Claimed by the Billionaire Brother of My Ex

Emily's pov

“You are pregnant dear,” said the doctor as he handed over a paper which I think was the test result but I was too shocked to acknowledge it.

“Pregnant?” I asked with a surprised look on my face.

“Yes, congratulations dear,” the doctor said one more time.

“I am pregnant, after three years of wanting, finally,” I said more to myself. “Thank you so much doctor for this wonderful news, my husband will be so happy to hear this”

It was the most surreal taxi ride back home. I sat back, clutching the small bag that held the lifechanging test results. I am pregnant. Happiness bubbled inside me like a geyser threatening to explode, but it was tempered by disbelief. Could this be happening?

There have been so many nights where I cried myself asleep, convinced I was barren, even with doctors' reassurances. The nursery empty I had prepared with such excitement now haunted me to remind me of things I'd never have. Yet, here I am with the one thing that could make my family whole.

And today was the ultimate day to break the news. It was my husband's birthday, Nathan, my threeyear partner. We had planned a quiet dinner later in the night. But this, oh, this was too big to wait. A smile tugged at my lips when the thought crystallized. Why not surprise him at work? Perfect birthday gift.

Leaning forward, I tapped the driver on the shoulder. "Can you please make it to Lionel Enterprises?"

The driver nodded his head, and my heart began to race as our course changed. I picture Nathan's face once I tell him. Although he doesn't say much about wanting a baby, I know that it means a lot to him. This was the moment we both waited for.

At the reception of Lionel Enterprises, there was a cheerful receptionist. "Mrs. Lionel! What a delightful surprise. Are you here to see Mr. Lionel?"

"Yes, I am," I said, barely unable to hold back my excitement.

"He's having lunch in his office with some colleagues," she said.

I nodded, feeling a small pinprick of nervousness. Straightening my blouse, I headed towards the elevator. The rideup felt eternal, my brain buzzing with ideas on how to say it. I clutched the bag with the test results tighter.

The elevators dinged, and I stepped outside and walked toward Nathan's office. I raised my hand to knock but paused when I heard voices coming from inside.

"... now that Rachel is coming back, what are you going to do about your wife?"

I froze. The voice was unfamiliar but male. The word "Rachel" hit me like a slap.

"Emily?" Nathan's voice followed. His tone was dismissive, "She's a dumb bitch, even though I am screwing her sister behind her back, she'd never suspect"

My breath hitched, heart was pounding in my chest. Was this real?

One of the other men laughed. "You have it good, man! Do you know how most guys have to hide their affairs from wives?"

"Yeah," another voice chimed in. "Emily is also lowbudget, anyway. I mean, compared to Rachel? She's nothing. Rachel's polished, sexy, and knows how to handle herself. Emily's..." He trailed off, chuckling cruelly.

Try as I might, I couldn't pull myself free. My knees trembled and I continued listening with horror.

"Exactly," laughed Nathan. "Don't get me wrong. Emily's great, but Rachel she's something different. And trust me, she's way better in bed."

The laughter rang in my ears, resounding like a cruel symphony.

"When then are you leaving her?" one of them asked.

"Soon," Nathan said. "Rachel is coming back tonight. Once she's back, we'll organize everything. But what worries me most is the 30% share of the company that's tied to Emily's name. If I leave her now I might lose everything"

"I don't know what my father saw in her, But we'll figure it out."

I strained backward against gravity, my legs refusing to bear my weight. The bag then slipped from my hand onto the floor, making them pause the conversation.

"Did you hear that?"

Panic rushed through me. As I turned to run for the elevator, my heart pounded like a war drum through the pounding of feet on the floor. I ran out of the building with tears streaming down my face as I heard the receptionist's concerned voice fade into the background.

Back in the taxi, all that I could do was cry. The gaiety I had felt earlier had been crushed, leaving in its wake a cold, suffocating sense of despair.

I can't believe my beloved husband is cheating on me with my sister!!!

Emily's POV

I went back to the bathroom and closed the door behind me, hoping in vain that I could lock out the pain threatening to drown me. The sobs echoed off the tiles, raw and unrelenting.

