Falling In Love with My Stepbrother

I was the legitimate daughter of the Holden family. Growing up, I loved my wise and brave stepbrother, Callum Smith, the general.

I am outgoing, but I tend to hide my feelings deep within. Unfortunately, someone with bad intentions found out and exposed my feelings towards my stepbrother to everyone.

They all accused me of being shameless and even my father scolded me, saying I disgraced our Holden Family.

My stepbrother, who used to be kind, suddenly became cold and handed me over to the army's deputy general for discipline.

Three years later, he remembered me and brought me back. He asked if I still had feelings for him and I only shook my head to deny it.

Not until he caught a glimpse of my scars and hickeys all over me did he suddenly understand that his soldiers had used me and took advantage of me out of my will.

At that moment, his eyes widened in astonishment and he started to regret everything…

Part 1

In my third year as a washerwoman in the military camp, my stepbrother, Callum Smith, sent someone to pick me up here.

"It's been three years. How has Vera learned manners? Anyway, bring her back tomorrow for mom's birthday banquet." Those were Callum's exact words.

When the servants from the Holden Family came to fetch me, I was washing clothes for a group of soldiers.

I had to endure washing all the sweatstained clothes, batch after batch, for three days. That was quite tiring, but I had no choice. It was what I should do.

It was December, in a cold winter season and the surroundings were too cold. If I hadn't washed quickly, the water would have already frozen, so I had to immerse my hands in cold water all day long. My hands were already covered in frostbite, swollen and painful.

Even if I kept on working tirelessly all day long, the sergeant, Henry Sanders, who supervised me here, kept on cursing and yelling at me as if I was not doing anything at all.

"Who do you think you are, acting like a princess here?! You're just a condemned woman, so you better work, or else you'll suffer! You chose it!" Henry always shouted at me that way.

Three years ago, Callum had sent Henry to supervise me. He instructed him to be tough on me.

Henry was the sole sergeant to supervise my duties here in the military camp, but many times, I was so exhausted that I nearly fainted.

While I was doing all my duties, Henry just sat aside, ate snacks and lashed out at me when he was displeased.

As much as I wanted to be lazy, I also didn't want my skin to be torn apart. Well, I wasn't anxious over that. All I thought was he would just be furious and burst out his frustration on me and would also halt hitting me once he calmed down. However, he kept refusing to help with the laundry. He even didn't hesitate to use the whip, causing my skin to split open.

Everyone thought they had hit too hard and feared General Smith, my stepbrother, would punish them. However, Henry smiled scornfully, showing no fear.

Henry exclaimed, "The general confessed that he was killed because of this woman's disobedience. Come on, he won't chase after us! It will never happen!"

That was one of the reasons I worked harder all day long to avoid being hurt by them.

When someone delivered a message saying that Callum would pick me up and take me back to the Holden Mansion, all I thought was a joke from the soldiers just for me to hope to escape this hell place. Well, they used to behave like this before, so I didn't take them seriously.

They would even tear my clothes like jackals, which would only make me sob, shouting at all of them to halt, but to no avail. None of them would dare to listen to me.

"If my brother takes me back, you will all die a miserable death!" I shouted at them out of frustration.

However, they only laughed at their asses out loud, as if what I had told them was just a hilarious joke.

"You still think you're important when you return to the Holden Mansion? It will never happen. Wake up! You've been abandoned here by General Smith as a military prostitute for a long time and you still want to go back?!" one of the soldiers jeered, mocking me.

Everyone continued to tease me while starting to tear my clothes and their subordinates didn't intervene at all.

"Look at her. She's been with us already. Why hasn't her brother come and picked you up?" one of the soldiers on the side added, mocking me.

With what they all had done to me, I lost my voice.

Only tears streamed down from the corners of my eyes. After they left, I wrapped my clothes tightly around me and thought I would face my death anytime soon. Since then, I never looked at him the same way I looked at him before. The moment I realized it, the time I started never referring to him as my older stepbrother nor mentioning Callum ever again.

That was one of the reasons why every time I started hearing his name, I felt a bit bizarre, as I forgot I knew him.

In the blink of an eye, when I came back to my senses, I happened to see Henry walking past while eating some pancakes. Soon after he noticed me halted from working, he grabbed the whip, ready to strike me once more.

Before Henry could do such cruelty, he caught a glimpse of the servants from the Holden Family mansion; he didn't proceed as he was astounded.

Once Henry understood the reason behind their visit, he had no choice but to greet them respectfully.

"Everyone, look, Vera is somewhat dirty and a bit messy. Wait for me to let the maid clean her up and then return with you," said Henry.

With that, Henry pulled me back to the military camp and instructed someone to prepare hot water for me to bathe.

