Chapter 3 WATER GETS THICKER THAN BLOOD

Was it worth it? It has to be” Ryan’s voice was low, but sharp, cutting through the quiet hum of Jace’s office.

Jace looked up from his papers, one brow slightly raised. “Is that question for me?, as you can see I am quite busy. You can always email your complaint”

“Don’t play dumb,” Ryan snapped, stepping into the room. He slammed the door behind him. “Was it worth it?, what you did”

Jace leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Oh, this is interesting. You, the little illegitimate son, asking me about worth. Please, it's no big deal, why are you crying over a whore”

“Watch your mouth”, he said, fists clenched, emotions rising.

“You are so embarrassing, She doesn't care about you. Stupid of you for trying to pick a fight with me. If she loved you, she won't be fucking me”, he let out a dry laugh.

Ryan’s fists clenched. “Why her, you could have taken anything, She is not supposed to be part of your scheme, she is meant to be mine. “

“Yet she isn’t,” Jace shot back. “ She wasn't yours, she isn't, never will be. Not now. Let’s face it, Ryan,you’ve never had what it takes.”

Ryan’s jaw went rigid. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Jace leaned forward suddenly, the smirk widening. “You will always be the rejected one, the second option. Just like that whore you call a mum”

His blood got hot.

“Keep my mum out of this”

Jace didn’t even flinch. “Your mother? What a joke. A whore, abandoned you, left you with nothing but her mistakes. Do you think anyone respects you? No, Ryan. They pity you, just like dad. You’re a loser ”

Ryan’s chest tightened. Rage, disbelief, humiliation, all collided at once. He took a step forward. “You shut your mouth!”

Jace laughed, leaning back again. “Or what? You’ll cry? Beg? Face it, little brother. You’re weak. Always have been. Always will be. You wanna hit me because of not only one but two whores, both who didn't love you”

Ryan’s fists shook. He wanted to hit him but he stopped himself. He was smarter than that. He had to be. He couldn’t let Jace see the chaos inside him. Not yet.

“Was it worth it?” Ryan repeated, calmer this time, though his voice was tight. “Tell me. Was she worth it? Did it feel good to ruin me? to humiliate me? “

Jace’s smirk widened. “Worth it? Oh, Ryan. Absolutely. She’s mine now. Your precious little fantasy? Gone. All of it. And you? You’re once again the fool. Always have been. She’s got a good mouth game you know, you have good taste though. She's a beast when wet”

Ryan’s hands itched to reach out, to grab him by the collar, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain he felt. Strangulation had never looked so good but instead, he stood frozen, chest heaving, trying to control his breathing.

“You’re a piece of shit,” he said finally, voice low and dangerous. “You are the worst, don't be surprised when nemesis comes your way”

Jace laughed again. “Oh, I’d love to see that. But you? You couldn’t even hurt a fly if you tried. You’re weak, Ryan. Pathetic. And that’s why you’ll always be the second son, the illegitimate, the disappointment.”

Ryan’s hands clenched harder until his knuckles were white. He wanted to argue, to strike, to make him feel his rage. But he couldn’t. Not here. Not now.

“Lisa…” Ryan muttered, almost under his breath, thinking of her, what they had. All is now an illusion.

Jace leaned forward, mocking, as if he had read Ryan’s thoughts. “Yes. Poor Ryan, crying over sweet Lisa. How cute. You think she loved you? She used to tolerate you, that’s all. She didn’t care about you. She cared about the future, about power, about someone who would win. The future is me. Not you, little brother.”

Ryan’s stomach turned. He could see it in the smug look in his brother’s eyes. The arrogance. The certainty.

“You’re disgusting,” Ryan whispered. “I can’t believe you are my brother .”

Jace chuckled, leaning back in his chair, spinning it slightly. “Brother? should I even call you that, Ryan. You are a joke that always repeats itself.”

Ryan’s head snapped up. “Do you think this changes anything? You think this is the end? You’re wrong, Jace. This isn’t the end. Not even close. You just made a mistake. One day, everyone will see you for what you really are. And when that happens…”

Jace raised a hand lazily, cutting him off. “When that happens? You? You think you’ll be the one to do it? Poor weak Ryan.”

“ You will pay!”

“Make me “Jace raised an eyebrow. “A real shame you ever existed, Ryan.”

Every word was fire in his chest. Every emotion he had tried to suppress boiled to the surface. He took a step forward, shaking.

“You’re a monster,” he said.

Jace laughed again, leaning back in his chair. “A handsome and rich one. The one that fucked your girlfriend ”

Ryan’s mind was racing. His fingers shook.

There was a question he was curious to ask, ever since he caught them, ”For how long”

“Dad's birthday, sorry kiddo”

That was it, they were cheating barely two weeks after he made it official with Lisa. Almost a year of being played on.

He turned sharply on his heel.His chest burning with anger, as he stormed out of the office.

The hallway stretched before him like a tunnel. Every step felt heavy. He had always been the one with self control, the one to take insults, the one to conceal pain.

He stopped in the middle of the hall, pressing his back against the wall, taking deep, shuddering breaths. Anger, grief, humiliation—they all collided in his chest, threatening to break him. But beneath it all , something else thrived.

Fire. Ambition. Resolve