"So, you're suggesting I marry my sister's man, now she's with my boyfriend?"

Alice Dawsey never had any doubt she was the daughter her mother loved least. After all, Kendra Dawsey always made a point of saying this clearly. However, despite all the humiliation and cruelty coming from her mother and sister, she strives to build a life for herself and her beloved little daughter, Millicent. When Alice discovers that her boyfriend left her for her sister, Amber, and her mother destroys her prospects of future, she finds herself forced to marry the last man she expected.

Massimo Bianchi has always had a difficult life, even after becoming the CEO of his family's business and the main candidate to marry Amber, uniting the two fortunes. However, after suffering an accident that left him confined to a wheelchair, he became a rude and bitter man, who will certainly make the life of any woman who marries him a living hell. So, of course, Kendra doesn't hesitate to replace her beloved Amber with someone as disposable as Alice. However, it is for another reason that Alice becomes Massimo's wife with her heart heavy. And not just because now the kind man she secretly fell in love with years ago seems to have turned into a reclusive monster. There is a secret that Alice plans to keep only to herself, no matter how much her and her daughter's presence on the Biachi Mansion seems to be, gradually, changing Massimo.

------- Millicent's Story, Revenge with My Fiancé's Billionaire Brother, is Now Available ---------

- Alice

“Our records show that Mr. Bianchi was discharged a few days ago.”

“Oh...” Alice blinked, a pang of disappointment piercing her heart as she looked at the receptionist of that hospital wing “I... I didn't know...”

“Even if he was here, this hospital does not allow patients to be visited by unknown people.” The woman replied, narrowing her gaze with pure contempt, measuring Alice from top to bottom “If you are the girlfriend that Mr. Bianchi's relatives talked about, then perhaps you should have come earlier, young lady.”

“I didn't plan to visit him. I just wanted to leave these gifts here.” She tried to swallow the lump of discomfort in her throat and maintain her posture, even though her hands were nervously clutching the tiny bouquet and the candy wrapper “Also, my last name might be Dawsey, but the girlfriend you're talking about It's my sister, Amber...”

“Of course, of course...” the woman snorted, refocusing solely on her computer “Since there is no one here to receive your gifts, go away. We can’t afford to stay here talking and disturb a relative who wants to visit a patient.”

Alice felt like reminding her that the huge reception was absolutely empty, but she ended up biting her tongue. She had spent enough time in nursing school to know fancy hospitals like this were usually infested with arrogant people who only offered smiles to those whose bank account was over 8 figures. Shrugging her shoulders, Alice just resigned herself and turned to walk out of the hospital, her gifts still in her hands. The small note written in gold ink, still hanging from the stem of one of the flowers, with a name standing out.

Massimo.

It was ridiculous that she had come there. Massimo couldn't care less whether she was dead or alive. Especially not after the car accident that had almost taken his life. And, after how Amber had treated him, Massimo probably didn't want any gifts that came from the Dawseys.

But still, she hadn't been able to stop herself from going there. Not after hearing her mother say he was about to be discharged. Well, Alice should have known that Kendra no longer cared about Massimo enough to know exactly when he was going home. After all, he was no longer the man she had dreamed of Amber marrying.

It seemed that being a billionaire wasn't enough for her mother and sister, if the man couldn't walk.

Fighting against the melancholy that Massimo's image brought to her, Alice tried to see only the good side of that situation. Massimo was far from the ICU, safe at home. That hospital wasn't far from her family's mansion and she could offer the gift cake as a dessert to her daughter and her boyfriend. She had to talk to Casey, anyway, to tell him that she would accept his proposal for them to live together.

Her savings weren't a fortune, but it would be enough to help pay the first few months' rent on the small one-bedroom apartment she had visited days ago. Enough until she accepted the first opportunity that came her way, whether it was a job that would help her realize her dream of becoming a nurse or not.

Everything so that Millie, her little angel, could have a real home.

