The Heroine Stole My Fiancé So I Marry Her Father

[Let's go back to the beginning of when this problem started.]

That night.

"Welcome back, sis! You're home really late."

I, who had just returned after completing a pile of work with deadlines this week, looked at the young man dressed haphazardly and greeted me with a wide smile that almost resembled my face.

"If you've come out of your room, then go take a shower and dress properly." Instead of responding to his warm greeting, I shooed him away with a tired tone.

"... It seems like you're exhausted again," the young man grumbled.

I just sighed, ignoring the young man pouting at me, before entering my room and soaking in the bathtub with warm water for a long time to relieve the fatigue that had taken a toll on my entire body.

"Sister, sister! Let's have dinner!" The young man's voice called out enthusiastically as if he knew I had finished bathing.

"... Did he wait for me to finish bathing so we could eat together?" I mumbled, feeling touched by my brother's behavior, my only family.

"Alright," I replied.

The sight on the square table was filled with various dishes emitting a delicious aroma that would whet anyone's appetite.

"Did you order all of this?"

"Yes!" My brother nodded confidently. He blinked his eyes, seemingly seeking praise, like an adorable puppy.

Instead of praising and thanking him, I ended up hitting his body with my hands, firmly.

"I told you not to order junk food so often! Why did I hire an expensive housekeeper if you keep ordering such food!" I scolded, still hitting his muscular arms and broad back, even though my younger brother rarely exercised and preferred to stay in his room.

"Ouch! Stop it! Don't hit me! I might become stupid! You know, my precious brain needs to be taken care of so I can write smoothly!"

"I know that which is why I'm only hitting your body instead of your precious head!" I replied, continuing to hit his back, leaving an imprint of my hand there.

And my younger brother screamed. "Aaaaakkk! How long are you going to keep hitting me?"

"Until you understand and digest all of my words and let them soak into your precious head!"

"Why do you keep mentioning 'my precious head'? Are you mocking me? No, I'm sure you're just jealous because I make a lot of money even though I stay locked up at home! Unlike you!"

"..." I stopped hitting him after hearing those words, spoken by my own brother.

"... Sister?" My younger brother, realizing that my hitting had stopped, called me cautiously.

I didn't answer, and I decided to grab a plate of spaghetti, which happened to be the closest to my seat at the dining table.

"..."

In silence, I ate it calmly.

"I'm sorry, sis, I didn't mean to say it like that." My younger brother looked at me as I calmly ate, his expression filled with guilt.

"I said this because I don't want to see you working late all the time! It's better for you to rest at home with my money and find a husband who can—"

I stood up from my chair with an empty plate in hand. My movement made my brother's words come to an abrupt halt.

"Thank you for the meal. Make sure to eat properly. Don't leave anything behind since you were the one who ordered all of this," I said, briefly ruffling my brother's black hair, then walked away without looking at his face.

"Sister, sister!" My brother called again with a worried tone, "Is that all you're going to eat?"

Instead of answering, I opened my mouth to say something else. "Remember, don't waste any food."

I immediately closed my door after saying that without waiting for his response.

Because this apartment was quite expensive, I couldn't hear any sounds from behind my door. My room was completely silent.

But I was sure that the young rascal was probably eating eagerly right now.

"Take care of your brother, okay? Don't let him be alone."

That was the wish of both of my parents, who died in a plane crash.

As the older sibling and the only remaining member of this small family, I always carried within me the message to always show the image of a reliable person to my only sibling.

I had managed to hold on until now. Even when my brother became successful and earned more money than me, who had to work overtime at the office to get a high bonus.

I wasn't jealous of my brother's success at all. In fact, I was genuinely happy and almost moved to tears because I had raised my brother well.

Yes, it had been over ten years since I had been working tirelessly without rest as if walking on a thin and easily breakable rope. I wanted to quit my exhausting job and rest as my little brother suggested.

However, even if my brother was successful now, he was still my little brother. He was still under my care, as his older sister, guardian, and the only family he had. I couldn't just quit working and relax using his money.

