One Brother Is All I Need

After discovering I was a fake daughter, I didn't dare act like a spoiled brat toward my two brothers anymore.

No more bossing them around, and no more checking up on where they went to party.

My sharp, older brother Jeff was the first to notice the change, asking if something was making me unhappy.

My hot-tempered second brother, Hunter, sneered at my sudden quietness before mocking Jeff for having a masochistic streak.

Three months later, the true heiress returned.

My best friend dragged me to a high-end club to drown my sorrows.

There, I overheard our mutual friends teasing my two brothers, joking that they were finally free from acting like their sister's loyal dogs.

They even asked if the two of them would still accept me as their sister now that the truth was out.

Jeff's voice was calm and smooth: "Of course. But then again, the feeling of having someone who actually cares enough to rule over you is something you wouldn't understand."

Hunter, however, let out a cold snort: "Whether I keep her around depends entirely on her behavior."

Someone in the room even placed a bet on whether I would still have the guts to call and enforce curfew tonight, now that I knew my real background.

That night, after a moment of hesitation, I opened my contacts list just like I always did.

My finger hovered over the screen for a single second.

In the next instant,

I only dialed Jeff's number.

For as long as I could remember, I believed I was the center of the universe, an empress whose every whim deserved absolute obedience. Whenever I was displeased, the entire household suffered my wrath.

My oldest brother, Jeff, was a quiet, distant man, but he indulged me.

My second brother, Hunter, was volatile and had zero patience for my antics. His favorite phrase to throw at me was: "Can you stop being a clingy drama queen for once in your life?"

That was until this afternoon, when we went out to the mountain racing tracks.

True to form, I had forced them to bring me along. The winding mountain pass was crowded with flashy, multi-million-dollar sports cars, surrounded by a noisy crowd of wealthy trust-fund heirs.

Not far from us, a rowdy group had gathered. A young, fragile-looking girl was being pinned against the hood of a car by Greyson Carter, the newly recognized bastard son of a billionaire family.

My savior complex flared instantly.

Lifting my brand-new Herms Birkin bag, I swung it with all my might, striking the man hard enough to make him howl in pain.

But before my grand heroic act could fully play out, a bizarre stream of glowing holographic text suddenly flashed across my field of vision.

Wait, is this fake-heiress antagonist out of her mind? Who asked her to save the girl?

She is completely ruining the plot. This scene was supposed to be the moment the two brothers saved the female lead, setting up their eventual reunion.

The whole sibling reconciliation arc starts right here at the racetrack. The fake sister needs to back off, or she is going to end up dead.

The words flickered in the air before me.

Me? A fake sister?

And this delicate girl in the white dress, Hailey, was the actual biological daughter of my family?

My entire world shattered.

The stiff leather corner of my bag had left a tiny scratch on Haileys cheek. Greyson spat a curse, but the moment he recognized my face, he swallowed his anger and backed down.

Hunter strode over. Seeing the faint mark on Haileys face, he immediately turned on me, his voice sharp with accusation. "Gemma, can you go one day without bullying someone?"

Usually, a comment like that would trigger a massive tantrum from me. But as I looked up, the glowing warning text flashed vividly in my mind once more.

I swallowed my pride.

Silently picking up my bag, I stood there and took the lecture without saying a word.

Jeff, who had always been softer on me, stepped in to shield me from Hunter's temper, guiding me away. I felt a sudden, profound wave of gratitude toward him.

By the time we got home, my heart was still hammering against my ribs. After dropping Hailey off at the hospital, my brothers returned shortly after.

I stepped forward, genuinely wanting to ask how she was doing.

Hunter frowned, his eyes narrowing. "What is your game now, Gemma? We rushed back to be with you, isn't that enough?"

I wanted to explain, but the floating text cut in before I could speak.

The antagonist is really pushing her luck. Let us see if she still acts this arrogant once her real identity is exposed.

She bosses her brothers around constantly, completely unaware of how sick and tired they are of her.

I wasn't trying to be arrogant. Compared to my usual self, I was behaving like a frightened kitten. But looking at the exhaustion and irritation on my brothers' faces, I shrank back and remained silent.

