Chapter 1

I'd just put the condom on when someone started pounding on the door.

My wife, Jocelyn Gill, shoved me aside, panic all over her face.

I shot a glare at the door.

Her adopted brother, Calvin Tyler, stood there, flushed, staring at her. The bulge in his pants wasn't subtle.

"Jocelyn, please help me. I feel awful. I think I'm having an episode!"

Seeing him like that, nothing like before, my temper snapped.

"Then go get treated. Why are you barging into your sister's room? You got no shame? You can't even get married because of this, so now you're wrecking mine?"

Jocelyn rushed over and slapped me.

"Finley, how can you say that? Calvin's still a kid. How could he think something that disgusting? Before his parents died, they asked me to take care of him. I'm a psychiatrist—if I don't treat him, how do I face them? You're acting nothing like a brother-in-law. Apologize to Calvin right now, or we're getting divorced!"

In two years of marriage, I'd lost count of how many times she'd pulled that card over Calvin.

Back then, I'd risked my life just to win her.

She thought I'd never leave.

She was wrong.

This time, I was done loving her.

Chapter 1

I didn't react like before. Just stood there, watching them.

Before, I would've blown up at Jocelyn—then ended up apologizing anyway.

That's what she expected this time.

Jocelyn glanced at me, unfazed, then grabbed Calvin's arm and hurried him into the living room.

"This is your first time reacting like this. That's a good start. Does it feel swollen? Sit—let me check. What matters most right now is breaking down your mental blocks. Hold it like this—better? Yeah, keep that rhythm. Try it yourself. Not too hard. Tomorrow night, we'll try again."

Her soft voice mixed with Calvin's heavy breathing.

Each second dug deeper into my chest.

I shut the bedroom door, dropped onto the cold floor, and texted my former assistant.

[Mason, bring the divorce papers tomorrow. Follow what we discussed.]

The reply came fast:

[Yes, sir!]

[Mrs. Flint really doesn't know what's good for her!]

My chest tightened. I didn't reply.

A second later, my phone rang. My dad.

Before he could say a word, I cut him off, voice rough. "Dad, I'll take over the company. I start tomorrow."

He laughed, relieved. "Good. As long as you're back. Men in this family know how to start over."

After I hung up, the pressure in my chest eased a little.

Jocelyn took Calvin straight to the study, said she needed to monitor her patient's progress.

The faint sounds through the door made everything feel unreal.

For two years, I gave everything to this relationship—even put up with a grown man hovering around my wife.

And what did I get?

My dignity, crushed under their feet.

It took a while before Jocelyn came back.

She saw me in the living room, cheeks flushed, a hint of exhaustion on her face.

"Finley, are you trying to start something again? You're Calvin's brother-in-law. No matter what, you shouldn't have said that today. If you don't ease the pain in his heart, don't even think about showing up in front of me again."

I said nothing.

Maybe she got impatient. She tossed something down and stormed into the bedroom, locking the door.

I stayed up all night in the living room.

At dawn, Jocelyn walked past me and left with Calvin. Then her father, Robert, called.

The second I picked up, he started cursing. "Finley, you getting bold now? How dare you upset Jocelyn!

"So what if Calvin stays at your place? He's her brother. What's inappropriate about that? Only someone dirty would think that way!

"Here's what you're gonna do—today's Calvin's birthday. Bring a lawyer, get it notarized, and put Calvin's name on your mansion. Then apologize and compensate him. We'll call it even."

I almost laughed.

When I didn't answer, his voice turned even sharper.

"Don't push your luck. If this gets back to Jocelyn, it won't just be about the house!"

Before I could say anything, a message popped up in the neighborhood group chat.

A photo.

Jocelyn and Calvin stood close in the underground garage.

Her hands rested on his waist, their eyes soft.

His arm wrapped around her, his hand slipping like it was about to go under her clothes.

The chat blew up, tagging me nonstop.

[@Finley, your wife... that guy doesn't look like you.]

I gripped my phone tighter.

Robert was still yelling in my ear.

I lowered my head and let out a dry laugh.

I thought everything I'd done for the Gills these past two years would earn their approval.

Now I got it.

To them, I was never a person.

Just a rich idiot for Jocelyn to use—a walking ATM.

I tightened my grip, steadied my voice. "Robert, I'll be there soon. We can sign then."

Only then did he stop ranting.

His tone flipped, suddenly pleased. "That's more like it. Use your head and Jocelyn will like you just fine. It's Calvin's birthday—don't forget something expensive."

I didn't answer.

All I felt was cold.

Chapter 2

Before noon, I drove to Robert's place.

No gift. Just a folder.

The second I walked in, I saw Jocelyn pressed up against Calvin, her hand resting on his belt. The shape under his pants showed, slightly raised.

She smiled sweetly, holding a bowl of pricey tonic, feeding him bite by bite.

Calvin kept smiling, opening his mouth like he loved every second.

When he saw me, his brows lifted. He shifted on purpose, flashing that bulge at me, smug as hell.

