I got married on the same day as my older sister.

The two of us had fallen in love with identical twins. I married Maverick, and my sister, Maxine, married Anthony.

Back then, everyone used to joke that our weddings looked like something out of a movie. But not even a year later, Anthony’s life was taken in a brutal attack. He was ambushed by our rivals.

Everything changed after that.

The day his funeral ended, my parents-in-law sat in front of us with red, swollen eyes. My mother-in-law had cried so much she could barely keep them open.

She clutched Maxine's hand and sobbed.

"My poor son... he left without even having a child."

The room fell silent.

Then she turned toward me.

"Sandra, listen to me. Maverick and Anthony are identical twins. They have the same blood, the same genes."

A strange feeling crept up my spine.

I suddenly had a very bad feeling about where this was going.

My mother-in-law tightened her grip on Maxine's hand.

"Our family has always believed in keeping the bloodline alive. Anthony is gone, but Maverick is still here. If Maverick helps Maxine have a child, then biologically... it would still be Anthony's blood."

My head buzzed.

For a second, I thought I had heard her wrong.

What?

Was she really asking my husband to get my sister pregnant?

My mother-in-law burst into tears again.

"I'm begging you, Sandra. Please. Maxine is still young, and Maverick is Anthony's twin. If they have a child together, it would be like Anthony left something behind in this world."

Before I could even respond, my father-in-law spoke up. His voice sounded tired and broken.

"Sandra, ever since Anthony died, Maxine has barely been living. She doesn't eat properly. She doesn't sleep. She just sits there staring into space for hours." He rubbed his eyes. "I'm afraid we're going to lose her too."

His words made my chest tighten.

Then he looked directly at me. "If Maxine had a child, maybe she'd have something to live for. Maybe she'd finally find a reason to keep going."

"Please," my mother-in-law cried. "We're begging you."

The way they looked at me made it feel like I was holding someone's life in my hands.

Like if I said no, Maxine's suffering would somehow become my fault.

I lowered my head and bit my lip.

My parents-in-law had always favored Maxine.

Honestly, I was used to it. I was always the child who came second.

No.

Maybe not even second— I was the forgotten one.

What mattered to me wasn't what they thought.

The only thing I cared about was what Maverick thought. I was the middle child in my family.

Growing up, I was always the least loved.

When I got sick, nobody stayed by my bedside.

When I cried, nobody asked what was wrong.

After a while, I stopped expecting anyone to choose me.

Then I met Maverick. For the first time in my life, someone did. Everyone in the city knew who Maverick was.

The feared mafia king of the Iron Crown Cartel.

The powerful president of Synergy Bio-Pharma Corp.

A man people either respected or feared.

But with me, he was different.

When I caught a cold, he'd leave meetings and come home early just to check on me.

When we went shopping, he paid attention to every little thing I looked at.

If I paused for even a second in front of something, there was a good chance it would show up in our house the next day.

He remembered my favorite snacks, my favorite flowers, and even the books I casually mentioned once months earlier.

Nothing about me was ever too small for him to notice.

He could've had anyone he wanted.

Yet he spent hours doing things for me that most people would've considered ridiculous.

He personally designed my engagement ring.

I still remembered the night he proposed.

The city lights had reflected in his eyes as he held my hands.

"Sandra," he'd said softly, "maybe I wasn't there for your childhood. Maybe I can't erase everything you've been through."

His thumb brushed against my knuckles.

"But from now on, you'll never have to wonder whether you're someone's first choice."

My eyes had filled with tears, and then he'd smiled.

"I'll be the one who puts you first. Every single time."

"No matter what happens?"

I remembered asking it like a child seeking reassurance.

"No matter what happens," he promised.

Before we got married, he always stood by my side. And that day, he did it again without hesitation.

Maverick stepped in front of me and his tall frame blocked me from everyone's view.

"Dad. Mom." His voice was calm, but there was steel underneath it. "Stop pressuring Sandra."

The room went quiet.

His mother stared at him in disbelief. "Maverick..."

"No." His answer came immediately. "What you're asking isn't reasonable." His jaw tightened. "I know you're grieving. We all are. But Sandra is my wife and the love of my life." He reached back and took my hand. "I'm not going to betray her."

His mother broke down crying.

"But Anthony is gone! Maxine has nothing left!"

Maverick closed his eyes briefly.

When he opened them again, there was sadness there too. "I'll take care of Maxine for the rest of my life if I have to. I'll make sure she's protected and provided for." His voice grew quieter. "But I won't have a child with her."

Then, to everyone's shock, Maxine suddenly stepped forward.

She dropped to her knees before our parents while tears streamed down her face. "I know Anthony died trying to save Maverick… I know he owe him everything." She looked toward Maverick. "But not like this." Then she turned back to our parents. "I'll do anything for this family. Anything except ask my brother-in-law to betray my sister."