I slid down against the cold wall, huddling on my knees as the truth came crashing down on me like a tidal wave. My husband, Nathan, was cheating on me with Rachel, of all people.

Rachel. My sister, but never really my sister. The girl my parent adored. She wasn't even biologically their own, but that never seemed to matter. She was the golden child, the first daughter, the cherished one.

They thought she'd been theirs until one day, while sick as a child, they ran tests at the hospital and discovered otherwise. Rachel wasn't their flesh and blood. I was. We were mistakenly exchanged at birth

They found me, living in poverty with my frail grandmother, they took me into their world in rich possessions and privilege but without love.

Rachel, from the moment I stepped into their lives, hated me because she believed I was the reason for some truth I had no hand in. I became the shadow of her light, the outsider in a family I was biologically tied to.

Nathan had been my refuge, my only family. I gave him everything my trust, my heart, my sacrifices. And now? He betrayed me.

I instinctively placed my hand on my abdomen. The life within me was supposed to draw us closer to a real family. Now, I wasn't even sure about telling him.

A knock came suddenly. I hurriedly washed my tearstreaked face and straightened up before opening the front door. Nathan was there, one of those bright smiles on his face, arms extending to pull me into a hug. I let him, though the contact made my skin crawl. He kissed me softly, the gesture feeling hollow for me.

"Hey again, what's up?" he asked. "I thought we were having dinner together tonight. The house looks... empty. So I assumed you were planning some surprise."

I had to force a smile and say, "I was, but I just didn't feel well enough to go.'"

Nathan frowned. "Not feeling well? What have you been doing that's exhausting for you?"

His words rummaged deeper, I bit the insides of my cheeks to keep the furious spark from spilling over.

I was tempted to scream in his face and tell him I was working, I was keeping us alive while he was pretending to be a corporate executive at his father's company. I was bringing home the paycheck and paying the bills of his favorite lifestyle.

But I said nothing and let the silence stretch. Nathan chuckled and shook his head. "Well, maybe it's for the best. You didn't have to plan anything. Get ready because we're heading out

"Where to? I asked

"To your family house. Rachel is back and they're giving her a welcome party." He replied plainly

I stiffened. "I'm not going."

"What? He laughed, the sound grating against my nerves. "What are you talking about? Of course, you're going. This isn't up for debate. If you want me to have a good birthday, you'll do this for me, besides your parent aren't going to be there, its just Rachel"

I wanted to scream at him, tell him to leave, never come back. But there was a foolish, desperate part of me that hung on to the ridiculous hope, that maybe if I tell him about the baby, he would change. Maybe he would stop his affair with my sister. So I nodded and retreated to get ready.

The moment we got to the mansion Nathan whispered into my ears low and grave. "Tonight, you don't embarrass me. You get your best behavior into check."

I swallowed the bile rising in my chest and nodded.

As soon as we entered the house, Rachel came running toward us with a big smile and open arms. "Emily! It's been ages!" She wrapped me in an involuntary embrace while the pronounced sweetness of her tone turned my insides.

"I missed you" she coos. "Why haven't you called me? Why haven't you come to visit me? After all, we are sisters!"

Sisters? I tightened up my smile as I cut her words painfully through my memory and then had flashback memories of how she used to mock me. Her sharp words cut deeper than the blades.

Nathan excused himself to meet his friends, now, I'm left with Rachel. That syrupy tone disappeared the moment he went out of her earshot.

"Nice dress," she said, then smiled, twisting it into a smirk. "Did your grandma lend it to you?"

"Don't even start, Rachel," I said softly. "No trouble."

"Trouble?" she discussed, feigning oblivion. "Oh, I just don't get how you're always so uptight. After all, you took everything from me."

"What? My parents love you. My brother worships you. How did I take anything from you?" I asked, my voice rising.

"Nathan," her eyes spark.

My heart sank. "Nathan?

"He was supposed to be mine," she hissed. "We were perfect together. But you just had to come in and ruin everything."

"Do you even know what he has been doing behind your back?" She confronted directly, urging questions rather soon. "All those nights he traveled on your anniversary, he wasn't out of the country. He was with me."

