Not My Brother's Keeper

After finding out I was the fake heiress, I stopped following my brother around everywhere.

I stopped clinging to him, stopped policing his friends.

At first, my brother loved it. Not bad, sis. Why are you so well-behaved lately?

Until three months later, when the real heiress returned home.

I didn't cry or scream. I calmly suggested returning to my biological parents' home.

My brother's face turned pale instantly.

That night, his buddy tried to comfort him:

"Since you can't bear to let your sister go, just marry her."

My brother roared, "I'm not an animal!"

His buddy asked again:

"Then are you willing to spend your life with her, care for her, tolerate her, through poverty and wealth, sickness and health, until death do you part?"

The next second, my brother said without hesitation:

"That's what I planned to do anyway."

Me: ?

Since I was little, I loved clinging to my brother.

Especially after I was kidnapped as a child, and my brother risked his life to save me.

My dependence on him peaked. If I didn't see him for more than five hours, I'd throw a tantrum.

Even as adults, Lucas Vance rarely went on business trips.

Until a few days ago, an emergency arose at an overseas branch.

My brother had no choice but to leave first and tell me later.

Five days later, he finally returned.

Right now, Lucas was locked out of my room, coaxing helplessly:

"I shouldn't have hidden the trip from you, but it was urgent."

"I bought your favorite bag. Open the door for your big brother, okay?"

I sat on the sofa covering my ears, ignoring him.

Lucas knocked for a while. Realizing I wasn't going to open up, he said gloomily:

"Fine. Don't open it."

Then, he seemed to make a call.

A minute later, the sound of lock-picking came from outside.

I shot up from the sofa and yelled at the door:

"If you pick the lock, I won't talk to you for three days!"

The noise stopped instantly.

Lucas hissed, "We were only apart for five days, is it that serious?"

Hearing this made me even angrier. I grabbed a throw pillow and threw it at the door with a muffled thud.

Just as I was about to say something harsh.

A row of bullet comments suddenly floated before my eyes:

[LMAO, the supporting female character still doesn't know she's the fake heiress.]

[Keep throwing tantrums, girl. Wait until the real heiress returns and your brother loses patience. You'll learn to behave then.]

I froze, staring blankly at the text.

Me? Fake heiress?

Impossible!

But the comments continued:

[If she took a DNA test now, she wouldn't look like such a clown.]

[Thinking she has her parents' backing, who knew she wasn't even their biological child.]

Outside, Lucas sent the locksmith away and knocked again, voice lazy:

"You can't be this clingy forever. You should give me some space."

"Besides, I handled everything as fast as possible. Is it worth getting this angry?"

As soon as he finished, I opened the door expressionless.

Lucas raised an eyebrow in surprise, leaning down slightly:

"Yo, forgave me so fast this time?"

He handed me the cake, bag, and necklace.

Thinking about the bullet comments, I took them distractedly.

Then I focused on his hair.

Seeing my bare feet, Lucas frowned and picked me up.

I was startled and instinctively cursed:

"Lucas Vance, are you crazy?"

My brother didn't let go, asking back:

"You were staring at me. Isn't that asking to be held?"

Me: "?"

Still angry, I tried to struggle free but saw his hair right in front of me.

After hesitating, I leaned in and yanked a strand.

Lucas patted my back warningly. "Your new revenge is pulling my hair?"

I didn't speak.

Staring at the bullet comments, I clutched the strand of hair tight.

If I really am a fake heiress.

Then I'm truly screwed.

Because I've been terrorizing my brother for years.

The thing he said most to me was:

"Luna Vance, if you weren't my biological sister, who could stand your rotten temper?"

When I was little, my parents were busy with work and rarely took care of me.

So they guiltily satisfied all my demands.

Even my excessive dependence and possessiveness towards Lucas.

They just told Lucas: "Let your sister have her way."

So since I can remember, Lucas had a little tail.

I followed him everywhere.

Until I was stopped by a bar bouncer: "No minors allowed."

I clutched my brother's shirt tight, shaking my head. "No, I want to be with my brother."

Lucas was only 18 then, the age for fun.

He impatiently shook off my hand and called the butler to take me home.

At 11 PM, he finished partying and checked his phone.

Seeing countless missed calls from the butler, he realized.

I was lost.

My brother called a bunch of people and searched for me frantically.

Finally, he found me curled up asleep in an inconspicuous bush near the bar entrance.

He asked me with a dark face why I ran off.

Waking up, I rubbed against his cheek dazedly and said:

"...wanted to see Big Brother sooner."

From then on, Lucas rarely went to bars.

Relying on my parents' favor, I started bossing him around.

While serving me, Lucas would grit his teeth and threaten:

"Luna Vance, if you weren't my sister, I'd throw you out immediately."

I didn't care then and continued to order him around.

But now, holding the DNA test report.

I realized.

I'm really not his biological sister.

Done.

It's all over.

I returned home trembling.

My parents were often away on business, so usually, it was just Lucas and me.

When I got back, Lucas wasn't home.

After dinner, the butler saved a late-night snack for Lucas.

But by 10 PM, the food was cold, and he still hadn't returned.

Seeing the butler waiting, I called Lucas.

He picked up quickly.

Before I spoke, I heard voices on the other end:

"Luke, who's calling? Picking up so fast."

"Must be his sister rushing him home. Sigh, I wish I had a sister like that."

Lucas said helplessly, "Can't help it, she's clingy."

He put the phone to his ear and chuckled:

"It's only 10. Rushing me home again?"

I heard his friends sighing in the background.

Afraid Lucas was getting impatient, I quickly said:

"No, no. You can stay out as long as you want."

Lucas's breath hitched.

"What do you mean?"