Jeff, sensing my unusual quietness, asked softly, "Are you unhappy, Gemma?"

Hunter let out a dry, mocking laugh. "Our little princess just assaulted someone, why on earth would she be unhappy?"

If this had happened a week ago, I would have made a scene they would never forget. Today, I simply shook my head and quietly retreated to my room.

Before closing my eyes, I made a firm decision: tomorrow, I was getting a DNA test.

The next morning, the sky was heavy with dark, low-hanging rain clouds.

My heart felt just as heavy.

When the lab results were handed to me, the sword of Damocles that had been hovering over my head finally fell. The report was clear: there was no biological connection between the Weston family and me.

To make matters worse, the floating text returned to remind me of my insignificance.

A fraud is a fraud. Perhaps she will finally give up now.

The fake sister gets consumed by jealousy, repeatedly trying to frame the true heiress. But the clever protagonist outsmarts her every time, eventually reuniting with her family. Once the Westons learn the truth, they throw Gemma out on the street.

But she doesn't learn. Completely desperate, she kidnaps the protagonist and eventually falls to her death.

My knees went weak at the thought of a high-rise building.

Looking back, I realized how much I had taken their love for granted. Because I was the only daughter, I had ruled over my brothers with an iron fist. I forbade them from drinking or smoking at parties, set a strict curfew, and physically sniffed their clothes when they walked through the door, locking them out if I caught even a trace of alcohol.

I had demanded luxury bags, designer cosmetics, and the latest jewelry, throwing fits if my deliveries were even slightly delayed.

My entire life had revolved around them. But now, the realization hit me: they had only tolerated my behavior because they believed we shared the same blood.

Once they discovered I was an imposter, they would hate me.

I couldn't interfere with Hailey's return, and I certainly didn't dare to boss my brothers around anymore. My best course of action was to gather what money I could and quietly prepare for my departure.

So, I began waking up early to prepare breakfast for them. When they came home late, I didn't yell; instead, I quietly handed them hangover soup.

Hunter looked amused. "How strange. Our little brat has actually become sweet."

I kept my voice soft and meek. "I just don't want you to find me annoying and leave me behind."

Jeff took the bowl from my hands, gently smoothing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "You are my sister, Gemma. I could never find you annoying."

His words only made my heart ache more. Soon, he would realize I wasn't his sister at all.

Now that I had stopped interfering in his life, Hunter seemed to be in a much better mood. Before heading out one evening, he actually asked if I wanted to join him.

I shook my head immediately. "Go ahead and have fun. Don't worry about rushing home."

Hunter looked thoroughly pleased.

Later that night, Jeff called to check on me. My chest tightened with a strange mix of sorrow and longing, but I forced my voice to remain steady.

Sensing something was off, he coaxed me gently. "Don't be sad, sweetie. I am on my way back."

"It is fine," I replied, trying to sound indifferent. "You can stay out as late as you like."

I thought this would prove to them that I was changing. But the moment Jeff walked through the door and saw me holding a fruit knife, his face went pale.

He strode over, quickly disarming me and checking my hands. "Do not play with knives, Gemma, it is dangerous. I promise your brother and I will come home earlier from now on."

I tried to explain that I was simply peeling an apple, but he didn't believe me. "Do not lie to me. You have never done a chore in your life." He held my wrists, searching for any scratches.

A cold laugh sounded from the doorway.

Hunter leaned against the frame, his eyes narrowed in disdain. "Jeff, stop coddling her. I would love to see if she actually has the courage to cut herself."

The words stung, but before I could reply, Hunter looked down at his phone. His expression instantly darkened. He walked over and threw the device onto the table in front of me. "Look at what you did."

The screen displayed a scandalous headline. Scrolling down, there was a degrading photo of Hailey with her skirt partially lifted, exposing her skin.

Hunter had warned me not to share any details about the incident at the racetrack. Now, he was entirely convinced that I had leaked the photo out of spite.

He grabbed my arm, his grip painfully tight. "You are going to apologize to her."