I glared at her, yet the room spun.

"Remember that lingerie he gifted you last year? Well, he made love to me while I wore it. Then he wrapped it up and gave it to you like some... afterthought."

At that moment something snapped deep inside me. My palm flew against her cheek with a collision that echoed through the room. The party froze, and all eyes turned toward us.

Emily's POV

I never meant to slap Rachel. The moment unfolded like a slowmotion nightmare, and yet I felt trapped within it, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Rachel's incessant nagging about family and their expectations, something inside me snapped.

"Emily! What's going on?" My husband, Nathan, rushed into the living room, his voice booming, eyes wide with shock.

The attention of everyone around us shifted to my face, a mixture of curiosity and concern mingling in the air.

"Why did you slap her?" he barked, his face a mask of disappointment. I felt the heat rise in my face, but I was too embarrassed to respond.

"I didn't mean to—" I stammered, my voice quiet against the chaos.

Rachel, ever the dramatist, let her mouth run wild. "What did I ever do to you? I only asked you to come see Mom and Dad! How can you abandon this family after all they've done for you?" Her words were sharp, like daggers aimed at the heart.

Nathan turned to me, his brow furrowed in disapproval. "What did Rachel ever do to deserve this?!"

Rachel seized the moment, pretending to spring her ankle as she dramatically collapsed onto the floor."Oh, my ankle!" she wailed. I rolled my eyes, but inside I felt a twist of frustration.

"Go get the first aid box!" Nathan commanded. "I will take Rachel to her room"

"I don't know where it is!" I replied, my tone more defensive than I intended. But truly I don't know where it's been kept.

"Check your room!" Rachel whispered, a smug smile playing on her lips.

My heart sank at the mention of my room. I hadn't been back in three years, not since I cut ties with this family—a family that had treated me like an outsider. I reluctantly trudged down the hallway, memories flooding back as I approached the door.

When I finally opened it, I was met with a sight that shattered whatever remnants of love I had for this place. My room, once a sanctuary, had been converted into a storage space, filled to the brim with trash and forgotten items.

The realization hit me hard: they didn't love me. I was just a burden they had shoved into a corner. I grabbed the first aid box, my heart heavy with sorrow and anger as I walked up to Rachel's too

And then I saw it, Rachel sprawled across Nathan's chest, feigning tears, and he was comforting her. The sight twisted my gut.

"What took you so long?" Nathan barked as I entered. I handed him the box, my hands trembling.

"Why don't you bring out the cream and rub her ankle?" I shot back, anger igniting a fire inside me.

Surprisingly he did as I said, he began to massage her ankle, and he turned to me, disappointment etched across his features. "Emily, you're being senseless. Rachel only cares about you. You should be grateful."

"Grateful?" I spat. "I'm not ungrateful! She's not my sister! She was adopted!"

"Shut your mouth!" he roared, his voice like thunder. Before I could respond, his hand flew out, landing hard against my cheek.

The world spun as I fell to the ground, blood spilling from my lips, my hands instinctively went to my stomach to protect my baby. The shock of his actions left me breathless. He was about to touch me but shifted with shock and fear.

I can't believe Nathan hit me because of my sister, after how much I sacrificed for him when he was ill. Fought so hard for him, even donating a kidney when he needed it.

I had sacrificed my happiness for this man, and now he stood over me, the embodiment of betrayal.

"Why did you do that?" Rachel whined, feigning innocence. "Emily didn't do anything wrong!"

He looked at me with a hint of guilt but he didn't apologize, instead, he said"You caused this, Emily. You should never have come here."

I didn't even get the time to process what he said before my pretender of a sister chipped in "I'm truly sorry for everything, Emily."

With that, she leaped up, running from the room in tears, and Nathan contemplated on whether to go after her or stay with me.

"Go back home, Emily. We'll talk later," he muttered and dashed after her.

The cause of shock in all this was that my husband had not shown me this indifference for the last three years, and this was the first time I saw the pretense. I now realize that the signs have been there all alone, I was just too on love to notice.

I stood from the floor, took the first aid box, and cleaned the blood on my lip.

