My Self-Proclaimed Brother Regrets After My Marriage

I was picked up by Rylan Lloyd, and everyone knew that I loved him uncontrollably.

When his one true love, Madeline Yates, was injured, I donated blood to her until I was completely exhausted.

When he and Madeline were having sex, I provided them with condoms.

When Madeline returned from abroad, he made me wait for him in the snow for three hours wearing only a thin dress, and I ended up getting pneumonia and falling into a coma.

Upon waking, I had lost my memory and stared blankly at Rylan, who stood by my hospital bed with a frosty stare.

"Who are you?"

His icy demeanor suddenly softened as he touched my head and said, "I'm your brother."

Rylan then called my long-time rival, Aydan Baxter, claiming he was my fiancé.

Later, as he wished, I married Aydan, and Rylan regretted it...

1

With sharp pains piercing my lungs, I struggled to open my eyes, barely making out a tall figure standing by the bed.

The figure slowly bent down, and a face with striking features gradually became clear.

Seeing me awake, Rylan impatiently questioned, "Tessa Hewitt, is acting like this really worth it? Are you risking your life just to get me to come see you? You ruined the end of Madeline's concert. Do you know what a mess you've caused?"

His barrage of questions left me confused, and my head throbbed even more.

"I don't know you," I said in a hoarse voice, my hand fumbling towards the call button by the bed. "Please leave immediately, or I'll call for help."

Rylan sneered, his eyes filled with disdain, "Are you pretending to have amnesia? Isn't that old-fashioned?"

"I don't understand what you're saying." I finally pressed the button, and the sharp sound of the bell shattered the stagnant air in the hospital room. "Nurse! Someone is harassing me here!"

The piercing sound tore through the stillness of the room.

Rylan's face froze in surprise, seemingly unprepared for my action.

As the nurse's hurried footsteps approached, anger and some complex emotions were intensely struggling in his eyes.

Ultimately, his hand gently rested on the top of my head.

"I'm your brother."

"My brother?" I repeated instinctively, my voice hoarse.

Rylan's hand paused slightly on my head, his tone deliberately softened, "Yes, I'm here. Don't be afraid."

I blinked blankly, feeling no sense that he was my brother.

But the arriving nurse confirmed his claim as my guardian.

At this moment, the hospital room door opened, and a man with a distinguished and refined demeanor walked in.

He was handsome, with a calm and composed demeanor, and his well-tailored suit accentuated his strong shoulders.

Strangely, despite having no memory, the sight of him eased my tense nerves slightly.

Before he could speak, Rylan introduced, "Tessa, this is Aydan, your fiancé."

"My Fiancé?" I suddenly looked up at Aydan, my eyes wide with shock.

I woke up to find that I not only had an older brother, but also a fiancé?

Although Aydan was exceptionally handsome, the pace was far too rapid...

Aydan's reaction was even more pronounced.

He turned sharply to Rylan, frowned, "Who is her fiancé? Rylan, stop making random connections."

Well, my fiancé was not into me.

Rylan crossed his arms, confident, "She has amnesia."

Upon hearing this, Aydan's previous impatience and rejection subsided significantly, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

It wasn't sympathy or concern but rather... amusement and curiosity.

"Alright then," Aydan stepped forward, extending his hand to me, "Come home with me."

Still in a daze, I handed my weak hand over to his hand almost without thinking.

"Tessa!" Rylan's face darkened instantly as he raised his hand, forcefully pressing my other shoulder down, pushing my half-risen body back onto the bed, "You're not married yet! She has to come home with me."

Aydan didn't release my hand. Instead, he tightened his grip.

He stepped forward, confronting Rylan, "Rylan. What she needs now is rest, not arguments."

Rylan's gaze, cold and piercing, fell upon our clasped hands.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Just when I thought the standoff would continue, Aydan suddenly released my hand.

Then, without warning, he bent down and, with remarkable agility, slipped his arms under my knees and across my back.

Under Rylan's shocked gaze, he lifted me steadily from the hospital bed.

"What are you doing!" Rylan roared.

"Taking her to the car," Aydan replied calmly.

"Aydan! Put her down!"

"Meet me at the hospital entrance." Aydan didn't stop.

I was held securely in his arms, feeling the steady beat of his heart-a stark contrast to the explosive anger radiating from Rylan.

Aydan carried me all the way to the hospital entrance, gently placing me in the back seat.

He even carefully tucked my stray bangs behind my ear. "Get some rest."

With that, he straightened up and nodded slightly at Rylan, who had caught up with us. "I'll leave her to you, Rylan."