My own temper flared. I pulled back with all my strength, knocking a glass bowl off the counter. It shattered on the floor, and a sharp shard sliced across my calf. A line of bright red blood began to pool on my skin.

I gasped at the sharp sting.

Jeff immediately shoved Hunter away, stepping between us to shield me. "Enough! You are treating Gemma like this over an outsider?"

"Jeff, you are being completely blind!" Hunter snapped.

Jeff's voice remained calm but absolute. "I know Gemma. She would never do something so vile. If you lay another hand on her, I will not hesitate to step in."

My eyes welled with tears as I clung to Jeff.

Hunter stared at us, his eyes lingering on how closely I held Jeff. "Fine," he muttered, turning on his heel. "If you want to play the victim, go ahead. But Gemma, if I find out you had a hand in this, do not expect me to ever acknowledge you as my sister again."

The door slammed shut behind him.

Jeff brought over the medical kit, kneeling before me. His warm hands gently held my ankle as he cleaned and dressed the cut, his movements incredibly tender.

I stared at him, overwhelmed by his warmth.

Sensing my gaze, he looked up, offering a soft, reassuring smile. "Gemma, remember this: whatever happens, you can always come to me. You do not need to change who you are for anyone else."

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over. The terror and loneliness of the past few days completely broke me. I buried my face in his shoulder, sobbing loudly.

"What am I going to do, Jeff? I am not Mom and Dad's daughter. I am not your sister."

I waited for the rejection, for the cold distance that was sure to follow.

But Jeff merely let out a soft, amused chuckle. "Silly girl. Is that what has been making you so miserable?"

I stopped sobbing, staring at him in utter confusion. He already knew.

"Why are you still being so nice to me then?" I whispered.

Jeff wiped a tear from my cheek, his fingers lingering on my skin. "Because, Gemma, a brother's job is to care for his sister."

I could only stare at him, slowly realizing the weight of his words. No matter what the blood tests said, he still chose to be my brother.

From that night on, I completely ignored Hunter.

When the fridge ran low, I only prepared meals for Jeff. At my birthday dinner, I kept my arm looped through Jeff's, treating Hunter as if he were invisible.

Our mother noticed the icy atmosphere. "Have you two had another argument?"

I simply ignored the question, and Hunter's expression turned incredibly sour.

The truth was inevitable; the protagonist would eventually take her rightful place.

Later that night, my phone buzzed. It was a video call from my best friend, Harper.

Through the noisy background of a club, she called out frantically, "Gemma! Come quick! Your brother got into a massive fight over some girl, and he is bleeding!"

My heart leaped into my throat. "Which brother? Is Jeff hurt? I am coming right now!"

If it was Jeff, I would run there barefoot.

The line went quiet for a few seconds. "No, it is Hunter."

I let out a breath and sat back down on my bed. "Oh. Tell him to take some aspirin then. I have to go." I hung up immediately.

Hunter hated my interference anyway. This was exactly the freedom he wanted.

The next morning, I walked out of my room to find Hunter waiting for me, his face dark. "Gemma, did you not get the call last night?"

I kept my voice calm and polite. "I did. But I am behaving now, just like you wanted. I didn't want to annoy you by showing up."

His face flushed with an anger so intense it looked like he wanted to tear something apart. He opened his mouth to snap at me, but the door behind him opened.

Jeff walked out of his room. The moment I saw him, I forgot all about Hunter, rushing over to inspect him. "Jeff, I heard there was a fight last night. Are you hurt? Did you get any scratches?"

Seeing my frantic concern, a subtle, pleased smile touched Jeff's lips.

A loud slam echoed through the hallway.

Hunter had violently kicked his own door shut, glaring at me with bared teeth. "Am I invisible to you now?" His lip was split and bruised, his knuckles raw.

I didn't care to argue. "You can take care of yourself."

Hunters jaw clenched, his voice dripping with venom. "Fine. See if I care. Just do not come crawling back to boss me around tomorrow."

I was glad I hadn't interfered. Hunter would have only accused me of acting out again.