As his gaze moved from my face, I sensed a hint of desire in his eyes. He approached me to undress, but I tried to avoid his hands from touching me. However, I was terrified seeing his cold gaze at me, which made me pause. With no other option, I allowed him to undress me.

"Come on, you're just a washerwoman, yet you're still going to pretend noble and chaste?! Are you just kidding me?!" Henry mocked and smirked at me. "Since you're going back, then serve me one last time!"

I felt like a puppet, stuck in the military camp, letting them boss me around and do what they wanted, even if I didn't like it. I was furious and embarrassed, but I had no choice but to do what Henry asked.

When the servants from the Holden Mansion lifted me onto the carriage, I had already changed into a clean outfit. Still, it was barely enough to hide the scars on my body.

Before I and the servants left, Henry grabbed my arm. He coldly reminded me, "Vera, you know what should and shouldn't be said. If General Smith finds out what we have done to you, wait to see what we can do. This is your warning."

I had no choice but to nod.

When we arrived at the Holden Mansion, I hesitated to leave the carriage without the servant's reminders.

As soon as Hazel Brown, a maid, saw me respect the servants of the Holden Mansion, I couldn't help but sob. She handed me the mirror so I could see my face.

"My lady, you must have endured so much in the past three years. How did you become like this?” The servant was worried while staring at the reflection of the mirror.

I looked completely lifeless. My face had become so thin I almost lost its flesh.

Still, I tried to force a smile. No matter how joyfully I tried, my expression remained somewhat bitter.

"General Smith is here!" Someone announced it as loud as they could, signaling Callum's approaching steps.

I started feeling nervous, as if my heart almost skipped a beat.

It had been three years since we last met. Every time I dream back at midnight, Callum's face scared me.

At that moment, my worries were exposed to the public. Well, someone had bribed the maid beside me and created the whole drama.

Everyone knew the admiration I had with my brother.

At that moment, Callum already had a cold face. He frowned and looked at me with a distant and disgusted expression.

It felt like my admiration for him was filthy, something I couldn't bear to see. After that, he wouldn't even spare me a glance.

He said, "Vera, as the legitimate daughter of the Holden Family, you're too shameless. It's truly disgusting."

Even after three years, those words still felt like a guilty verdict, filling me with shame whenever I thought of them.

As soon as Callum approached me, my complexion turned pale.

Three years ago, when I felt too clean, he saw me as dirty and disgusting as hell.

"General Smith, this servant has realized my mistake. I have reflected on my mistakes in the army for three years. I have learned the rules for three years and know all the duties. I will never think of Xander again. Please forgive me, General," I said.

Hazel sighed, exclaiming in surprise, "Miss Vera."

She wanted to help me up, so Hazel added, "Why are you calling yourself a slave and calling your stepbrother the general? You are the legitimate daughter of the Holden Family. Please remember that."

With that, Hazel suddenly stopped and started crying.

I kept my head lowered, unable to bring myself to stand up.

However, Callum remained silent for a while. Then, afterward, someone chuckled from above me.

"It seems they have a good job enforcing the rules," he remarked.

"I am indeed much more obedient," I mumbled.

With that, Callum bent down and raised his finger to lift my chin. As soon as we met each other's stares, his eyes widened in astonishment.

"Vera, why have you lost so much weight?!" he exclaimed.

Callum had mixed feelings. He was shocked as if he had a headache and some that had pity.

However, I only opened my eyes, oblivious to what torture would bring me. Still, I remained silent. I didn't want to speak.

As expected, Callum didn't force me to retort back at him.

Right afterward, Callum chuckled and let go of my chin.

"The conditions in the army are tough. You must be selective about what you eat, so it's natural to lose weight," he remarked.

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat. Hazel helped me up only after Callum gave his permission.

Callum brought me back to the Holden Mansion this time because his mother pleaded with him and also because tomorrow was her birthday.

However, according to the servants in the mansion, there was another reason. That was that Callum would be married soon to someone.

As for who he would be married to, Callum had a childhood sweetheart named Fiona Gordon.

Even though Callum didn't know, three years ago, I was designed to make a fool of myself at a banquet.

It was the conspiracy of Fiona and my younger sister, Celeste.

I heard that during my three years away, Callum and Fiona became very close and they were about to get married.

"Miss, once the general gets married, he definitely won't drive you away again," Hazel said.

Upon listening to Hazel, I couldn't help but smile full of bitterness.

Did he think I would still have feelings for Callum and make me watch him get married? These three years, I've wished for death every day. I've been afraid for so long.

Callum sent two more female servants to me, asking them to serve attentively.

They waited for me to take a bath and tried to help me undress, but I pulled back like someone had poked me with a needle. During my three years in the army, I often dreamed that someone forcibly undressed me.

What scared me a lot was that after I woke up, I would be slapped by the realization that it wasn't a dream at all, but it happened for real.

