I Chose Her Sister for Revenge

The Dominic betrothal gala.

Caroline, my fiance, had just been caught in the act of betraying me with Dustin, the struggling spa assistant I had charitably helped get on his feet. Yet, facing my confrontation, her expression remained entirely cold, almost bored.

Even the finest dish gets bland if you eat it every day, she said, her voice smooth and untroubled. "Youve been great to me, Gavin. But the kind of thrill I needonly Dustin can give me that."

"Im planning to give him the co-chair seat at Dominic Enterprises. If youre willing to accept that, you can stay on as my lover. Ill give you everything you could ever wantexcept my name."

"And if you don't agree, I'll undergo chemical sterilization. Since Grandfather won't let us marry because Dustin is sterile, then I'll make sure I never carry a child that isn't his."

In my past life, I had let pain blind me. I had made a scene, dragging the whole sordid affair in front of Grandfather Charles, who stepped in just in time to stop Caroline from ruining herself.

Shunned and humiliated for his infertility, Dustin had left a dramatic, blood-written suicide note before taking his own life.

Caroline had buried him quietly in an unmarked grave. She went through with our arranged marriage, pretending to still love me. We lived in what I foolishly believed was domestic bliss.

But the moment Grandfather passed away and Caroline fully seized control of the family empire, the first thing she did was throw me into the city's worst red-light district.

I was subjected to horrific abuse, eventually contracting an agonizing disease that left my body rotting away.

As I lay dying, she whispered in my ear that this was my punishment for tearing them apart.

So, when I opened my eyes to find myself back in this moment, listening to Caroline present the exact same choices, I felt no shock.

I didn't argue. I didn't try to stop her.

Because she had no idea.

Grandfather Charles and I had once sworn a solemn blood oath in the Dominic family chapel.

From the moment I saved his life, the rule was set: whoever I chose to marry would inherit the Dominic dynasty.

1.

The familiar ultimatum echoed in my ears once more.

Even the willow branches swaying outside the window looked exactly as they had in my previous life.

I looked at the two of them, their skin still marked with the unmistakable flush of their betrayal.

This time, there was no disbelief, no desperate urge to understand why the person I loved had stabbed me in the back. There was no self-pity, no sorrow.

There was only a deep, burning hatred that settled into my bones.

I clenched my fists, letting my nails dig into my palms as I took a slow, steady breath.

"Then I wish you two a long and happy life together."

It clearly wasn't the response Caroline had anticipated.

Her brow furrowed slightly. "You're not angry?"

In the past, my jealousy would have flared, driving me to scream and demand answers.

I forced a small, polite smile. "Love can't be forced. If he's the one you want, I respect your decision."

A flicker of guilt finally crossed her face, quickly replaced by a patronizing softness. "Im glad you're finally growing up. Don't worry. Even though hell be my husband, it's not like my feelings for you have completely vanished. You won't lack for anything he gets."

"As long as you accept your place as my lover and show him the respect he deserves, things can go back to how they were."

Watching her bask in the smug satisfaction of having her cake and eating it too, I realized for the first time how brutally time can strip away a person's facade.

There was a time when Caroline, having been drugged at a high-society gala, chose to burn her own arm with a lighter rather than let another soul touch her.

She used to tell me that love was sacred and exclusive. She said she only had room in her heart for me.

Now, she was no different from any other spoiled, entitled heir who believed everything in the world was hers for the taking.

Dustin leaned back against her chest, a picture of fragile, triumphant innocence.

"I'm so sorry for taking everything from you, Gavin," he murmured. "But Caroline and I are truly in love. Please don't worry. In public, Ill be her husband and youll be her companion, but at home, you will always be the older brother I look up to."

Caroline reached up, tenderly stroking his cheek.

They flirted shamelessly right in front of me, completely unbothered.

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and turned to leave.

"Gavin, wait," Caroline called out, pointing to the bespoke suit I was wearing. It had taken over a month of meticulous fittings to complete. "I actually had that suit altered to his measurements after it was finished. Since you've agreed to the arrangement, take it off and give it to him."

I froze.

Suddenly, it all made sense. I remembered telling her I was allergic to the specific coral embroidery she wanted on the lapel, yet she had insisted, telling me I just had to endure it for the sake of the aesthetic.

I remembered how perfectly it had fit during the early stages, only to feel terribly tight and awkward when I put it on today.

It was never meant for me to keep.

2.

Out in the grand ballroom, Grandfather Charles was scanning the crowd. When he saw me walking toward him alone, his expression darkened.

"What's going on? Where is Caroline? The announcement is about to start, and she's nowhere to be found."

I clenched my fists at my sides, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Grandfather, is your promise still good? The one about whoever I choose becoming the heir to the Dominic estate?"