Two years of marriage, and Jocelyn had never fed me so much as a piece of fruit. That shy, gentle side of her—I never got it.

Robert came over at the noise. Saw the thin folder in my hand, and his face dropped.

"Finley, didn't I tell you to bring gifts for Jocelyn and Calvin? What's a birthday without presents?" He shot a glance at the kitchen, then back at me, already annoyed. "Go cook something. After that, go buy gifts for my daughter and son. And listen—if it's not worth a few grand, don't bother coming back."

Every word landed like an order.

I didn't move.

The way they looked at me—like I was a servant—should've pissed me off.

Instead, I felt weirdly calm.

"Robert, I'm not here to celebrate Calvin's birthday. You want me to apologize to someone wrecking my marriage? Not happening."

"Wrecking your marriage? Are you insane?" His face dropped. "Calvin is Jocelyn's brother. What's wrong with them being close? Just because she's married, she's supposed to forget her own brother? Don't forget—you're the outsider here!"

I looked at him, bitterness rising in my chest.

The scene dragged me back two years.

Jocelyn's mom, Olivia, was dying in the hospital. Her career was taking off, so I dropped everything and stayed by her mom's side, day and night.

Calvin never showed up. Not once.

But before she died, Olivia grabbed my hand and begged me to let Calvin move into my house, to promise I'd set him up for the future.

I hesitated for a second.

She pointed at me and started cursing. "You're my son-in-law. If you don't take care of my family, you're failing your duty! I'll have Jocelyn divorce you!"

I had no choice but to agree. I looked at Jocelyn.

She just gave me a calm look.

"Finley, Calvin is my brother. Between you two, you're the outsider."

Right.

I was the outsider.

So this—whatever she had going on with her own brother—this was her excuse?

Robert snapped, "What are you standing there for? Go cook! Calvin's in recovery. If you mess up his condition, just see if Jocelyn doesn't divorce you!"

I let out a faint smile and tossed the folder onto the table, calm for once. "Jocelyn, let's get divorced."

I looked at her, lighter than I'd ever felt.

Robert froze mid-sentence. The room went dead quiet.

The spoon slipped from Jocelyn's hand and hit the floor. She stared at me, like she couldn't process it.

Calvin frowned, pulling her into his arms right away. "Finley, you've got some nerve, using divorce to threaten her."

He sneered, all smug. "You really think Jocelyn can't live without you? Look at yourself—what about you is even worth her? People already say you're dragging her down. If anything, you should know your place and get lost."

Jocelyn stayed in his arms. She didn't react to the divorce—just looked down, worried about him.

Everything had settled, and her eyes reddened. She shot to her feet and yelled, "Finley, what do you want from me?! Calvin's been my brother for over ten years. His dad helped my family—what's wrong with me treating him?

"He finally made progress, and you just ruined it! Do you really have to force me to choose between my marriage and my family? Can you grow up for once, Finley?!"

Like she'd done nothing wrong—like all of it was on me.

I let out a cold laugh. "Treating him? If he's got erectile dysfunction, shouldn't he see a urologist? Why come to a psychiatrist?

"And since when does treatment mean you helping him get turned on? Go outside and look—what kind of sister wraps herself around her brother in a parking garage?"

Jocelyn's brows pulled tight.

She looked like she wanted to argue, but nothing came out.

She wasn't in the neighborhood group chat. She had no clue everyone had already seen it.

Embarrassment flashed across her face. She ripped the divorce papers to shreds.

Her voice shook with anger. "I'm telling you—I'm the one dumping you, not the other way around!"

She grabbed Calvin's hand and dragged him in front of me. "I know you're just trying to provoke me. Apologize to me and Calvin right now, and I'll pretend this never happened. Otherwise, don't even think about stepping foot in this house again!"

Calvin looked at me, smug.

Robert stood there too, frowning, waiting.

I looked at Jocelyn—so full of herself.

All I felt was disgust.

I turned and walked out without looking back.

Chapter 3

After Olivia died, Calvin just moved in like it was a given.

He said he couldn't handle living alone, kept playing the childhood trauma card to get Jocelyn to stay over.

Then he dumped his girlfriend—again—because of his "condition."

After that, every few nights, he'd call Jocelyn for "counseling."

They'd stay on the phone till morning.

Every time—almost every time—Calvin called, Jocelyn dropped everything and ran to him.

Even when I was barely alive after a car crash, she flew overseas off one call—just to get him meds.

When she got back, she didn't explain.

"You were already at the hospital. You weren't gonna die. Calvin's my brother—if I don't get his medication, it could mess up his future. His marriage. His kids."

"Brother." That was always her shield. She never saw how far she'd crossed the line.

Like when her mom was in the hospital. Her day off—but suddenly she had "overtime." She never showed.

I went home to grab clothes.

The second I opened the door, I saw her—half-dressed, sitting on Calvin's lap, her face flushed.

I walked in on them. She looked annoyed.