With that thought, Alice finally arrived at the mansion, where her mother's servants opened the door without exchanging a single word with her, as always. Their gaze, however, had something strange in it, tense and almost mocking, following her tired footsteps all the way to the living room, the room closest to the small bedroom next to the laundry room that she and Millicent shared...

Even her eyes fell toward some sort of wet sound that was coming from one of the couches.

And, there, he found Casey. Kisses with her sister.

“Alice!” Casey gasped, struggling for a moment to get Amber off of him, though Alice doubted he could do anything to hide the way her sister's blouse was half open and her lipstick-smeared face "You come home early...! I... I mean...”

“I could ask what the fuck you two are doing…” Alice gritted her teeth, not knowing if that pain inside her came from the betrayal or the way Amber was looking at her over the back of the sofa, looking very satisfied “But I think that would make me sound more stupid than you two already think I am."

“Alice... I...” Casey stuttered, embarrassed “I can explain...”

“Explain what? That while you were asking me to move in together, you were sleeping with my sister?” she spat, disgusted.

"No! It wasn't that! Amber and I never slept together, I swear! In fact, this is the second kiss we've shared...” Casey continued to try to explain himself, as Amber finally stood up, perching on Casey's shoulder, eased “I... I'm sorry you found out this way. I know that what Amber and I did was terrible. Believe me, I've tried to fight it for the last few months, because what I feel for you is also true, Alice..."

“But, we both fell in love.” Amber interrupted him, hugging his arm almost as if to mark her territory “I’m really sorry, sissy. It all started with the best of intentions, I swear. I noticed that Casey was always lonely while you were working, so I started spending some time with him. We realized we had a lot in common. Over time, it became too strong for us to control.” Her sister made a pout that didn't seem genuine at all "Actually, the only reason we kissed today is because Casey promised me that he would clear things up with you and the two of us could be together..." Amber smiled sweetly, as if she was trying to encourage Casey, although that only seemed to make him even more uneasy.

“I... I'm really sorry, Alice. If I could go back in time, I would have been honest with you from the moment I realized I was in love with Amber.” The way his dark eyes looked sad almost made him look like the kind and patient man who had made Alice agree to start a relationship “And, of course, you have the right to be angry with us, but... Please, know that none of this was ever about hurting you. It was about love...”

“Oh, sure.” Alice can't resist giving a cynical laugh “The same love you said you felt for me while you were lusting after my sister? Don't worry, Casey. I'll be very understanding about this. You couldn't sleep with me, so you went looking for a bed more easily, with Amber. Makes a lot of sense..."

“You can’t talk to me like that!” Amber whimpered, and Alice wondered if she was not screaming, enraged, just because Casey was there “I'm still your sister! Plus, look at you! You're not even sad or anything! Everyone could see that you treated Casey like a friend and were only with him to try to be a father to your daughter! Why are you so angry just because he's trying to be happy with someone who really loves him? If you care about both of us, you’ll want to see us happy, won’t you?”

"Are you serious?!" Alice growled “My own sister is having an affair with my boyfriend and you think I should congratulate you both on that? If either of you two really cared about me, you would never have done this! And if it were the other way around, Amber?” Alice found herself saying, even though a part of her mind was on alert, begging her to shut up before she ended up saying something she shouldn't “What if I had fallen in love with one of your boyfriends? Would you be happy for me or would you call me a cheating bitch for having…?”

“What do you think you’re saying to your sister?!” A shrill voice interrupted the fight and, by instinct, Alice froze where she was, only managing to turn her neck to find her mother there, walking towards them confidently, while the sound of her high heels on the porcelain floor echoed “Oh, That's it? Are you making all this fuss and acting like a crazy person over a little boyfriend, Alice?” Kendra rolled her ice-colored eyes, exactly like Amber's.

“You knew that, didn’t you?” Alice murmured, her lips pursed “Why am I not surprised?”

“How can you insult your sister just because of a man? Is this how you react when you find out that a man wants better than you? Well, your life will certainly be a sea of ​​disappointments from now on, since you didn't learn your lesson from your daughter's father, whoever he may be.” Kendra sneered and, even though Alice had heard her say much worse things than that, she still cringed “Now, stop acting like a child. We have more important matters to deal with now. And, if you really care that much about having a man around to make you feel less like a failure, then today is your lucky day.”

