five million dollars was certainly tempting. But being used as a pawn in their sibling drama? That was a bridge too far.

Hearing the word “fiancée” drove Cas’s face green with rage.

He opened his mouth, ready to demand answers, but stopped himself at the last second. He still had to maintain the amnesia act. Breaking character now would be shooting himself in the foot.

He tried to look composed, yet his eyes betrayed him, welling up with tears. His voice was thick with suppressed emotion.

“My… my brother is single, I think.”

I waved a dismissive hand.

“You’ve lost your memory, sweetheart. It’s normal not to recall your brother’s relationship status.”

Cas pressed his fingers hard against his temples, anxiously saying, “I think I’m starting to remember something.”

I pulled his official, printed medical chart from the bedside table and forced him to look at the paperwork.

“The doctor said there's no risk of memory recovery, Cas. Just focus on healing.”

Cas gripped the paper, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

I placed the perfectly peeled apple on his tray. As I prepared to leave, I ruffled his hair affectionately.

“If a memory can be forgotten, it probably wasn’t all that important to begin with. Time to move on.”

“I’m going out now—with your brother. We have dinner reservations. No, wait, scratch that. We’re going to a romantic, intimate restaurant. You rest up. We’ll drop by when we’re done.”

I gave him a cheerful wave and walked out.

The moment the door clicked shut, the hospital room erupted in a sound like a boiling kettle coming to a tragic shriek.

Pierce, standing outside, was oblivious to the conversation. He turned to me, his eyes softening slightly, a look of quiet satisfaction for my perceived compliance.

On the way to the hospital, Pierce had been relentless in guiding me.

“The fact that Caspian agreed to this charade proves he already doesn’t trust you. A crack in a relationship doesn't mend; it only widens. Trying to win him back is pointless.”

“Better to take the five million now and disappear gracefully than to have a messy, hysterical breakup later.”

Pierce always knew exactly where to twist the knife.

I handed him my debit card.

“I don’t want to mess with a physical check. Have your people wire the money to this card.”

Pierce nodded, handing the check and my card to his assistant to process.

By the time I stepped out of the room, the assistant was done. A deposit alert had popped up on my phone a few minutes prior.

As Pierce handed my card back to me, he was completely unaware of the furious face pressed against the small glass panel on the door behind him.

Cas, staring through the glass, fixed his gaze on the card in Pierce’s hand. From his angle, he couldn’t see the design.

Given my earlier words, he immediately assumed it was a hotel room key card.

Cas’s face was dark, his forehead throbbing with visible veins.

I took the card from Pierce, allowing my fingers to linger seductively over his hand.

“Thank you,” I purred.

I slipped the card into my bag and turned to leave. Pierce looked down at the spot where I had touched him, his fingers unconsciously flexing once.

The moment I rounded the corner, Cas exploded out of the room.

The supposedly gravely injured man attacked Pierce like a rabid dog, tackling him and beating him on the floor.

“Pierce Miller, you sick bastard! You stole my fiancée!”

Pierce: “Wait, what?”