"I'm testing a response. It's treatment—and a sister taking care of her brother. Be reasonable. Don't make a scene."

She yanked her clothes back on.

Calvin frowned too, like I'd ruined something, muttering under his breath.

In that moment, I was the outsider.

The humiliation hit hard.

After I left Robert's place, I went back to the mansion Jocelyn and I shared.

I planned to clear out anything tied to her. But after packing my stuff, it hit me—two years, and she'd never given me a single gift.

I let out a dry laugh and dumped everything I'd ever given her straight into the trash.

Then I walked out.

I called a lawyer and started splitting our premarital assets. In the end, not just the house—even the car she drove got frozen as disputed property.

Once it was done, I saw Robert had gone live online, ranting about me—calling me an ungrateful son-in-law.

Jocelyn's clinic, Gill Psychiatry, had a solid rep, so the stream blew up fast.

But after Robert kept hurling insults, the viewers didn't buy it.

In the end, Jocelyn couldn't take it. She posted an old childhood photo of her and Calvin, throwing shade at me:

[If marriage means abandoning your own family, then what is love?]

Watching her twist everything, I called Mason.

"Yes, Mr. Flint."

My voice stayed flat, like she was just business. "Cut all investment in Gill Psychiatry. I'll send the breach files—handle the penalties."

He didn't hesitate.

I glanced at the comments—Jocelyn still dragging my name—and let out a faint smile.

"Spread it. Flint Corp's pulling out. And file a report—Jocelyn Gill, director of Gill Psychiatry, crossed legal lines with a patient. Her adopted brother. I've got proof. And more if we need it."

Chapter 4

In one day, Gill Psychiatry was done.

Jocelyn showed up at my workplace like she'd lost it.

I'd just finished my resignation and walked downstairs when she stepped in front of my car.

"Finley, stop!"

I looked up. Her eyes were red, hair a mess—no trace of her usual composure.

She spread her arms, blocking me. "Why did you report my clinic? The mansion's sealed. Hotels won't take me. Even my car's frozen—I can't drive it! What are you trying to do?"

Her voice shook, no care for how she looked.

When I looked at her, I saw Calvin jogging up behind her.

I said nothing.

She took my silence as an opening, instantly switching to that pitiful look. "Finley, do you know how hard I worked to build Gill Psychiatry? Years of struggle—gone because of one report from you!

"Calvin and I are just siblings. What's wrong with helping my own brother with treatment? Why are you so sensitive? Are you really jealous of him?

"You're not a kid—grow up. I was just repaying his parents' kindness. Did you really have to ruin me like this?"

She sounded so sincere, like nothing had ever crossed the line between them.

I almost laughed.

When I looked at her again, my eyes were cold. "'Siblings'? 'Treatment'? Does his condition mean you strip and sit on him? Is hugging him in a parking garage part of it too? And locking yourselves in the study—that's just sisterly concern?"

With each line, her face darkened.

After a long pause, she had nothing to say.

Right as she opened her mouth, Calvin—who'd just run up—let out a soft laugh.

He lowered his head, voice hollow. "I'm sorry, Jocelyn. This is all my fault. If I'm the extra one, I'll leave. I'm not a kid—I shouldn't stay at your place. Don't worry about my parents, I'll explain. And my condition... I won't treat it anymore."

Hearing him, Jocelyn frowned and turned to him right away.

She grabbed his arm. "Calvin, don't say that. You're my brother. I won't abandon you."

Her voice went soft, gentle—something she'd never given me.

A second later, she spun back to me, eyes sharp with anger and disappointment. "Finley, do you have to push us this far? I told you—we're just siblings. What else do you want?"

Then she remembered the evidence. Her expression shifted again.

"Finley, we're still married. Withdraw the report, okay? Tell the police it was a misunderstanding. Help me rebuild the clinic. Do that, and I won't hold any of this against you. Please?"

Tears filled her eyes, the plea nothing like the fury from seconds ago.

Watching her flip like that, all I felt was cold.

She was only soft now because she thought I'd never really leave.

A few sweet words, and I'd go back to how I used to be—compromising, understanding, pretending not to see whatever line she kept crossing with Calvin.

I looked at Calvin. He caught my gaze and shot back a smug, taunting look.

Like he was saying, 'See? You'll never beat me.'

Then I looked at Jocelyn, still pleading, and felt nothing but disgust.

I moved to walk past them—

A familiar Maybach rolled up and stopped in front of me.

Mason stepped out, respectful as ever.

"Mr. Flint."

Under Jocelyn's confused stare, Mason laid it all out, line by line. "Mr. Flint, the major shareholders have been notified of your withdrawal. They're already cutting ties with Gill Psychiatry. After this, no one will touch them.

"The court ruled the mansion and the car are your personal assets. Once the divorce is finalized, they return fully to you.

"The tax agency also found irregularities in their filings and has opened an investigation. Should Flint Corp submit the additional evidence directly to the police?"

Jocelyn froze.

She looked at me, her face draining of color.