Then I walked out of the house about to stop a taxi when I remembered I had forgotten my phone so I went running back into Rachel's room to collect it. I was about to pull the door open when I heard weird sounds, the door was slightly ajar, and so I peeped through it only to discover that it was my husband and sister having sex.

I stumbled backward In shock, I already knew my husband was cheating on me with my sister, but witnessing it firsthand was more heartbreaking.

I pulled out my wedding ring and threw it away before dashing out of my family house. I just had only one thought in my mind, my marriage was over.

Emily's POV

The city blurred past me, every streetlight remembered fleetingly one life of the existence I thought I was supposed to be having. I was going home, but it was more of a prison now than anything else.

The moment I unlocked the front door of our home, the whole weight of the world crumbled. I dropped my keys on the counter and suddenly collapsed to the floor to let my tears flow freely.

Memories washed my brain, over the years trying to mud myself as the perfect wife for a man who could not love me the way I deserved. I had changed my wardrobe, changed habits, and everything about me that he thought was unworthy.

I used to wear vibrant, flirty dresses that made me feel alive, but he said they were drawing too much attention. I usually wear them to try and please him, now I wear shabby outfits that again feel like a second skin, suffocating me.

Rachel, the one he seems to find irresistible now, wearing the same clothes I had thrown away. It is as though I threw away my identity for a man whom I am now being betrayed by with my sister, The point hit me directly to the heart.

I thought having a baby would finally complete our family, I was going to tell him tonight but after what I saw, I guess not.

I have made a decision, I picked up my phone and called my best friend, I could hardly even get words out through my sobs, but she would always understand me, my lifeline in these troubled waters.

"I have tried so hard in this marriage," I choked out, "but he is having an affair with my sister."

Her silence was deafening. I could sense, though I couldn't tell if it was a reaction to what she heard or the fact that my sister was also involved in the affair.

"For how long?" she asked finally, and I could only shake my head; it felt like everything was crumbling beneath my feet. "It's been ever since we got married," I sobbed, every word tearing at my throat like glass. I was done with this. "I want a divorce."

It almost felt like a relief having the words out, quickly overshadowed by its meaning. "But he won't allow me to go, because he is going to lose the most, His father offered to give him a 30 percent share of the company as long as he stays with me"

"You need to leave without him knowing," she suggested with a glimpse of hope in me.

"Is that even possible?"

"Yes, I can arrange it for you," she assured me, and just like that gratitude flooded me. I thanked her as my heart raced under the thoughts of freedom.

It was morning with a headache and waves of nausea. Think of breathing, of clarity. I stuffed a small bag with barely enough to escape without raising suspicions and headed to the kitchen to make lunch.

I heard the door crack open and automatically knew he was the one. The moment he entered, he stopped in his tracks. The table looked astonishingly well laid out, a royal feast spread on it. I had to do my best in acting, even while my heart cried out.

He expected fury, I was all apology. "I shouldn't have slapped Rachel," I said, amazing myself at my calmness.

Nathan's eyes opened wide, and I could see the play of confusion on his face. "I know but You have to apologize to Rachel, and everyone else,"

Nathan said, and I answered him, "No problem." I watched as Nathan relaxed, perhaps thinking I was finally going to obey his perfect wife image.

Breakfast was nearly enjoyable, especially when I presented Nathan with his birthday present. "I'll check it later," he said casually. Marking time presently on his way to the shower. His aroma wafted in the air, mixing with a faint trace of Rachel's perfume.

The moment he left my cell phone buzzed. It was from my best friend, Jane "Everything is settled. Just get ready for your flight." My heart fluttered as I even thought about leaving this life behind. I listened closely as she explained the entire detail, and nodded along.

Nathan's Pov

I climbed the stairs with the faint sounds of Emily's chatter still audible through the closed door as she talked to her best friend. I was now in the bedroom, with a head full of ideas. The present she had given me lay in my palm, weightless and meaningless. The last thing I expected her to be was collected and warm even that much earlier.

She had slapped Rachel. I knew Emily was not one to resort to violence, but she had enough reasons to be very furious. I had been cruel, dismissive, and paraded. Yet here was a smiling Emily, a birthday gift in hand for me as though I deserved it.

