Olivia's POV
He stood there in his perfectly tailored suit, commanding the room with that natural authority he'd always possessed. Ever since we were children, Ethan had been groomed to take over the family empire. Our parents had drilled it into him from a young age—he was the man of the family, the heir to everything.
Including me, apparently.
"Miss Harrington?" My assistant's voice"The intern from marketing is here to see you."
I blinked, "Send him in."
David walked in nervously, clutching a folder. He was sweet, eager, and had been working under my department for the past three months. We'd developed an easy rapport during late nights at the office.
"Miss Harrington, I... I need to tell you something," he stammered, his face flushing red.
My heart sank. I knew what was coming.
"I know this is unprofessional, but I can't keep it to myself anymore. I really like you. Would you... would you consider going to dinner with me?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words died in my throat as I saw Ethan standing in the doorway behind David, his expression dark and unreadable.
"I'm sorry, David," I said quickly. "I'm flattered, but I can't—"
"She's not interested," Ethan's cold voice cut through the room. "And your internship here is terminated effective immediately."
"What?" David and I said simultaneously.
"You heard me. Security will escort you out. You're done here."
I watched in horror as David was led away, confusion and hurt written all over his face. As soon as the door closed, I rounded on Ethan.
"What the hell was that? You can't just fire people because—"
"Because what, Olivia?" He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Because they're sniffing around what's mine?"
My blood ran cold. "I'm not yours, Ethan. I'm your sister."
His lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Are you?"
That was three months ago. And it wasn't the last time.
Every man who showed interest in me mysteriously disappeared from my life. Fired. Transferred. One even moved to another country. At first, I thought it was coincidence, but the pattern was too clear to ignore.
My loving, protective older brother wasn't just watching out for me.
He was eliminating the competition.
The realization terrified me enough to make a decision I never thought I'd have to make—I ran. I applied for a position at our company's overseas branch and left without saying goodbye.
Two years in London gave me distance, clarity, and peace. I built a life away from Ethan's suffocating presence. I even started dating again, though nothing serious. The shadow of my brother's obsession still lingered.
Then the call came.
"Olivia, you need to come home immediately," my mother's voice was strained. "There's been a... development. A family matter that requires your presence."
"What kind of development?"
"Just come home, darling. Please."
The urgency in her voice left no room for argument. Twenty-four hours later, I was standing in front of my childhood home.
The moment I stepped through the door, I heard it—a girl crying.
I followed the sound to the living room where my parents sat with a young woman who looked eerily familiar. She had the same dark hair as my mother, the same sharp cheekbones as my father.
She looked like she belonged here.
More than I ever did.
"Olivia," my father stood, his expression grave. "There's something we need to tell you. Twenty years ago, at the hospital, there was a... mistake. You and Charlotte were switched at birth."
"What?"
"You're not our biological daughter," my mother said softly, tears streaming down her face. "Charlotte is."
I stared at the crying girl—Charlotte—who was supposed to be me. Who had lived my life while I lived hers.
"So what now?" My voice came out hollow. "You're sending me back to my real family?"
"We're still working out the details—"
"Olivia."
That voice. Deep, commanding, and far too close.
I turned to find Ethan blocking the doorway, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
"We need to talk. Privately."
"I don't think—"
"Now, Olivia."
Against my better judgment, I followed him to his study. The moment the door clicked shut, he was on me, backing me against the wall with his hands braced on either side of my head.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for this?" His voice was rough, almost desperate.
"Waiting for what?"
"For you to not be my sister anymore."
My breath caught. "Ethan—"
"Two years, Olivia. Two years you made me wait, thinking you could escape this. Escape us." His hand came up to cup my face, thumb brushing my cheek. "But now there's nothing standing in our way. No blood relation. No moral obligation. Just you and me."
"This is insane. We grew up together. We were raised as siblings—"
"We were never siblings," he growled. "Not where it counted. Do you think I didn't notice how you looked at me? How you trembled every time I got close?"
He was right, and I hated that he was right.
"I'm not staying," I whispered. "I'm going back to London."
"No, you're not." His other hand slid to my waist, pulling me flush against him. "You're staying right here. With me. Where you've always belonged."
"You can't just—"
"Watch me."
His lips crashed against mine, and God help me, I kissed him back.
This was wrong. This was forbidden.
But it felt so devastatingly right.