- Alice

“Casey, could you excuse us for a moment?” Kendra smiled, her tone suddenly warmer and gentler, only because it wasn't Alice the one who she was talking to.

“Uh... Of course...” Casey hesitated, and Alice knew him well enough to know he was eager to walk away from a possible argument. “Just... Please, Kendra, don't be so hard on Alice. It's okay for her to be sad. As much in love as Amber and I are, it was still a betrayal..."

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, darling.” Kendra cut him off, with a friendly smile “What happened was just inevitable. I saw the way Alice treated you. Any man would realize sooner or later that they deserve more than a cold woman. As a mother, all I can say is that I am more than happy to continue having you as my son-in-law.”

“Oh, uh... Thank you. I... I'll try to talk to Alice when things are calmer.” He promised, but didn't turn his eyes toward his ex-girlfriend before leaving the living room, leaving Alice with that sour feeling inside her, watched by the prickly eyes of the last two people she wanted to talk to at that moment.

“If you're here to force me to stay cool about Amber being with my ex-boyfriend, you don't need to waste your saliva.” Alice said to her mother, as she started to walk past Kendra and Amber “I don't need an unfaithful man, anyway.” She added, though the prospect of no longer having Casey to share the rent on her future apartment with her certainly complicated her plans.

"Where do you think you're going?" Kendra asked, cold as ever.

“Listen, Mom, if you want me to clean something up, I'll do it later. I already paid you the rent for my room this month, don't you remember? Even with all those crazy fees you put up just because Millie took a bath in the bathtub.” she grunted, exhausted “Now, I need to check on my daughter and help her with her homework...”

“You better look at me while I’m talking to you, girl.” Her mother replied “Especially because our conversation today is about Massimo Bianchi.”

Those words made Alice stop, quickly turning to face Kendra, hoping that her expression wasn't betraying her and showing the feelings that man's name awakened in her.

“What’s wrong with Massimo?” She swallowed hard, feeling her blood run cold with worry “I thought he was discharged. Did he… Did he get worse again?”

“No, he’s still the same shit.” Amber shrugged, so insensitive that anyone would doubt she was talking about the man Kendra had been trying to marry her to for the past 5 years “I think anyone would be, if their legs were crushed. Mom tried to call him this morning, but, of course, he's still locked up on that old farm, miles away from town. It must be because everyone knows that he might die soon, as everyone has been talking about at the High Society parties since the accident....”

“So, you decided to break things off with him at a time like this, to be with Casey?” Alice narrowed her eyes “What a noble thing to do, Amber.”

“Who gave you permission to talk to Amber like that?” Kendra growled “Don't you dare be rude like that again, if you don't want me to cut off the water for you and that brat again! And, just for your information, our family is indeed being very noble.” She crossed her arms, with a smile so light it was difficult to identify “Massimo may be about to stop being the Bianchi's CEO, but even so, we won't leave him without a bride. That's why you're going to uncheck whatever shit you're planning to do and pack your bags. In two days, you will be the wife of the Bianchi's bastard.”

“What...? What did you say?” Alice blinked, feeling disoriented as if she had just woken up from a dream.

“Don’t play dumb.” Kendra sneered, “You heard me. Amber will stay with the Campbells’ son, who is much better suited to her.” She stopped for a moment to exchange a smile with her favorite daughter “And you will marry Massimo, so everyone knows that the Dawseys are not heartless monsters who abandoned a family friend just because he is now crippled. So you and that brat better be on your best behavior when you move in with him, so as not to embarrass our family.”

“Are you… Are you listening to yourself?” Alice gasped “Do you realize you’re talking about me marrying him as if we were in the 18th century? Like I’m an object?!”

“I knew you would be dramatic about something so simple.” Her mother sighed in disapproval “Well, weren't you the one who was mad at your sister for stealing your man, Alice? You’re welcome that I just solved this problem for you. Now you will have that entire farm to raise your bastard daughter and you will be able to have a family name like the Bianchi, which is much more than you know you deserve.”