With a sigh, I asked them all to leave. I did not have an illness that prevented me from moving freely.

"I'll do it myself," I insisted.

I asked Hazel to step back, worried that she might see the ugly scars winding across my body.

At the birthday banquet being held in the Holden mansion, Callum patiently waited for me outside.

As soon as I finished preparing and dressed myself more appropriately, I went out. Upon reaching there, I caught a glimpse of Callum, which made me panic, but I was suddenly forced to smile at him.

"Why did the general come in person? This servant…"

"Vera," Callum interrupted me, his gaze on my face. "In the future, you will reclaim your identity as the Miss of the Holden Family and no longer need to refer to yourself as a servant."

I shook my head and replied, "I'm afraid I can't."

Callum frowned upon hearing what I told him.

"You know what? I can admire being wellbehaved, but being too reserved is a bit much," he remarked.

I was taken aback. I knew he believed I was pretending.

Suddenly, Callum took my hand and said, "Let's go. It's been three years since we last met. I'll introduce you to my father and mother."

As soon as he was about to touch me, I immediately reacted and took a step back to avoid his touch.

With that, Callum stared at me confusedly.

I fell to my knees, fighting to hold back the tears in my eyes. "Please forgive me, General. I…" I stuttered, unable to continue.

These three years of experience had made me afraid of men's touch.

Callum's gaze lingered on my face, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned around and walked ahead. I followed silently behind him.

A lot of people could be seen attending the birthday banquet.

Since I suddenly appeared here after being gone for three years, the visitors who happened to see me started gossiping about me. Some of them were familiar to me, but others weren't.

"I think she's the one, right? That legitimate daughter from the Holden Family," someone whispered to the others.

"Why does she look so pale and thin? She's not as pretty," the others replied.

"You better cut that crap! Remember how she did shameful things back then, three years ago now? I think now that she has learned some lessons, then I am still pretty sure she will do it again. Besides, a person like her cannot change despite whatever she has learned!" one woman from the side also shared her opinion.

That said, they didn't respond at all and remained muted, seeing our presence nearby.

That woman looked in Callum's direction with confidence, as if acting like she didn't mention anything about me. At the same time, I saw Callum's gaze at this point also was too sharp, as if it could kill anyone.

I was well aware Callum had that reaction not to defend me but also not to distract her mother's birthday celebration.

On the other hand, Nathan Holden, Callum and I’s father come out, holding Avery Holden, Callum's mother, my stepmother and the birthday celebrant's hands.

Upon seeing them, I immediately slightly bowed to show I respected them.

"Indeed, Callum was right. Learning some lessons made Vera more obedient," Dad said with a smile.

I continued standing with my head down and eyes on the floor while Avery looked sympathetic.

"Are you a bit too obedient? You don't even look like Vera," she said.

Later, Avery pulled towards the side, moved closer to me and whispered something in my ears before she left and entertained some of the guests.

With that, I continued standing at the side, too silent and feeling out of place.

I was minding my own business here when suddenly, someone poured water down from a basin above me out of the blue, sending a cold shiver down my spine.

Who the hell is that?! I wondered.

On the opposite side stood Celeste, who glimpsed at me and said, "Sister, I just made a bet with Fiona. Let's see how well you've learned the rules. Will splashing water on you make you furious, or will you just let it pass?"

Next to me stood Fiona with a gentle smile. They made me look bad at the birthday banquet on purpose and I ended up completely soaked. I stood there with my head down, feeling all their eyes turned to me.

Their intense stare at me made me shake my body like a left. I tried to stay awake, but everything went black around me.

"Miss!" I heard Hazel's voice. Then, I fell and was caught in someone's arms.

When everything turned black and made me unconscious, I had no idea who the hell carried me back to the room.

Someone was breathing rapidly and seemed to be too nervous for me.

"Vera, I know you will be fine. Don't be afraid too much," said someone, sounding like a familiar voice of a man.

However, since my eyes were shut, I could not guess who it was from. But I could tell, based on the voice, that it seemed to be Callum. I still had no assurance.

But then again, Callum wasn't that gentle to me at all. He even wanted to kill me.

Later, I fell asleep and I didn't know how many hours had passed. I suddenly regained consciousness, but I still hadn't opened my eyes. I only heard a conversation between Callum and someone who seemed to be a physician.

The doctor sighed and said, "General, Miss Vera's body is frail, mostly because she hasn't been eating enough and exposed to cold air all year round. Also, she's been given too many strong medicines lately. I'm afraid that she needs to take better care of herself!"

"Weak?" Callum asked, too confused to understand what he had said. He added, "How come? Malnutrition is mostly due to her picky eating in the army. But what's the matter with this cold air?"

Callum's expression darkened as he held onto the physician and asked again, "What about the strong drugs?"

With that, the physician's face was somewhat surprised.

"General, you don't know?"