Nobody spoke after that.

The only sound left was Mrs. Farington quiet sobbing.

Later that day, my husband spent hours kneeling in front of Anthony's grave and watching him there, my eyes filled with tears.

Maybe life has never been very kind to me. Maybe my own family has never truly put me first. But standing beside that man, I suddenly thought...

Maybe I wasn't unlucky after all.

Because somehow, in this huge world, I'd found the one person who loved me most.

…

That night, after everyone had gone to bed and the mansion finally fell silent, I lay awake staring at the ceiling.

I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept hearing my mother-in-law’s voice, begging me to let Maverick give Maxine a child. The memory sat heavy in my chest, tight and suffocating.

Then I heard something upstairs.

At first, I thought I was imagining it. The sound was faint, almost lost in the silence. A door closing somewhere above, then footsteps, then low voices. I frowned and slowly sat up, listening harder.

Anthony’s old bedroom was upstairs. Ever since he died, no one was supposed to go in there. That thought hit me strangely, and I immediately felt guilty for even thinking it.

Had Maxine finally moved on?

No, no, that couldn’t be it.

She loved Anthony too much.

A few moments later, the sound came again, clearer this time. Curiosity got the better of me. I pulled on a cardigan and quietly left my room.

The mansion was dark, only a few wall lamps glowing faintly along the hallway. I moved upstairs as quietly as I could. With each step, the voices became clearer.

By the time I reached the second floor, I saw it.

Anthony’s bedroom door wasn’t fully closed. A thin strip of light spilled out into the hallway.

My heartbeat picked up immediately.

Why was the door open?

I slowly walked closer and looked through the gap.

The room was messy. Clothes were scattered everywhere like someone had rushed through it without caring. Two people were inside.

One of them was Maxine.

For a second, I felt relief. My mind even tried to tell me I was overthinking everything.

Then I saw the man standing beside her and everything in me stopped.

Maverick.

My husband.

The man who had stood in front of everyone that morning and declared that he'd never betray me.

The man who controlled research parks, medical districts, and entire networks of private clinics with a single phone call.

The man who had promised to always choose me.

...

I stood frozen at the door. Earlier that day, she had been crying in front of everyone. She had said she wouldn't accept anything like that proposal from the family.

She had looked at me and even held my hand.

“I won't betray you, Sandra,” she had said softly. “Not even if they force me. I won't become someone I hate.”

And I believed her… I actually believed her.

...

“Maverick, I told them no,” Maxine said upstairs, her voice shaking like she was confessing something painful. “I really did. I said I wouldn't do anything like this, like making out with you for the sake of your twin Anthony.”

She reached out and lightly touched his sleeve, hesitant, innocent.

“But they keep pushing me,” she continued softly. “And I don't know how long I can keep resisting when everyone keeps saying I'm selfish.”

Maverick's jaw tightened. “You shouldn't be blaming yourself for this,” he said quietly. “This isn't something you should carry alone.”

His voice softened a little after that.

“But you also know what this means if Sandra finds out.” Maxine lowered her eyes immediately, “I don't want to hurt her,” she said quickly. “Sandra is my younger sister. I love her. I would never want to take anything from her.”

Then she looked up again, eyes glossy, voice trembling just right.

“But I also don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore.”

...

I stepped back without realizing it.

My shoulder hit the wall behind me.

A soft sound came from the room again, followed by Maverick's voice, lower now.

“Maxine, stop shaking,” he said. “You don't have to act like you're trapped. You're not.”

“I’m not acting,” she whispered immediately “I swear I'm not. I just… I don't know how to stop feeling guilty about everything.”

Then all I heard were kisses, moans, and Maxine panting softly. I didn’t need to peek— I could already picture exactly what they were doing.

“Rick! Ahh!”

“Maxine, ohh!”

I turned away immediately and walked down the stairs slowly, like my legs didn't belong to me.

Maxine had always been like that. Even when she smiled, it looked soft, harmless. Even when she got what she wanted, she acted like she didn't ask for it. Even when she hurt someone, she somehow made it sound like she was the one bleeding.

…

The next morning, I didn't sleep at all. I just sat there until the sky turned pale. Then I called the lawyer. By noon, the papers were ready.

I walked into Maverick's office.

The room was clean, too clean.

Glass walls. Cold light. Everything sharp and expensive, like it was designed to erase emotion.

He looked up as I entered.

“What's wrong?” he asked calmly. “You didn't sleep, baby.”

I flipped the papers to the last page and placed them in front of him.

“Sign this,” I said quietly.

He glanced at the papers, but didn't open them.

“Sandra,” he said softly, almost tired. “You know I don't question anything you bring me.”

I forced myself to meet his eyes. “Don't you want to read it first? What if it's something you shouldn't agree to?”

He leaned back slightly, watching me. “If it's from you, baby, I don't need to read it twice,” he said. “Just tell me where.”