"So, you're suggesting I marry my sister's man, now she's with my boyfriend?" Alice growled, even though the idea of ​​marrying Massimo made her feel...

No, she couldn't give in to those kinds of thoughts. She was no longer the same foolish and passionate little girl she had been four years ago. She had to think only about Millicent's future and give the only possible answer to Kendra's proposal.

“Well, I appreciate your kindness, Mom, but I have no interest in marrying a man just because you don’t want High Society to comment on Amber’s boyfriend swap. If you really want to be of some help to Massimo, then perhaps you should try visiting him and offering a word of comfort, rather than a wife as a consolation prize.”

“I don’t think you understand, Alice.” Kendra’s gaze became even sharper, if that was even possible “That’s not a request. Massimo has already agreed to this arrangement and the papers are almost ready. You will settle on his farm the day after tomorrow.”

“He’s angry that I gave up on him so he wants to marry my sister to try to affect me.” Amber sighed, although there was a smile on her face “This is even a little romantic. If he wasn't chained to that wheelchair for the rest of his life, I might consider giving him a chance..."

“What a shame.” Alice grumbled, hating how those words felt like acid on her skin “But my answer is still no. And there's no point in either of you trying to threaten me and saying that you're going to leave me and my daughter without water or even throw us out of here. I'm ready to leave this place soon and now I see that it's the best decision I could make, since you care so little about me that you want me to marry a man who will only use me for revenge and probably treat me like dirt.” A tiny part of Alice waited for them to open their mouths to disagree, but, of course, nothing happened “Now if you'll excuse me, this conversation is over. I'm going to start packing my bags, but to move to a place very far from this mansion..."

“And how do you plan to do that?” Kendra questioned, very calmly “Would it be with the money you hid in a can, among the brat's things?”

“How...” Alice clutched the paper bag she was still holding, while her heart seemed to have stopped “How do you know...?”

“Do you really think that little thing would be enough for you to rent even the most rat hole out there? Sometimes you surprise me with how stupid you can be, Alice.” Her mother snorted “You should have thanked me for finding that money and stopped you from taking your daughter somewhere to starve.”

- Alice

“Did you take my money?!” she gasped, horrified, but that only seemed to make her mother and sister even more arrogant.

“You have to agree that you were the only one stupid enough to hide cash, little sister.” Amber laughed.

“I only did it so you guys wouldn’t convince Dad to clean out my accounts again, like you did before!” Alice started to raise her voice, but Kendra quickly cut her off.

“You forget how merciful I have been to you since you were born, especially in the last four years. I could have thrown you out of this house for being a slut who doesn't even know who got her pregnant, but did I? No! Did I let you continue here, creating a bastard and dirtying our family name, charging only a symbolic amount of rent so that you could learn your lesson? Yes! The money you had in that can? It were nothing more than compensation for the 23 long years I raised you, receiving nothing in return but disappointment and ingratitude. But once again, Alice, I will be kind and give you a choice.” Even though Alice was looking at the ground, completely astonished, she was still able to tell that her mother was approaching, because of the sound of high heels “You can stop trying to be a problem for attention and accept becoming Massimo's wife... Or you can stay here and suffer all the punishments I still have to inflict on a stubborn child like you.” Kendra finally stopped by her side, muttering that last part against her ear.

“How… How could you do something like that?” Alice tried to count the tremor in her voice and the tears accumulating “I... I'm your daughter too, you know?”

“I’ll tell your father to finish the papers.” That was all Kendra replied, with contempt in her tone “You better in his office early tomorrow morning to sign them so we can send them back to Massimo. And give it to me.” She roughly snatched the candy bag from Alice's hands “You brat stole an apple from the kitchen this morning. Thank her that your debt has increased this month.”

Unable to even react, Alice stayed exactly where she was, frozen in the middle of the living room, while Kendra began to walk away towards the stairs, but not before Amber also passed by her sister, with a clear smile in her tone of voice.