Where would I put my face as the one who always tried to give off the aura of a reliable older sister to my younger brother?

However, maybe because I was too focused on my role as his older sister, I had become indifferent to him.

But what could I do? My current position was not a leisurely one where I could play the role of a beautiful, friendly, and kind sister to him.

"Ha...." I sighed heavily.

I wanted to sleep, but I wasn't sleepy at all. Even though this was a precious free time that I rarely had.

Because I was unsure of what to do with this rare free time, I unconsciously glanced at my monitor.

"Should I check what tasks are due next month?" I mumbled, and a few moments later, I felt sorry that I had to use this free time for work, and I sighed in frustration.

Once again, my brother, as if knowing that I was getting bored with something, knocked on my bedroom door softly.

"... Sister," he called, with a somewhat pleading tone.

"Yeah?"

"Actually, I've been writing something lately...."

Huh, no wonder he came out of his room and welcomed me warmly while buying all that food.

My younger brother, a web novel writer on a famous website, had become very successful in the romance genre, which was quite unexpected considering his large and muscular physique.

As usual, after completing a piece of work, my brother would seek feedback. And the one he asked for feedback from was me, who was the first reader of all his works before they were uploaded to the website and became highly popular.

Yes, it was two years ago.

I had long stopped being the first reader of my brother's works.

Why?

Because I actually despised the romance genre!

Yeah, maybe that's why I don't have a boyfriend at all. I really hate anything related to romance, so it's impossible for me to be willing to engage in a romantic relationship.

'Ah, just thinking about it makes me cringe!'

"No." I immediately refused without pretending to think further. I didn't even bother opening my door because I didn't want the trivial argument to drag on any longer.

"Aaaa, please, big sis! Help me review my story!"

"I said no. Ask one of your loyal readers for help."

"No! If I do that, there will be division among my reader community!"

"In that case, ask your editor or your friends for help!"

"No! I only want to show the perfect manuscript to my editor! And I only want my friend to read it when my novel becomes a top novel!"

I felt like my head was about to explode from having to listen to my grown-up little brother's complaints.

"Arghh, you want so much! Ask anyone for help then! Whether it's the neighbor's grandmother or the aunt who often sells groceries across the apartment!"

"They both won't understand my novel!"

"If they don't understand it, neither do I!"

"Different!" My little brother suddenly raised his voice and continued with a higher tone behind the door. "Why won't you help me again?!"

I felt pressured because my brother rarely raised his voice in front of me. So, I went along with this pointless conversation and responded without much thought.

"Do you still need to ask for the reason? Fine! I hate reading anything related to romance!" I shouted, revealing the secret I had kept so well. "I've been forced to read something I dislike for two years!"

"... So, all this time, for two years, you've felt that hatred and disgust every time you helped me read my works?"

"Yes! Exactly! Every romantic sentence I read makes me want to puke and almost faint! Ugh, just imagining it makes me half-dead from the headache alone!"

As if consumed by emotions and becoming uncontrollable, I kept spewing out words I had sworn never to say to my little brother.

"... Unbelievable! I hate you, big sister!" My brother said with a tone full of disappointment before I heard his faint footsteps moving away from my door.

'I hate you, big sister? Ha, is he still a child? How can a man in his twenties say something like that to his older sister?'

"Ah, I must be crazy...." I closed my eyes. I felt like I had run out of energy.

Indeed, sibling fights can be very draining...

Unconsciously, my whole body, like a muscle-less caterpillar, was already lying on the bed.

"I'll just go to sleep."

My little brother is already an adult, and he's been making more money than me for the past year. So, he no longer needs comfort from his older sister, who is old and easily tired.

'... I should cook his favorite meal tomorrow morning to boost his morale in finishing his last novel.'

I thought about that while my vision blurred due to a sudden wave of drowsiness.

But...

The next morning, a massive storm, a truly enormous one, shattered the peaceful life of the small family I had worked so hard to maintain.

My little brother disappeared. And my world crumbled.