I tossed the gift onto the bed without even looking back at it. It landed with a thud, and I just left it unopened. What could it be? Probably one of those cheap belts? A pair of socks? Something dull and unimaginative, I bet. My thoughts turned to Rachel.

She was the very antithesis of Emily in many aspects: the fire, the passion, the boldness. Nights spent with her were necessarily unforgettable and intoxicating, I couldn't help but think of Rachel as the spontaneous, exciting type who was quite adept at keeping a person like me on edge. Though in contrast, Emily? Predictability. Obedience. Boring.

Yet, here I sat on the bed, trapped by memories of a father who had coerced Emily down my throat. It was far more Rachel, wild and irresistible, whom I'd want, but to him, she was deemed reckless—a stain on the reputation of the family. Emily, obedient and polished, fitted his vision.

When I refused, he dropped the bombshell that I was illegitimate, and this was my only way into the family fortune: marry Emily. The plan was simple—marry her, and get 30 percent of the company share, even if the shares were in her name and not mine.

"A gift?" Rachel chuckled. "What's in it?"

"Who cares? I threw it to the side. Probably some useless junk."

Rachel laughed again, her amusement grating and comforting all at once. "You're unbelievable. Anyway, I'll see you later."

I ended the call without another word and headed for the shower. The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the day's grime but not the irritation lingering beneath my skin. I got dressed and went downstairs.

Emily was still chatting with her friend when I interrupted, my tone clipped. "I'm heading out. I'll be back for dinner. Make sure it's ready."

She gazed at me, her face betraying no expression. "Don't bother," she said, "I'll manage everything."

That only aggravated me more, and without a word further, I beat a path to the office.

By the time I got there, the board was already in session. They didn't bother waiting for me. I hung out outside, fuming as the sounds of muted voices echoed from the conference room. Finally, my father walked out all commanding and grand into the world.

"Nathan," he barked. "My office now."

I followed him, ready for the blow to hit.

"You useless filthy thing," he said behind the shut door and added, "Do you know how embarrassing it is to have you as a son? At least thank God that you are not a legitimate son so I can still say that my real heir is not a complete failure."

He leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a sneer. "Your brother, Richard, now that's a man who knows how to get things done. Everything you are not responsible, intelligent, capable. You? You are nothing but a liability."

The words stung, but I covered it with an indifferent attitude. I'd heard this speech a dozen times before.

Once more I leaned back and walked out of there. He called my name to stop me, but I ignored him entirely. The whole drive home, I could feel my face flushing as I gripped the steering wheel; my knuckles turned almost white.

Walking into the house, the first thing to hit me was the silence. There was no cheerful bustle around the house, like Emily cooking in the kitchen or humming softly to herself.

"Emily!" my voice echoed in the emptiness of space.

Nothing.

I walked into the bedroom. Her clothes are still there, but everything else feels twisted. Cursing myself impatiently with each added stair, I started back downstairs. The calm was broken by a knocking on my door outside.

I flung the door wide open, hoping to find Emily on the other side, but instead, I found Rachel with a couple of my colleagues.

Rachel stepped through the door and asked, "What about dinner?" Her voice was bright, but the mocking undertone wasn't lost on me.

"My stupid wife is busy." I slammed the door with an angry shout.

Rachel laughed with a highly sarcastic tone. "Maybe she is working extra hours as a waiter."

What she said was a sharp knife cutting through irritation into an angry flush. "She is not working. It isn't time for her shift."

Rachel laughed again. "Well, why don't we go check? Maybe your friends can stay here while we find her."

Nathan finally decided to do the unthinkable, search for Emily out at the restaurant where she works.

Nathan's Pov

I trailed behind Rachel, much slower than she did while getting into the restaurant. It was not a hunger that twisted my insides into knots but sheer embarrassment. This was the first time I had set foot in Emily's place of work.

The loud chatter of the patrons, along with the occasional clanking of cutlery, made the discomfort worse. I did not belong here or rather, I did not want to belong here.

Rachel was scanning the room, then her lips pressed into a thin line. "So, this is where she works?" she asked, the edge in her tone unmistakable.