But the truth was, my bossiness had always stemmed from my own deep-seated fears. When I was five, I had been locked in a dark cabinet during a game of hide-and-seek, forgotten for an entire afternoon. Since then, I had been terrified of dark, enclosed spaces.

Even now, I couldn't sleep without a light on. As a child, I would creep into my brothers' rooms for comfort. As we grew older, we replaced that with a simple nightly routine: a goodnight kiss on the forehead. But Hunter often locked his door to keep me out, so I had learned to rely only on Jeff.

Now, I knew I had to break these dependencies.

A soft knock sounded on my door. Jeff stood there, dressed in dark silk pajamas that left his collarbones exposed, his damp hair clinging to his neck. He carried the clean, subtle scent of his shower gel.

"Are you busy, Gemma?"

The scent was intoxicating, making me slightly breathless. "Jeff, is something wrong?"

He raised an eyebrow slightly. "You forgot our goodnight kiss."

I hesitated before shaking my head. "I think I should start getting used to being on my own." I needed to learn to survive without him before Hailey took over.

Jeff looked at me for a long moment, then nodded in respect of my choice.

As I stepped forward to close the door behind him, my foot caught on a wet patch on the floor. I lost my balance, falling directly into his arms.

Before I could pull away, the door was shoved open.

Hunter stormed in, pulling us apart with unnecessary force. "Where is my goodnight kiss?" he demanded, his face tight.

Jeff stepped between us. Hunter glared at him. "She is my sister too! Whatever you get, I deserve as well!"

He looked at me, a strange, tense emotion in his eyes. "It is just a kiss. If he can do it, so can I."

I shook my head. "No more kisses."

Hunters eyes widened, and he immediately raised his voice to cover his hurt. "Fine! Who cares anyway? You are too old for this. It is about time you learned some boundaries. Do not come crying to me the next time you are scared of the dark."

I looked at him, completely numb to his words. "Do not worry. I will never bother you again."

The predictions of the text came true. Three months later, Hailey was officially welcomed into the Weston family.

Overnight, the news that I was a fake spread like wildfire, and the social circle began to treat me like a fallen princess.

Only Harper stood by me.

"You will always be my sister, Gemma. If they throw you out, I will take care of you. I have plenty of properties; you can choose whichever one you like."

Moved to tears, I agreed to go out with her to a high-end club to drown my sorrows.

Inside our private lounge, the atmosphere was thick with expensive alcohol. I spent the evening drinking with some handsome hosts Harper had hired, the distraction slowly easing the knot in my chest.

On my way back from the restroom, I noticed the door to a VIP lounge next to ours was slightly ajar. Inside, a group of familiar faces from our circle were talking.

The conversation, predictably, was about me. They were speculating on what the Westons would do with me, and whether my brothers would still keep me around.

Jeff was sitting in the center of the plush sofa, looking thoroughly relaxed. "Of course she is staying. Honestly, being wrapped around her finger is a feeling you wouldn't understand."

A small smile tugged at my lips.

Then, someone turned to Hunter. His response was exactly what I expected.

He let out a cold snort. "Whether I keep her depends on her behavior. It would be nice to finally have some peace and freedom."

The men laughed, and someone proposed a bet: would Gemma call to demand they come home before curfew tonight?

Jeff declined to participate. The others, however, were highly amused. "Come on, don't be a spoilsport. We are just curious."

Unlike Jeff, Hunter seemed eager to prove a point. He tossed his phone onto the table, silently accepting the challenge.

I quietly turned and left the hallway, heading straight back to the villa.

Half an hour later, inside the VIP lounge, a phone began to ring.

Hunter smirked, reaching for his device, but his smile froze when he realized his screen was dark.

It was Jeff's phone that was ringing.

Jeff answered, and my voice carried clearly through the speaker. "Jeff, please come home before nine. The cake I made for you has been in the fridge for two hours, it is ready to eat. I also ordered some hangover smoothies for your friends and left some soup on the stove for you."

The men in the room cheered. "Thanks, Gemma!"

I said a brief goodnight and ended the call, leaving the room to sleep.

So I had no idea that someone spent the entire night waiting for a call. On the table in that VIP lounge, a phone sat in dead silence all night long.