I pointed at the last page.

“Here. Signed here.”

He signed immediately.

“Are you ever scared I'll use you?” I asked suddenly.

Maverick paused for a second, then let out a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “Sandra,” he said, reaching for my hand. “If you ever tried to destroy me, I'd probably help you organize the plan.”

Once upon a time, those words would've made me cry from happiness. Now? They only made me sick.

How many times had he said things like that? How many promises had turned out to be lies?

…

That evening, my father-in-law once again ordered Maverick to kneel in the family mausoleum at the back of the mansion.

His expression was cold. “Maverick, stop being stubborn.”

“I've already made my position clear.” Maverick's voice was firm. “I'm not going to do what you're asking, Dad ”

His father looked furious. “Then kneel.”

Maverick met her gaze. “If that's what you want, fine.” Then he turned toward me. His eyes softened immediately. “Baby, don't worry.” He squeezed my hand. “I'd rather kneel there forever than betray you.”

The words were perfect… So perfect that anyone would've believed them, but I already knew the truth.

Because later that night, after the mansion fell silent once again, I heard movement upstairs.

The same room, the same secret hidden behind closed doors. I sat alone in the darkness.

This time, I didn't go upstairs.

There was no point.

I'd already seen enough.

The sounds drifted faintly through the quiet house.

And with every passing minute, another piece of my heart broke.

…

For the next few days, the same thing happened over and over again. Every night, I lay awake in bed staring into the darkness.

After all, no one could guarantee a pregnancy on the first try.

That was the excuse everyone seemed to be using.

I stopped sleeping properly.

The moment I closed my eyes, unwanted thoughts would creep in.

No matter how hard I tried to push them away, they always came back.

...

As the days passed, I started looking worse and worse. The woman staring back at me in the mirror barely looked familiar.

My face was pale. Dark circles sat beneath my eyes. My clothes hung more loosely on my body with each passing day.

Meanwhile, Maxine looked healthier than ever.

The grief that had nearly destroyed her seemed to disappear little by little.

Color returned to her face. She smiled more. She laughed more and the mansion was filled with life again.

Everyone seemed happy, everyone except me.

And somehow, nobody noticed.

Or maybe they noticed and simply didn't care.

That thought hurt even more.

When Anthony died, the entire family had practically stopped breathing.

Mrs. Farrington personally cooked meals every day because she worried Maxine wasn't eating enough. Mr. Farrington canceled meetings and spent hours with her.

The staff treated her like fragile glass.

Even Maverick seemed to devote all his attention to making sure she was comfortable.

I remembered how desperately everyone had worried whenever Maxine looked sad. Now I was the one wasting away.

I was the one losing sleep. I was the one barely eating.

Yet all I received were cold looks and accusations.

One afternoon, Mrs. Farrington finally snapped at me.

"Sandra, can you stop looking so miserable all the time?"

I froze.

She continued before I could answer. "Every day you walk around with that expression on your face. What exactly are you unhappy about?"

I lowered my eyes.

Mr. Farrington scoffed. "You should be grateful."

His voice was sharp.

"If Anthony hadn't sacrificed himself protecting Maverick years ago, your husband would've been the one in that grave."

The room fell silent.

Then Mrs. Farrington added bitterly, "Your sister is suffering and all you can think about is yourself."

I stood there quietly. What was I supposed to say? That I was hurting too? That my marriage was falling apart right in front of me? Nobody would've cared.

...

After that, I stopped trying. I quietly gathered my documents. I finalized the divorce paperwork. And I submitted an application for an overseas assignment through one of Synergy Bio-Pharma's international branches.

If nobody wanted me here, then why was I still staying? I didn't tell anyone, not even Maverick.

A few weeks later, the news everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.

Maxine was pregnant.

The entire mansion erupted in celebration, and the family held a banquet.

Champagne flowed.

Firecrackers exploded outside the estate gates.

Even some of Maverick's top executives from Synergy Bio-Pharma and several high-ranking members of the Iron Crown Cartel came to offer congratulations.

It felt like the whole world was celebrating.

I sat quietly at the breakfast table the next morning, eating porridge while everyone discussed baby names.

Then I looked up and my eyes landed on Maverick.

"Maverick."

He immediately turned toward me. "What is it, sweetheart?"

I stared at him for several seconds. "That baby, is that yours?"

The room instantly fell silent.

Maverick froze. For a split second, something flashed across his face.

"Sandra!" His brows furrowed. "What kind of question is that?"

I held his gaze.

He pushed his chair back. "Are you seriously questioning me right now?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried enough weight to make everyone tense.

"I've done everything I can for this family and for you. I never betrayed you. Why would I be the father of Maxine's baby?" His jaw tightened. "And after all these years together, that's what you think of me?"

