Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW
Synopsis
My stepsister has a disgusting habit: she loves sleeping with my boyfriends.
After she hooks up with them, she always complains to me about their performance.
Either they're too rough, or they can't last more than two minutes.
Then she puts on her fake, caring sister act, telling me I need to "keep my eyes open" and pick better men.
So when she whined again that my new boyfriend's abs were "too hard," I smiled.
Because this time, I picked him specifically for her.
Chloe texted me: Give me three days. I'm going to sleep with Julian.
I knew what triggered this. Mom must have posted another bragging spree on Instagram.
Mom despises Chloe's mother for stealing her husband. She views herself as the tragic loser of that divorce, so she constantly pits me against Chloe, obsessed with making me "win."
Ever since Chloe married a billionaire and walked away with a massive alimony settlement, her mother has been rubbing it in Mom's face.
Finding me a man richer than Chloe's ex became Mom's personal obsession.
I met Julian at a corporate gala.
I singled him out in the crowd and spent six months playing the game before locking him down.
He is younger, hotter, and wealthier than Chloe's ex.
Mom was thrilled.
She immediately posted all over Instagram and called every relative she knew, claiming her daughter was marrying an heir worth billions.
I had no choice but to clarify in the comments:
"We're just casually dating! We'll announce it if there's any talk of marriage!"
Mom fired back instantly:
"He's a billionaire heir! Who else could you possibly want to marry?"
Chloe chimed in underneath:
"Wow, Nora, where did you find such a prize? Want me to test his stamina for you?"
I didn't reply. I knew that whether I agreed or not, she would go after him.
Except this time, I was ready.On day one of our relationship, I warned Julian about Chloe.
"She's gorgeous," I said, "and she loves adding my boyfriends on WhatsApp. If you see a friend request from her, decline it."
Julian teased, "Are you afraid I'll fall for her?"
I gave him a faint smile. "I'm afraid she'll ruin you in bed. Every single ex of mine went completely limp after being with her."
He pulled me into his arms and spent half an hour reassuring me. "I would never touch her. You're the only girl I want to marry, Nora."
With my warning, Julian repeatedly rejected Chloe's requests.
He even laughed about it to me: "Your stepsister is relentless. She's tried adding me from ten different burn accounts."
I kissed his cheek as a reward. "Stay strong. Don't fall for her freaky games."
Without pausing, he swiped away another notification. "By the way, my parents want to have dinner with you. We've been dating for six months and they haven't met you. I talk about you so much they're already in love with you."
I paused, gently patting his head. "Let's wait a bit. Work is insane this quarter. Once it wraps up, dinner is on me."
"You don't need to pay! If you just show up, they'll be thrilled. We'll eat at my family's luxury hotel!"
Chloe grew impatient after failing to get his contact info, so she demanded to move in with me.
I naturally refused. But Mom was so eager to show off the upscale condo Julian had leased for me that she leaked my address without hesitation.
When I got home from work, Julian and Chloe were sitting on opposite ends of the living room sofa, scrolling through their phones.
Julian pulled me into the bedroom, looking annoyed. "I swear I didn't engage with her. Why the hell is she here?"
I shrugged casually. "Mom gave her the address. That's just how she is. Just ignore her."
He raised his hand to swear an oath, but an uneasy feeling stirred in my stomach. The image of them sitting on the sofa replayed in my mind.
Julian couldn't be that weak, could he? It took me six grueling months to reel him in—he couldn't possibly crumble in one night.
I felt a knot of anxiety. Part of it was my own insecurity; the other was knowing how frail a man's resolve really is.Julian didn't stay the night. He owned a penthouse in the neighboring tower and headed back there.
The next morning, he came over with breakfast.
The table was covered with a lavish spread of gourmet pastries. Chloe smirked smugly.
"Did you buy all this because you knew I was here, Julian?"
"Oh, wow, this bakery is my absolute favorite, but the line is always insane! Did you wake up early just to queue?"
Julian glanced up at her coldly. "Nora likes their pastries. That's why I went."
Chloe let out a drawn-out "Oh," while tapping her fresh acrylic nails against the tabletop. That was her signature tell—she was strategizing. If she was only mildly curious before, now she was determined to claim him.
My grip on Julian's hand tightened unconsciously. Feeling the pinch, he looked at me. I quickly apologized and left the table.
That evening, I returned from work to find them on opposite ends of the sofa again. Julian stood up to greet me.
He whispered, "Doesn't your stepsister have her own place? Why is she camping out in your apartment every day?"
I looked up at him. "Add her on WhatsApp. Maybe then she'll leave you alone."
His expression stiffened. After a beat, he mumbled, "I actually just added her. She promised she'd pack up and leave tomorrow if I did."
"Oh," I said quietly, turning toward my bedroom.
Julian followed, wrapping his arms around me and asking if I was mad.
"I just didn't want to see her face every day. Even if I added her, I can mute her. Look, I already set her chat to Do Not Disturb."