Then he turned and walked away.

Rylan stood there, watching Aydan's departing figure, his gaze was so intense it seemed to burn with anger.

Finally, he slammed the car door and settled into the driver's seat.

The car drove for over half an hour before stopping in front of a grand mansion.

He led me to the second floor, pushing open a bedroom door. "This is your room. Get some rest. I'm going to pick up Madeline."

I didn't react at all to his display of affection because I saw that the room was filled with designer clothes, jewelry, and bags-all things I loved.

Any doubts I had about Rylan's identity faded significantly.

It seemed I really was his sister. My family was actually this wealthy.

Seeing my lack of response, Rylan's eyes flashed with irritation.

In the past, whenever I heard him mention Madeline, I would get teary-eyed and throw a tantrum, never as calm and detached as I was now.

This made him rather frustrated.

He frowned. "Did you hear me?"

I glanced up at him, oblivious to his emotional shift, my mind filled with thoughts about my fiancé. Casually, I said, "I heard you. Could you arrange for me to meet Aydan? I'd like to get to know him better."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Rylan's expression turned stormy.

He stared intently at me, as if struggling to suppress something, and finally, through gritted teeth, said, "I don't have time!"

With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I shrugged, not caring about his anger at all.

Downstairs, the servants greeted me respectfully.

"Miss, would you like something to eat? Mr. Lloyd instructed us to make chicken soup for you."

"Sure," I replied cheerfully, taking a seat at the dining table.

Looking at the exquisite soup brought by the servant, my appetite improved considerably.

I had only taken a couple of sips when Rylan returned, accompanied by a woman with a gentle demeanor.

She must be Rylan's girlfriend.

As soon as Madeline entered, she saw me and looped her arm through his. "Rylan, sorry for the trouble."

Rylan looked down at her, his voice gentle in a way I had never heard before. "As long as you're fine. How did you end up in the pool at the party? You didn't catch a chill, did you?"

My spoon paused as I noticed Madeline's dress was soaked.

She shook her head slightly, but her gaze inadvertently landed on my nutritional food.

"I'm just a little cold. I can't seem to warm up at all. A hot soup would help." As she spoke, she kept her eyes fixed on my bowl.

Following her gaze, Rylan spoke to me without hesitation. "Tessa, give her your food. She fell into the pool and needs to eat it to recover."

I was stunned.

Wasn't this soup specially prepared for me, his recently discharged sister?

Yet now, just because Madeline mentioned she was cold, he wanted me to give it to her?

They weren't even married yet, and he wanted me to give my things to his girlfriend?

I frowned.

Madeline quickly tugged at Rylan's arm, feigning reluctance. "Don't be like that, Rylan. This was prepared for Tessa. She's just out of the hospital and needs it more. I can endure. It's no big deal."

"You don't need to endure it." Rylan frowned, signaling the servant, "Take it over."

The servant dared not refuse and moved forward to take the bowl.

I pressed my hand against the rim, looking up at him, speaking each word clearly, "You had this made for me."

Rylan's expression darkened, his eyes filled with impatience.

"Tessa, how can you be so insensitive? Madeline isn't feeling well. Isn't it right to let her have it? It's just a bowl of soup. You don't need to endure it. Why are you taking this so seriously?"

"You're right, Rylan." I stared into his eyes, which held undisguised annoyance, and sneered. "I don't need to take it so seriously."

The next second, I suddenly raised my hand and, without hesitation, violently swept the entire bowl of soup onto the floor!

The bowl shattered, sending the soup splattering everywhere.

A few droplets even landed on Madeline's dress and shoes, startling her into a gasp as she stepped back.

I rose to my feet, towering over Madeline and Rylan, who had suddenly frozen, my voice icy cold. "It's just a bowl of soup, I give it up. But if she still wants to drink, then let her drink it slowly on the floor." My gaze swept across the mess on the floor.

The servant was so frightened that she quickly lowered her head, not daring to make any sound.

Madeline's gentle smile froze for a moment, then she looked shocked, "Tessa, how could you do this? Rylan was just concerned about me..."

"Concerned about you?" I scoffed, cutting her off, "So he's going to let me, someone who just got back from the hospital, go hungry? His favoritism is truly unbelievable."

Rylan's temple throbbed, and he forced his words through gritted teeth. "Tessa! You're simply unreasonable! Apologize to Madeline, and this matter will be..."

"Apologize?" I interrupted him directly, "Who should be apologizing? Is it her, for inexplicably falling into the swimming pool and stealing my soup? Or is it you, for casually humiliating me, your sister, just to please your crush?"

