After Leaving, Her Three Brothers Beg For Forgiveness

In a desolate warehouse on the outskirts of town, Jolene Brown's terrified cry split through the cold, empty air.

"Ah!" Her voice trembled as hard as her body, tears spilling uncontrollably while she shook like a wind-tossed leaf. "Someone... please help me!"

"Jolene!" Austin Brown, the eldest of the Brown siblings, shouted, panic twisting his features. His fists were tight, and his eyes burned with fury as he glared at the kidnappers. "Let Jolene go! Whatever you want to do, take it out on Kathryn instead!"

"If you lay a finger on Jolene, I swear I'll make sure none of you leave this place alive!" roared Isaac Brown, the second brother, completely losing his calm, his eyes glinting with blood-chilling hostility.

"Name your price!" Jaxton Brown, the third brother, shouted. "Just release Jolene. Kathryn's been nothing but trouble anyway. Do whatever you want with her." His eyes were so bloodshot it seemed they might burst, and every muscle in his body screamed that he was seconds away from lunging at the kidnappers.

Tied to a pillar, Kathryn Brown, their real sister, silently let the tears roll down her face.

She had always known she meant little to the Brown family, but hearing her own brothers so casually offer her up, talking about her as if she were some disposable burden, cut straight into her chest.

She was their real sister, finally reunited with them after so many years, and yet, in the moment it mattered most, they had no hesitation choosing the impostor instead.

She and Jolene had been taken together. But when the kidnappers demanded they pick only one to save, the three brothers instantly chose Jolene, without so much as a pause.

"Poor girl," one of the kidnappers sneered, gripping Kathryn's chin between his fingers. "Your brothers don't give a damn about you."

"Let Kathryn go!" Jolene called out weakly, but Kathryn caught the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes.

In her desperation, Kathryn looked toward the only person she still had faith in—Declan Fulton, her fiance. He stood not far away, poised and refined as always, dressed to perfection.

"Declan," Kathryn whispered shakily, fighting to breathe, her eyes filled with pleading hope that he, at least, would choose her.

But Declan's response was steady and icy. "Since the Browns have already made their decision, I'll follow suit. I choose Jolene as well."

Those words hit Kathryn like a punch to the gut. Could this really be the man she had loved for three whole years? Someone capable of turning so cold? He didn't even hesitate.

Her lips quivered, but she couldn't force out a reply.

She stared at the man whose warmth she once clung to, yet all she saw now was a stranger with a frozen heart. Once, she had nearly died protecting him... And for what? It felt like a cruel joke now.

Declan didn't spare Kathryn even the briefest glance. His entire focus was on Jolene, gently undoing the ropes around her wrists.

But