He looked at me, his eyes softening with immediate concern. "We swore it before our ancestors in the chapel, Gavin. Of course it stands. But what's wrong? Did that girl do something to you?"

Before I could reply, Caroline walked over, practically supporting Dustin, whose legs seemed too weak to carry him.

"Grandfather, there's no need to proceed with the betrothal announcement," Caroline said, her voice ringing out clearly.

"I know you wanted me to marry Gavin because he saved your life, and you wanted to repay that debt. But during our years together, Ive done my duty. Now I've met the man I truly love, and I hope you will give us your blessing."

The surrounding crowd erupted into hushed whispers. Judgmental, gossiping stares locked onto us.

They looked at us as if Grandfather and I were the villains, trying to force an arranged marriage and tear apart two young lovers.

But the truth was, Caroline had pursued me first. She had claimed she was madly in love with me, swearing to Grandfather that she would cherish me forever.

It was only to secure my future comfort within the Dominic family that Grandfather had reluctantly agreed to groom her as his successor.

Yet, in just a few short years, her arrogant, self-serving nature had begun to bleed through. In reality, the Dominic family had plenty of capable heirs. Caroline had never been irreplaceable.

Grandfather frowned, his gaze shifting from her determined face to Dustins flushed, disheveled appearance.

He understood the situation instantly.

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" Grandfather asked, his voice deadly calm. "There are no second chances in this life."

Caroline nodded firmly. "I am sure. I only want to be with the man I love. I won't regret it."

Grandfather let out a quiet, heavy sigh. "Then so be it."

He turned to me. "Gavin, I have other granddaughters. Take your time, look around, and see if any of them suit you."

Before I could speak, Caroline cut in quickly. "Grandfather, even though I've found someone else, Gavin and I have been together for a long time. He's still deeply attached to me. Please don't rush him into finding someone else just yet."

Grandfathers brow furrowed, and his voice cut through the ballroom like ice.

"If you know youve done something shameful, then keep your mouth shut! I am still alive, and the Dominic estate is not yours to command!"

Ever since we had started dating, whenever Caroline made a mistake or fell short, Grandfather had always guided her gently, solely out of respect for me.

He had never humiliated her in public like this.

Her face burned crimson.

Suddenly, Dustin dropped to his knees on the polished floor.

"Its all my fault," he sobbed, looking up with tears in his eyes. "Im of humble birth, and I know I don't belong here. Its only natural that Gavin would hate me and want to embarrass us. Grandfather, please blame me. This is all my fault."

Carolines expression hardened, and she glared at me with pure venom.

"I knew you were behind this! Did you honestly think that by making a scene and turning our wedding into a joke, you could force me to marry you?"

"Dream on! Don't think you can manipulate Grandfather just because you saved his life. Don't forget where you are, Gavin. You are, and always will be, an outsider in this family."

With that, she helped Dustin up and swept out of the room.

Grandfather let out a cold snort, gently patting the back of my hand.

"An outsider? You are the one person who could never be an outsider here."

"I will make sure your future is taken care of."

Meeting his deeply meaningful gaze, a sense of peace washed over me.

As I looked around the room, my eyes inadvertently locked with Beatrice, the fourth cousin of the Dominic family.

The memories of my past life rushed back to me.

3.

When I was being tortured to the brink of death in that horrific red-light district, Caroline had visited to gloat over my misery.

She had even brought her wealthiest, most sadistic clients to use me.

But Beatrice had quietly followed them. When I was dragged back to a private room, she had secretly slipped me a blade to defend myself.

Though I was eventually caught again, Beatrice had paid a devastating price for helping me. Caroline had her legs broken and confined her to the family estate.

Yet, three days after my death, Beatrice used the covert resources she had built up over the years to strike back. During a federal investigation into Carolines businesses, Beatrice delivered a fatal blow, forcing Caroline into a desperate flight that ended with her car careening off a cliff.

Beatrice went on to inherit the Dominic empire, restructuring the entire corporate structure and rising to become a major player in government-commercial alliances.

Later, she had visited my grave, holding a bouquet of my favorite flowers.

It was only then that I realized a simple, kind word I had once spoken to defend her when we were younger had driven her to tear down the world for my sake.

Looking at her now, seeing the quiet, guarded hope in her eyes, I made my decision.

"The fourth child. Beatrice," I murmured to Grandfather.

Grandfather raised an eyebrow, a small, approving smile tugging at his lips.

"She is indeed a far better choice than Caroline. I trust your judgment, Gavin."

I felt a weight lift from my chest.

Now that Caroline was marrying someone else, it was time for me to move out of her penthouse.

I left behind everything I had bought during our relationship, taking only my personal toiletries.

But as I was heading toward the front door, the handle turned, and the newlyweds walked in, hand-in-hand.

Seeing the house keys in my hand, Caroline sneered, letting out a sharp laugh.