Rylan's face turned from pale to dark. He clearly hadn't expected me to retaliate so sharply.

He clearly hadn't expected me to retaliate so sharply or to use the "sister' status as a weapon against him.

"Fine, very well." He managed a smile through his anger, though his gaze remained icy.

Rylan abruptly turned to the servant beside him and barked, "Take her to the room upstairs and lock her in! Without my permission, don't give her any food or drink. No one is allowed to let her out!"

I was stunned, looking at him in disbelief. "You're putting me in confinement? Just because I didn't treat your precious darling with the utmost care?"

"Think about what you've done!" His tone was unyielding, "When you learn to be considerate, then you can come out."

The servant dared not defy him, approaching timidly and pleading softly, "Miss, please... Return to your room..."

I didn't make any futile struggles.

I straightened my back and turned to head upstairs directly.

The door clicked shut behind me, and I leaned against it.

My stomach ached from hunger, but the burning anger in my chest kept me unusually alert.

My brother? My family? What a joke!

I pounded on the door and kicked it.

But there was no response.

My voice grew hoarse from shouting, yet all I faced was silence.

I wouldn't cry, I would never show weakness.

Three days without food left me weak all over.

They thought this would make me submit. That was impossible!

I searched the room and finally set the curtains on fire.

Flames quickly engulfed the room.

Sure enough, the door was thrown open.

I immediately spotted Rylan, whose face darkened.

A servant rushed in behind him with a fire extinguisher, swiftly putting out the remaining flames.

He stared at the chaos on the floor, stepping towards me with anger.

Before I could react, he suddenly reached out and grabbed my chin.

I let out a muffled groan of pain, forced to tilt my head back and meet his bloodshot eyes.

"Tessa!" His voice was terrifyingly hoarse, every word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

I endured the sharp pain in my jaw, meeting the fury in his eyes, and mocked him.

"Rylan, you locked me in this room for three days without food or drink. Are you satisfied if I starve to death?"

I didn't know why the word "starve to death" angered him again, but the hand gripping my chin tightened its hold even more.

"Tessa, don't forget who rescued you! Without me, you would've starved to death on the street. What's wrong with yielding to Madeline? It's just some soup. Did you have to go so far as to set fire to the home?"

It turned out he was not my real brother...

No wonder Madeline's words could make him sacrifice me without hesitation.

In that case, I didn't care for him anymore, nor did I care for his affection!

Even without him, I could live well. Why should I swallow my pride and be his stepping stone to please Madeline?

"Just because I am not your real sister, does that mean you can control me?" I suppressed the bitterness in my heart, harshly shaking off his hand, "I'm your sister in name, not a tool to please Madeline! You feel sorry for her falling into the pool and snatch my soup for recovery, you care about her feelings and lock me up to starve, but why should I pay for your favoritism?"

His expression stiffened, as if seeing me for the first time. "You weren't like this before! Before, even when you were wronged, you would just follow behind me with red eyes. You would never talk to me like this! Has amnesia made you so bold?"

I looked at him coldly.

So the previous me was so insignificant in his eyes?

When I suffered injustice, I endured it and didn't even dare to speak up in rebuttal.

It was ridiculous that my heartfelt devotion was taken for granted by him, and even became the reason for his current criticism of me.

Just then, soft footsteps were heard from the doorway.

I saw Madeline leaning against the door frame as she entered.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she covered her mouth upon seeing the scene inside the room.

"Rylan, don't be so harsh on Tessa," she said, quickly stepping forward and gently tugging on Rylan's arm. "She must have been starving to do that. After all, anyone would feel terrible if they hadn't eaten for three days."

She changed the subject, looking at me, "But Tessa, even if you're angry, you can't joke about our safety. This house is filled with items that could easily catch fire. If a fire breaks out, the consequences would be unimaginable. If anything happened to you, how worried would we be?"

Her words sounded like she was defending me, but every word implied that I was willful and impulsive, portraying me as a dangerous madman, or even a dangerous person who didn't care about the safety of others.

The fire in Rylan's eyes dimmed slightly under Madeline's gentle persuasion, yet his gaze still held impatience and warning when he looked at me. "Did you hear that? If you dare to cause trouble again, I won't let you off easily!"

Looking at the two people in front of me, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me.

Madeline's hypocritical demeanor disgusted me to the extreme.

Unable to hold back, I freed myself from Rylan's grip and rushed to the bathroom to vomit.

When I returned, they were gone.