He shoved his phone in front of my face to prove his innocence.
I said nothing. My disappointment hung heavily in the air, so Julian spent the next hour trying to cheer me up.
At dinner, he kept cracking jokes to make me laugh.
Watching us, Chloe gave a subtle sneer. "Aw, Nora, your boyfriend is so sweet."Julian ignored her.
He turned his attention entirely to me, talking about his plans to invest in an upscale restaurant franchise.
Hearing this, Chloe deliberately made a loud clatter with her fork. When we both looked at her, she flashed a charming grin.
"Oops, sorry! You touched on my area of expertise. Got a little excited."
She turned to Julian. "My ex-husband actually happens to know the managing partner of that franchise brand. If you need an intro, I can hook you up."
She then rattled off the executive's personal quirks and preferences in detail. I could see Julian's eyes lighting up with ambition.
He looked torn, glancing between Chloe and me. "Would that be awkward, considering he's your ex?"
"Why would it be awkward? One night together solves everything. Just leave it to me."
This time, Julian didn't refuse. I knew that "Do Not Disturb" toggle would be flipped off very soon.
Sure enough, back in the bedroom, he said, "Your stepsister isn't half bad. Pretty chill personality, too."
I met his eyes, my own rimmed with unshed tears.
He immediately softened and pulled me into a hug. "I was just making casual conversation! Why would I be interested in a woman who's still sleeping with her ex?"Chloe moved out the next day. Julian disappeared for several days as well, claiming he was scouting locations out of state.
During our FaceTime calls, I spotted Chloe lurking in the background multiple times. He rushed to explain:
"Chloe called to check on the progress. When she heard I was in the neighboring city, she flew over to help scout. Honestly, she saved me so much hassle. Even my dad praised me for moving so fast."
Trust-fund heirs spend their entire lives desperate to outshine their fathers, and Julian was no exception.
His father and grandfather were prominent tycoons. Julian wasn't untalented, but living in their shadows drove him crazy. He desperately needed a win.
Opening flagships across multiple cities in record time earned him high praise from his father and grandfather at the family dinner table.
Julian transferred thirty thousand dollars to my account, telling me to buy a designer handbag for Chloe in my name.
"I know she only helped out because of you. It's better coming from you. I know where the boundary is."
He added, "Pick something she likes. If thirty grand isn't enough, let me know."
I picked up my phone and dialed my contact list. The second it connected, I spoke:
"Thanks for helping my boyfriend. He wants to gift you a thirty-thousand-dollar bag. Any preference, or should I just wire you the cash?"
A pause stretched over the line before a deep, masculine voice answered:
"Nora? Why is your boyfriend buying gifts for Chloe?"
My heart stopped. Chloe and her ex-husband, Vincent, were saved next to each other in my contacts. I had called Vincent by mistake.
Vincent, Chloe, and I all went to the same Ivy League university. He was one year ahead of us, and we crossed paths in club activities.
I had once casually remarked that Vincent seemed considerate and gentle. The very next day, Chloe launched an aggressive, public campaign to chase him.
When a gorgeous girl pursues a guy, it takes almost no effort.
They were dating within two weeks. After breaking up and making up half a dozen times, they married right after graduation.
Three years later, they divorced.Not wanting to upset the golden goose who still bankrolled Chloe's massive monthly allowance, I quickly explained:
"No, no! Chloe did my boyfriend a huge favor. But honestly, we owe you the real thanks, Vincent—he couldn't have secured the franchise without your connections."
"I thought she was finally turning her life around to launch her own business," Vincent said with a dry chuckle. "Turns out she's busting her ass for your boyfriend. She's treating him better than she ever treated me."
Before I could reply, he sighed. "Forget it. I'll buy her the bag. Keep the money for yourself."
I refunded the thirty thousand dollars to Julian and told him my ex-brother-in-law said not to bother.
Julian seemed annoyed. "He's just an ex. Isn't he overstepping his bounds?"
"He's her meal ticket. How else do you think Chloe affords all those couture dresses and luxury vacations?"
Julian's face tightened, though he quickly muttered, "Fair point."
That night, Chloe showed up at my door again. She had been drinking, her cheeks flushed as she planted herself on my sofa and picked a fight.
Even tipsy, her tongue was sharp. She tore into me, mocking every aspect of my life, before pointing a finger at Julian and sneering:
"You really think you can bag a wealthy heir, Nora? Keep dreaming. You will never, ever live the life I have."
She turned her glare on me. "Tattling to Vincent so he cuts my allowance? Believe me, I can find a new sugar daddy by tomorrow morning."
A fleeting spark flashed in Julian's eyes when she said that.
A wave of utter exhaustion washed over me. I left them in the living room and shut my bedroom door.
After that night, Julian's "business trips" and "overtime" multiplied.
When I offered to finally meet his parents, he gently declined, claiming the timing wasn't right.
I knew what that meant.
Chloe had reeled him in.
Chapters (6)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Watch & Promotions
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