"Are you really trying to play hard to get because of what happened at the gala? Do you think this silent treatment is going to make me chase after you?"

She stepped forward and snatched the keys from my hand.

"Look, I was just angry. You don't need to take it so seriously. I already told you, you're still my lover. Put your bags down. We're still going to live together."

With the love completely gone, I could see her clearly for what she was: an insufferably arrogant woman.

I reached out to grab my keys back.

"Who said I wanted"

"Caroline," Dustin suddenly whimpered, clutching his stomach. "Im hungry. Can we have some of that seafood risotto?"

He looked at me with a lazy, triumphant smirk. "The kind Gavin used to make for you."

My heart went cold.

The last time I had made seafood risotto for Caroline was six months ago.

They had been sleeping together far longer than I had ever suspected.

Suppressing the disgust rising inside me, I turned to walk away.

But Caroline grabbed my arm with surprising force, shoving me toward the kitchen.

"Dustin wants your cooking. Be a good boy and make it for him. This is your chance to show some goodwill. If hes happy, he might let me spend more time with you."

My brow furrowed, and I slammed my hands against the sliding glass door of the kitchen.

"Let me out! I don't need your damn time!"

I managed to slide the door open an inch.

Slam!

Caroline shoved the glass door shut with brutal force, catching my fingers in the frame. The sound of my fingernails splitting was sickening.

The agony was instant. I sank to the floor, tears springing to my eyes as blood began to pool beneath my hand.

Caroline frowned, stepping closer but making no move to slide the door open.

"You're not the future master of this house anymore, Gavin. You need to drop the attitude. If you want to be a lover, you have to learn to take a few bruises. Stop whining and make the risotto."

She locked the sliding door from the outside.

Then, she walked back to the living room, giggling as Dustin pulled her onto his lap.

With my hand trembling and blood dripping from my fingertips, I reached into my pocket with my good hand and called Grandfather.

Twenty minutes later, the front door was kicked off its hinges. Grandfather marched in, flanked by the family's security team.

Taking one look at my bloodied, mangled hand, he swung his arm back and delivered a ringing slap to Carolines face.

"With dozens of chefs and maids on the payroll, you lock my savior in a kitchen to cook for this absolute parasite? Have you lost your mind, or do you simply have zero respect for me?"

Grandfather immediately ordered his men to dismiss every single staff member in the penthouse.

Before leaving, he glared at her with pure disgust.

"Since you don't seem to need professional help, you can clean up your own mess from now on!"

Caroline stood frozen, her eyes burning with resentment, clearly believing I had put on a show just to get her in trouble.

4.

The moment we left, my phone buzzed with a text from her.

I didn't realize you were still so blind to your own position. Once Grandfather steps back and leaves the business to me, Ill make sure you learn how to behave.

I blocked her number and shut off my phone.

Grandfather insisted I stay at the main estate to recover.

A week later, Caroline and Dustin held their wedding.

Given Dustin's background, Grandfather refused to allow a grand, public affair.

He insisted that only Caroline's close friends and immediate family be invited, explicitly forbidding the elders of the family from attending.

But when Caroline found out, she went behind his back and sent invitations to every major business partner in the city, desperate to elevate Dustin's social standing.

At the reception, Grandfather's face turned pale as he looked around at the prominent figures whispering in the corners.

"Isn't that the boy from the spa? I had no idea Charles Dominic was so progressive. Letting his heir marry a masseur... that takes a level of tolerance most of us don't possess."

Hearing the snickers, Grandfather clutched his chest, staring at Caroline on the stage with cold fury. Without saying a single word of blessing, he turned and walked out.

The guests exchanged knowing glances, and several prominent partners quietly slipped away shortly after.

Instead of reflecting on her actions, Caroline blamed me for the humiliation.

The very next morning, she transferred a major corporate accountone I had been cultivating for three monthsdirectly to Dustin.

"Dustin is the husband of the heir now," she said, tossing the paperwork onto my desk. "He needs a high-profile win to establish himself in the company. You're just a companion now, Gavin. There's no need for you to be in the spotlight anyway."

I had spent a month drafting the proposal, enduring countless late-night dinners and drinking myself sick to secure the client's trust. Caroline had seen every bit of that effort. She had even held me when I was exhausted, telling me to stop pushing myself so hard.

I stared at her, my voice low and dangerous. "And if I refuse to hand it over?"

She tapped her fingers on the mahogany desk, calling HR into the office.

"I run the day-to-day operations of Dominic Enterprises now. If you don't like it, you can leave. Besides, with you out of the office, Dustin won't feel so insecure."

That afternoon, she personally took Dustin to meet with the client to finalize the contract.