I sneered. Having a brother like Rylan was worse than having none at all.

Taking advantage of the servants' shift change late at night, I used a hidden hairpin to pry open the window latch.

The cold wind rushed in immediately.

I made up my mind and climbed onto the windowsill.

The cold wind bit at my cheeks, but thinking of Rylan and Madeline's faces suddenly gave me courage.

Relying on my vague memory, I headed for the Baxter Group.

By the time I arrived at Baxter Group, night had already fallen.

I looked up at the towering skyscraper, feeling uneasy.

My phone had been confiscated, so I hadn't been able to contact Aydan.

I didn't know if he was still at the company or if he would even see me.

But at this point, I had no other options.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the lobby and approached the receptionist. "Hello, I'm looking for Aydan. I'm his... fiancée."

The receptionist was momentarily stunned, giving me a once-over. "You are his fiancée, but don't have his contact information? Well, Miss..."

Just when I thought the stalemate would continue, the elevator doors opened.

Aydan emerged with several subordinates.

My eyes lit up, and I quickly went to him.

He looked at me, surprise evident in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

I didn't hold back. "Rylan locked me up without food or water. I don't want to go back."

Aydan's eyes landed on my pale face, a fleeting look of concern crossed his eyes so quickly, I almost thought I imagined it.

He soon instructed his subordinates to leave, telling them to go ahead.

One of them hesitated, glancing at me cautiously. "But Mr. Baxter, the meeting is important..."

Aydan gave him a cold look, immediately silencing him.

He naturally took my hand. "Come with me."

I followed him to the lounge, my growling stomach breaking the awkward silence.

I unhesitatingly ordered the secretary to bring up some coffee and snacks.

Aydan looked at me several times.

I asked while eating, "What is it?"

His gaze remained on me. "You haven't changed. You are still the same as before."

I felt puzzled. "I just lost my memory, not my mind."

"What do you want to do?" Aydan asked calmly from across the table.

"I want to leave Rylan," I said, looking up at him without a trace of hesitation. "I know you initially didn't acknowledge our engagement, but I have nowhere else to go. If you're willing to help me, I can enter into a sham marriage with you. Once I find my identity, I'll dissolve the engagement immediately and won't bother you."

Aydan looked at me, silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. "A sham marriage? You've got some nerve."

He took a sip from the coffee cup, his eyes deep. "Are you sure?"

I hesitated to respond because... He was drinking from my coffee cup, the one I had just used...

After a while, I found my voice again. "Yes, I'm sure."

Aydan checked the time. "Alright, I'll help you. But I have one condition."

"What is it?" I responded immediately.

A smile played on his lips. "After the marriage, you must cooperate with me in public, playing the role of my wife. No matter what you remember later, you can't go back to Rylan."

I agreed without hesitation. "I agree!"

After our conversation, he turned to me. "You'll stay at my apartment tonight. We'll sign the agreement tomorrow and then head to court."

I was a bit taken aback by the speed, but I didn't dare question it.

Meanwhile, at the Lloyd family mansion, Rylan had discovered my absence.

He gripped the broken window latch I had pried open, his eyes blazing with fury.

He knew my personality too well. I used to be docile. I would hesitate for a long time before even raising my voice to him, let alone break through a window to escape.

But now, I had dared to brazenly defy him.

He took a deep breath, yet his chest felt as if a boulder was pressing down on it, stifling him.

His anger was mixed with an indescribable irritation and a hint of panic he refused to acknowledge.

The servants in the living room, seeing his dark expression, shrank back, pretending to be busy, fearful of catching his ire.

Rylan walked to the center of the living room, his gaze sweeping over the empty sofa, recalling how I used to wait for him there every morning. But now, there was nothing here.

A sudden emptiness surged within him.

The next moment, he raised his arm and with a swift motion, sent the items on the table crashing into countless pieces.

Rylan stared at the shards on the floor, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

His usual calm and composed demeanor was gone, leaving only a furious rage.

He had expected me to apologize tearfully, trailing behind him like countless times before. But I didn't.

I had not only run away but left without even a word.

"Get everyone here!" he shouted at the servants, his voice a roar, "Send people out to find her! Search every nook and cranny of the city if you must, but find Tessa!"

The servants hurriedly complied, rushing to arrange the search, terrified of the consequences of delay.

Rylan stood there, his gaze dark and menacing.

Suddenly, he bent down, picked up a sharp shard of porcelain, and cut his hand deeply.

He then took a picture of the wound and sent it to me.

...

By the time I received his message, I had already finished washing up and was lying in bed.