"Don't worry. Hopefully, he'll remember me a little when he looks at you and won't be so hard on you and my niece. Or, who knows, Massimo will do the opposite, knowing him... Anyway, congratulations on the wedding, sister.” She leaned on Alice's shoulder "I hope you can attend my and Casey's wedding soon, too." Amber laughed softly, seeming to find the whole thing very funny, finally starting to walk in the same direction as Kendra had left.

Alice, however, remained there. Maybe for a few seconds or many hours. She couldn't say. In fact, the only thing that made her know she was crying was when, between her bleary eyes, she could see several drops of water beginning to wet the perfectly polished floor. And, as if finally all the remaining strength in her body had abandoned her, she fell to her knees on the floor, scattering the bouquet's petals across the floor, holding her own head in her hands, while that suffocating despair in her chest seemed to be spreading like poison in her veins.

All her money, her only prospect for the future, all her hopes of giving Millicent a better future... Has all gone, with nothing she could do about it.

What... What could she do, now?

“Mommy?” A sweet, little voice brought her out of her terrified thoughts and, at the same moment that Alice looked up to find the little girl hiding behind one of the furniture nearby, she quickly began to wipe her face.

“Hey, honey.” She smiled at her daughter, clearing her throat to hide the crying in her voice “Sorry, mommy's really late for our movie night, isn't she? I'm very sorry. I promise I will make it up to you…”

“Why are you crying?” Millicent asked, running towards Alice, her big dark green eyes full of concern “Did Grandma say something that made you sad again?”

“No, my love. I’m just… Tired.” Alice sniffed, keeping a smile on her face “Yes, that's just it. Today was... A very tiring day.” a sob of sadness threatened to escape, but she swallowed it down, not wanting her baby to have a terrible day too, just because her heart was broken “But, what are we doing here? You want to watch Beauty and the Beast again, don't you? Come on, we have to take a shower and have dinner before that...” Alice stood up, picking up her daughter, although clearly Millie wasn't convinced by her word.

“Will Casey watch with us today?” she asked, placing her little hands on Alice’s face with a worried expression, almost as if she already knew something was wrong.

"No, dear. Nowadays, Casey and Mommy... We are no longer special friends. I’ll explain this more to you later, okay?”

“So he won’t marry you one day?” Millie asked, disappointed “But he's still going to look for a new house with us, isn't he?”

“No, Millie... He won't...” Alice bit her lip almost to the point of bleeding, refusing to cry “And... About our new house...”

“When we move, can I get a pony?” her daughter’s face lit up with an adorable smile that only made her heart hurt even more “Oh, and a fruit bowl in the room, too? I promise I will always eat everything! I asked one of the girls in the kitchen for an apple today, but she didn't give it to me. She said they couldn't waste food on someone like me. But I didn't want to eat just one piece and then throw it in the trash. I pinky promise.” Millie lamented.

“I... I know so, my angel.” Alice had to close her eyes to compose herself for a moment and be able to smile again “I was thinking... Is there a place where we can live in a farm with lots of horses and eat as many apples as you want. What do you think about that?”

“Horses?” Millie repeated, delighted “And where is it? Can we go there now?!”

“In two days, we will be able to. And, there will also be a man that mommy can marry, just like you always wanted.” Alice tried to sound excited, but her daughter obviously managed to see right through her.

“But does he like you? And do you like him?” Millie tilted her head to the side and, if the circumstances were different, Alice might have even laughed at how complicated those two questions were and impossible to answer with just a yes or no.

“He is... A friend of your great-grandfather. And I... I trust him to have a home where we can both live well.” It was all she could respond, although her heart was tight as if she wanted to disappear “In return, we both just need to be... Silent. You see, he's sick now and needs to rest as much as possible. So, what do you say? Would you be happy if we moved in with him... For a while?”

“Would you be happy, mommy?” Millie asked innocently, and, to hide her reaction, Alice hugged her to her chest.

“Of course, honey. As long as you can have a better life than the one we have here... Nothing could make me happier.”