Mrs. Farrington immediately jumped in. "How could you ask something like that? Now that Maxine is pregnant, you're looking miserable again. Whether the baby is Maverick's or not, you should be happy for your sister!"

Mr. Farrington looked furious. "Sandra is just jealous because she couldn't get pregnant. She's a barren cursed, that's all."

"Mother, Father, please don't be hard on my sister," Maxine said softly. "She's just used to being the center of attention, but now I've taken all the love and attention because I'm pregnant. Sister, trust me, the father of my baby is not my brother-in-law. We would never do such a thing and betray you. I love you more than anything else."

Mrs. Farrington scoffed. "See? Your sister is so understanding and kind. If only Maverick had been Maxine's husband in the first place. And you should've been Anthony's wife."

"My appetite is ruined now. Tss." Mr. Farrington shook his head.

"Enough!" Maverick cut them off. He reached for my hand. "Sandra… Look at me."

I didn't move.

"I love you." The words came easily to him. "I would never betray you."

I almost laughed and not because it was funny, but because it hurt.

During those weeks, Maverick had intentionally spent several nights in our bedroom. Anyone watching would've thought we were a perfectly normal married couple. But every time he touched me, I found myself pulling away.

…

One night, I drank too much at a family gathering.

Everyone assumed I was drunk enough to forget everything.

Maybe Maverick assumed that too.

But even through the haze of alcohol, I remembered one thing very clearly.

I remembered that nothing happened between us.

And I remembered him and Maxine making out on the same bed we used to share.

The next morning, Maverick acted as if nothing had happened.

At breakfast, he sat beside me, casually poured me a glass of juice, and placed it in front of me as though we were still the same couple we'd always been.

Then he suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist. “Still upset with me? You've barely spoken to me these past few days. I know things haven't been easy lately, but you're making me feel like I've committed some terrible crime.”

I looked at him without saying anything.

“Sandra, I know I haven't been spending enough time with you lately. I've been dealing with family problems from every direction. But you can't start doubting me because of that.”

He pulled me closer.

“You know exactly why I've been away every night. You know what kind of pressure my parents have been putting on me. I've been trying to protect us the entire time.”

I almost laughed.

Did I?

Maverick lowered his voice.

“My father kept punishing me. Every night he made me stay in the family mausoleum and reflect. He said I was being selfish and dishonoring Anthony's memory.”

He sighed dramatically.

“I was practically being tortured because I refused to agree to their ridiculous plan. They wanted me to put the family's wishes above my marriage, and I wouldn't do it.”

His expression became wounded.

“I stood against my own family for you. I fought with them for you. And now you're looking at me like I'm the bad guy?”

The grievance in his eyes looked almost real.

Almost.

“Anyone else can doubt me, Sandra. My parents can misunderstand me. The entire world can question me if they want.”

His fingers tightened around mine.

“But not you. You're the one person who knows me better than anyone else. You're supposed to be on my side. I love you. I'm only ever going to love you. Nothing about that has changed.”

I stared at my porridge.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted.

Seeing that I wasn't responding, Maverick hesitated.

“Fine. I wasn't going to tell you this because it's family business. But if I don't explain things, you're going to keep worrying and imagining things that aren't true.”

I finally looked up.

Maverick lowered his voice even further.

“Dad found someone for Maxine. One of Anthony's closest friends. The family wants an heir, so they've allowed him to spend a lot of time with her every night.”

He paused before continuing.

“I even caught them making out once. Honestly, I was relieved. It meant Maxine was finally moving on instead of living in the past.”

Maverick reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

“This stays between us. You can't tell anyone I told you. If my parents find out, they'll be furious.”

Then he smiled.

“Now do you understand? You don't need to worry anymore. Someone else is helping Maxine. Nobody's asking anything from us now.”

His eyes softened.

“Sandra, all I care about is us. All I care about is fixing whatever distance has grown between us. That's what matters to me.”

His voice became almost pleading.

“Promise me something.”

“What?”

“Stop assuming the worst every time something happens. Just trust me the way you used to.”

I nearly choked on the bitterness rising in my throat. How could he say that with a straight face?

The lies came so naturally to him.

Did he really think I was that stupid?

Or had everyone simply spent so many years treating me like I didn't matter that they'd started believing it themselves?

...

A few days later, Maxine's pregnancy became the center of the entire household. Since she was expecting, Mr. Farrington stopped punishing Maverick.

At least publicly.

Maverick also stopped disappearing upstairs every night. Instead, he started returning to our room.

Anyone looking from the outside would've thought our marriage was improving.

But the cracks were already there.

Nothing could fix them.

That evening, Maverick had only been in our room for about twenty minutes when someone knocked on the door.

Mrs. Farrington sounded frantic.

“Maverick! Come quickly. Maxine isn't feeling well. She's been uncomfortable all evening and keeps saying something doesn't feel right!”