Exhaustion swept over me. Several days of hunger and torment had taken a toll on my body.

Just now, to avoid being laughed at, I specifically chased everyone away before wolfing down my food.

My phone was a new one from Aydan.

I ignored Rylan's message and prepared to sleep.

As I was drifting off, I heard Aydan's voice from the next room, speaking on the phone.

Though quiet, I could catch a few words.

"Rylan, Tessa is with me." His tone was calm and steady.

Whatever was said on the other end, Aydan continued, "She's not in great shape. She needs rest. There's no need for you to worry."

Rylan held his phone, his expression dark.

Aydan's call extinguished his frantic anxiety over not finding me, yet ignited a new, inexplicable anger.

"Who was that?" Madeline asked, holding her bag, ready to leave.

"Aydan," Rylan tossed the phone onto the sofa, "Tessa is with him."

Surprise flickered across Madeline's face, then relief. "It's good she's with him. I was worried that something might happen to Tessa if she went out alone."

She said, making a move to leave. "I should get going, I've imposed on you long enough."

Rylan didn't hear her.

He stared out into the dark night, his emotions a tangled mess.

In the past, whenever I saw him injured, I would be the first person to appear in front of him.

But now, I seemed to have cast him aside.

The thought sent a wave of panic down his spine, clutching at his heart until he could hardly breathe.

How did I, who used to only have eyes for him, become so disobedient after losing my memory?

Seeing that he ignored her, Madeline said again, "Rylan, I want to go to the art exhibition in Southbay tomorrow. I heard that the paintings on display this time are magnificent. Will you go with me?"

Rylan snapped back to reality, looking at the gentle Madeline beside him, his irritation slowly dissipating.

Compared to my reckless behavior, she was so much more considerate.

He nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you tomorrow."

...

When I woke up and went downstairs, I saw the agreement lying on the table.

I read it carefully, and after confirming everything was correct, I signed my name without hesitation.

Aydan watched as I signed, a hint of a smile in his eyes, before signing his name as well.

"Let's go to the court," he said naturally, putting the agreement away.

The court wasn't busy, and the process was quick.

When the marriage certificate was handed to me, a sense of unreality washed over me.

Overnight, I was married!

"Snap out of it," Aydan said, taking my hand, "I'll take you out for a nice meal, and then we'll go somewhere this afternoon."

"Where?" I asked, looking up at him.

"To the art exhibition in Southbay. I heard Madeline really wants to go," he replied, a playful glint in his eyes.

After eating, Aydan had arranged for someone to pick us up.

The exhibition hall was large, filled with paintings and sculptures of various styles, and many visitors were there to see them.

I stayed by Aydan's side as he patiently explained the background of each piece.

Suddenly, he remembered something interesting. "You used to love painting."

I tightened my grip on his hand and turned to him.

It was the first time someone had told me about my past.

"Once, for Rylan's birthday, you spent three months drawing a picture for him, and it's said you stayed up all night several times to finish it. You excitedly presented it to him, only for him to toss it aside while he was picking out a gift for Madeline." His fingers gently brushed the back of my hand, his voice devoid of emotion.

My heart felt as if it were being squeezed by something, a dull ache spreading through my chest, yet I still couldn't recall any details.

"Later, Madeline saw the painting and said she liked the colors. Rylan gave it to her." Aydan continued, leading me forward, "You didn't cry or make a fuss, you just never mentioned painting again."

These unfamiliar past events, through his words, formed a vague picture in my mind, bringing a strange sense of melancholy.

At that moment, I suddenly wanted to know about my past.

I wanted to know if Rylan, like a brother to me, was always so biased.

But...

A hint of a smile flickered in my eyes. "Are you trying to sow discord between my brother and me?"

He looked at me instinctively, "Can he be considered your brother?"

True enough, I was just someone Rylan had taken in.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind us.

"Rylan, this painting is so unique. Let's take a picture here." It was Madeline.

Aydan and I exchanged a glance, a knowing smile in his eyes.

He then wrapped his arm around my shoulders, whispering, "Things are about to get interesting."

I let him hold me and turned towards the voice.

Rylan was standing not far away with Madeline, seemingly aware of our gaze, and they turned to look at us.

Rylan's face darkened immediately upon seeing me with Aydan.

"Tessa!" he barked, anger evident in his voice, "What are you doing here with him?"

Madeline quickly moved to Rylan's side, holding his arm, "Tessa, did you hear we were coming and follow us? There's really nothing between Rylan and me..."

I scoffed, "You and Rylan can do whatever you like."