I nodded but did not answer. My eyes roamed until they landed on a lady in her late 40s who stood behind the counter. She exuded an aura of authority as she held her head up with confidence while directing the staff using quick hand gestures. There could be no misunderstanding. She was the boss.

We went to her Rachel leading. "Excuse me," she said, her voice piercing the ambient noise, "we're looking for Emily."

The woman's eyebrows raised only slightly as her eyes darted between us. "Who are you?" she inquired, polite but firm.

"I'm her husband," I said, tasting bitterness in my mouth because, for the first time, I felt them weigh in.

Her expression flickered for an instant with something perhaps surprise or disdain before she folded her arms across her chest. "Emily isn't here."

Rachel's eyebrows knitted together, "What do you mean she isn't in? She works here!"

"She quit just yesterday," was the simple reply from the woman, as though that were explanation enough.

My heart sank. "Quit?" I repeated, the word heavy on my tongue. "Why didn't she tell me?"

The boss shrugged. "She came in this evening, dropped something off, and said you would come looking for her." She reached under the counter and pulled out a small box, placing it on the counter between us. "She said I should give you this."

Rachel and I exchanged a few words, and I then reached for the box. With that, the boss wiped her hands on her apron. "I have got to get back to work," she said.

We walked out in silence from the restaurant. Each bit of the box felt heavier with every step forward. Once we got back into my car, Rachel put an end to the silence. "What is in there?" she asked, her voice trying to hide a veiled curiosity.

I remained silent for my palms were shaking as I opened the box. A stack of neatly folded papers sat on top. My stomach churned as I unfolded them, revealing the bold words Divorce Petition scrawled across the top. My breath caught.

Rachel leaned in closer. "What is it?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock innocence. When I didn't answer, she snatched the papers out of my hands. "Divorce?" she shrieked. Then, dropping her voice down to a conspiratorial whisper, "Did you two fight?"

I was ignoring her and my mind was racing. This can't be real. Emily wouldn't just leave. My gaze fell to the box once more, and there beneath the papers was a tiny tape recorder. I grabbed it, plugged it into the car's stereo, and pressed play.

Emily's voice filled the car: on its way to being steady but laced with bitterness I'd never heard before. "Nathan," she'd said. "By the time you hear this, I'm gone. I know about you and Rachel."

My fingers clenched tighter around the steering wheel, jaw tense. To my side, Rachel had gone stiff.

"I know about the lingerie, the one you let her flaunt just before you giftwrapped it and handed it to me as if it meant something. Do you have a clue as to how humiliating that can get?" It was hard for me to swallow because my throat was dry.

"I had enough, more than what my heart can take. I had enough of all the lies betrayals the disrespect. I deserve better, and this time, I am choosing myself. Stay clear of me, Nathan. Be with Rachel or whoever you want to. I don't care anymore."

The recording cut off, bringing thick silence around. My chest was pumped with anger, just beneath the surface. I turned to Rachel, my vision a crimson haze. "What did you say to her?" I snarled.

Rachel's face widened, hands held up defensively. "I didn't Nathan, I didn't say anything!"

"You're lying!" I roared, hands shooting out before I could stop myself. My fingers wrapped around her neck, squeezing as fury consumed me. She gasped, clawing at my hands, her face reddening.

Somewhere at the back of my head, this voice screamed at me to stop. I freed her suddenly, and she collapsed against the seat, coughing and gasping for breath. I stared at her, heaving my chest, my hands shaking.

"What did you tell her?" I yelled again but didn't touch her this time.

"I didn't say anything!" she cried, her voice harsh.

Turning away, I ran a hand through my hair because my mind was in turmoil imagining what all Emily had done. The divorce meant everything—everything—was slipping between my fingers.

"You just don't understand," I spat between shaking breaths. "With Emily gone, I lose everything. The deal with my dad, even the 30 percent share is all in her name!"

Rachel just sat there, bloodshot eyes filled up with tears and spilling them over her cheeks, but I didn't give a damn. The world was falling apart, and the pieces slipped through my fingers.

Emily was out of reach. All I had were regrets.