I looked at the cold snack and asked carefully:

"If you're not coming back, I'll tell the butler to dispose of the food and get off work."

Lucas fell silent.

After a long while, he realized:

"Using the butler as an excuse this time?"

"Fine, I'm coming back."

He hung up.

Me: "??"

Normally, if Lucas dared to stay out this late.

I would have locked the main door and gone to sleep.

But now I didn't dare. I wanted to ease our relationship.

So I waited on the sofa, planning to heat up his food myself.

But I fell asleep waiting.

I don't know how long passed, but I felt someone pick me up gently.

I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck and opened my eyes.

I saw my brother's angry eyes:

"Luna Vance, to force me home, you don't even care about your health?"

"It's 11 PM. Why are you staying up instead of sleeping?"

I didn't understand why he was mad.

I hadn't thrown a tantrum or locked him out.

But remembering the food, I struggled to get down.

Lucas held me tighter:

"Okay, stop being mad."

"I promise to be home by 9:30 from now on. Happy?"

I explained seriously:

"It's okay if you come back later."

Lucas frowned: "Talking nonsense again?"

Me: "..."

In the end, he didn't eat. Instead, he helped me wash up and tucked me in.

After doing all this, he stood by my bed, waiting.

Seeing I didn't move.

He leaned in close.

Startled, I pushed his chest:

"What are you doing?"

Lucas tsked, grabbing my wrist:

"Didn't you say? Goodnight kiss before sleep."

I clarified quickly:

"No need anymore! Never again!"

Lucas's face darkened.

"Is this your way of punishing me? Childish."

He scoffed and stood up coldly:

"Fine. You think I care?"

Over the next few days.

I proved with my actions that I really wasn't angry.

I stopped clinging to him, policing his friends.

I even served him food at the table.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, enjoying it:

"Not bad, sis. Why so well-behaved lately?"

I stated my attitude immediately: "Sorry, Brother. I controlled you too much before. I won't do it again."

Lucas froze for a second.

Then laughed: "Should have been like this long ago. No sister clings to her brother forever."

So, for the next few days.

My brother started going to bars with his friends again.

But he consciously came home by 9:30.

Until one day, he came home right at 9:30.

And found I wasn't home.

He called me immediately.

I was at a club gathering at school and couldn't answer.

So I hung up and texted:

[At a gathering. Might be late. Don't wait for me.]

He replied a minute later, surprisingly open-minded:

[It's fine. You have freedom. We should give each other space.]

[You are an independent individual. Of course I won't restrict you.]

[Have fun, sis.]

I put down my phone relieved.

The gathering ended at 11:30 PM.

I drank a little, so I couldn't drive.

It was too late to call the family driver.

Hesitating, a senior club member offered kindly:

"Luna, I'm driving. I can drop you off."

Afraid I'd be uncomfortable, he added: "Another senior is in the car too. I'll drop you first."

I was a bit tipsy and nodded mechanically.

Seeing my state, he politely supported my arm:

"If you're dizzy, lean on me."

I was indeed unsteady, so I leaned on his shoulder as he led me to the car.

Outside, the wind sobered me up a bit.

The senior still held my arm.

I felt something staring at me.

Looking around suspiciously, I saw nothing.

Just as I was about to get in, the senior said "Huh":

"Luna, who is that guy? Why is he staring at you?"

I followed his gaze.

Under the dim streetlamp, my brother was hidden in the shadows.

Leaning against his car, dark eyes staring unblinkingly at me.

Simultaneously.

My phone dinged.

My brother messaged:

[Dare to get in his car, and I'll die for you to see.]

Before I could react, Lucas strode over.

He snatched me from the senior, pulled me into his arms, and looked up:

"My sister is young and defenseless. Doesn't know how to refuse strangers."

"I'll take her home. Don't worry about it."

Hearing the hostility, I couldn't help but defend:

"You misunderstood. He's not a stranger; we've known each other for a long time!"

My brother asked immediately: "How long? How did you meet? Why didn't you report to me?"

My drunk brain was completely confused.

The senior looked between us, frowning:

"Even if you're her boyfriend, you can't be this controlling."

"Her family hasn't even said anything."

My brother straightened his collar and smiled fake-ly:

"Sorry, I am her family."

"Her biological brother."

Then he dragged me away.

By the time I reacted, I was stuffed into his car.

Lucas pinched my face:

"Rather sit in a stranger's car than call your brother?"

I swatted his hand away: "None of your business!"

Lucas sneered:

"Of course it's my business. Answer me. When did you meet him?"

"Besides him, what other 'seniors' do you know? Is anyone chasing you?"

Annoyed, I retorted:

"I don't control your bar trips anymore. Why control me?"

Lucas froze for two seconds.

Then laughed in realization.

"Ohso this is revenge for me going to bars?"

He sounded both annoyed and relieved:

"Still love controlling me, huh."

"Fine, Luna. I promise not to go to bars anymore."

"And you're not allowed to interact with that guy again."

Me: "?"

Didn't expect all my efforts to fail. My brother still thinks I'm controlling him.

This won't do!

If this goes on, he'll hate me like the bullet comments said.

I thought hard.

Decided to change tactics

Directly fawning over him.

So for the next few days, I obediently delivered food to his company.

Asked about his health after work.

Surprised at first, Lucas quickly adapted, sighing:

"So diligent. Say it, what jewelry do you want?"

I choked, explaining quickly:

"Not about jewelry."

"Want a car?"

"No!"

"Limited edition bag?"

I tried hard to prove myself: "None! I don't want to spend your money!"

I wanted to salvage my image.

Unexpectedly, Lucas pursed his lips, face darkening.

He scoffed:

"Don't spend it then. Hilarious. You think I want to buy for you?"

"When Mom and Dad's allowance runs out, don't come crying to me."