But the client was insulted by the sudden bait-and-switch. They called Grandfather directly, stating that Dominic Enterprises was treating them like a joke, and pulled their multi-million-dollar account effective immediately.

Grandfather didn't hesitate. He stripped Caroline of her title and duties on the spot.

"Get out of the office and go home," he barked over the phone. "Beatrice is taking over your division!"

Caroline dragged a weeping Dustin back to the family estate to plead her case, but Grandfather had security lock the gates, refusing to let them set foot on the property.

I spent the next several hours on the phone, utilizing my personal relationships to salvage the client's trust and win back the contract.

The moment I stepped out of the office building, Caroline intercepted me, grabbing my coat.

"I knew you were behind this! You set Dustin up to fail just so you could swoop in and look like the hero!"

"How dare you even show your face here? You are going to apologize to Dustin right now! Tell Grandfather that you deliberately sabotaged the meeting, or I swear to God, I will never touch you again!"

I laughed, a cold, mocking sound as I brushed her hand off my coat.

"You might enjoy rescuing trash from the gutter, Caroline, but I have no interest in getting dirty."

Her face turned a deep, furious crimson.

"After all the times he told me you saved his life, it turns out youre just as elitist as the rest of them! You look down on him, yet here you are, trying to take the easy way out by clinging to Beatrice!"

"Just wait until I take full control of this family. The first thing I do will be making you crawl on your knees to apologize to him!"

She was still clinging to her delusional dream of absolute power.

I didn't bother shattering her illusions.

I adjusted my cuffs and headed to the luxury auction house. Grandfather had told me to select whatever pieces I wanted for my upcoming wedding.

I had barely taken my seat in the VIP section when Caroline and Dustin walked in.

Her brow furrowed the moment she saw me.

"What are you doing here? This auction is strictly reserved for family heirs and their spouses."

"Don't go using my name to sneak into places you don't belong. My husband is Dustin now."

I gave her a bored look. "This has nothing to do with you. Do us both a favor and stay away."

5.

Caroline was left speechless, her expression twisting with annoyance.

Before she could speak, Dustin wrapped his arm around hers, pointing excitedly at the digital catalog on the screen.

"Babe, look at that set. I love it. Can we get it?"

Carolines expression softened instantly into doting indulgence. "If you like it, well buy it. Anything to make you happy."

Dustin glanced at me, a smug smirk playing on his lips.

"Gavin, you used to pity me. But look how things change. Don't be shyif you see something you like, just let us know. Consider it an early advance on your allowance as our companion."

I ignored the childish provocation.

The first few lots were standard diamond setsthe kind of jewelry the Dominic vaults were already overflowing with. But Dustin, desperate to prove a point, kept raising his paddle.

Caroline happily signed off on every purchase, basking in the attention of the room.

Until the final lot of the night appeared on the stage.

It was a jade pendant. My late mother's heirloom.

The moment it was announced, I raised my paddle.

Dustin immediately raised his. "Eight million!"

I turned to him, my eyes narrowing. "That belongs to my family. Why are you bidding on it?"

Dustin tilted his head, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Because I want it, Gavin."

Caroline chimed in, her tone dismissive. "It's just a piece of old jade, Gavin. Let him have it. Ill buy you a diamond set to make up for it. Don't make a scene here by fighting with Dustin."

I stared at her, my voice cold as ice. "Not happening. That pendant is coming home with me."

Caroline sneered. "Keep throwing your tantrum. Lets see how far you get without my money."

With a flourish, she raised her paddle. "Im placing an open-ended bid!"

I stared at her in disbelief. "Have you lost your mind?"

Dustin let out a delighted laugh. "Im sorry, Gavin. Caroline just loves me too much. But tell you whatif you apologize to me properly and pour me a cup of tea, I might let you borrow it for a couple of days once I'm bored with it."

I took a slow breath, a cold smile spreading across my face.

"You have to actually buy it first."

Carolines brow furrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means," I said quietly, "that you don't have the money."

A moment later, the auctioneer cleared his throat, looking incredibly uncomfortable.

"Ms. Dominic, Im terribly sorry, but this card has been declined. It appears to be frozen."

The quiet room immediately erupted into a flurry of whispers.

"Did he say declined? The Dominic family's black card?"

"Is there trouble with the estate?"

Caroline's face drained of color.

Flustered, she snatched several other cards from her purse and shoved them at the attendant.

"Check these! Now! One of them has to work!"

She tried to maintain her composure, confident it was just a technical glitch.

But as the clerk shook his head after running the third card, her confidence shattered.

"How is this possible?" she whispered, her hands starting to shake. "Your machines must be broken! Run them again!"

Before the clerk could respond, the heavy double doors of the auction hall swung open.

"There's no need to run them again," a calm voice announced.

Beatrice walked into the room, a cool smile on her face.

"I had all of your accounts frozen, sister."