The Fake Brother Left, So I Had to Become the CEO (And Then I Married Him) Chapter 2

In the end, choosing the best of a bad bunch, I was pushed into the CEO's seat.

After all, I was the only one who got into college based on my own (admittedly mediocre) abilities.

"Don't worry, Mom and Dad. I definitely won't fail this mission. I won't do worse than that heartless jerk."

My dad squeezed my hand.

"My expectations aren't high. Just tell me right before we go bankrupt."

My mom wiped away a tear.

"It's so late, I wonder if Ethan has eaten dinner yet?"

Liam scratched his head.

"Am I really going to experience bankruptcy right after coming home?"

I glared at him, and he went quiet.

Lying in bed that night, my heart still felt empty.

My parents didn't let Liam move into Ethan's room; they prepared a separate room for him.

Even without blood ties, they still treated Ethan like their own child.

Especially since the Smith parents had passed away, they were even more worried that he wouldn't be able to handle this sudden upheaval.

Actually, I never hated him; I was just a bit rebellious.

Ethan, being the only normal person in the family, was very strict with me.

In high school, he watched over my studies, tirelessly explaining math problems to me over and over again.

He managed to drag my bottom-of-the-barrel grades up enough to pass the college entrance exams by a wide margin.

When I was in college and he discovered my talent for photography, without a word, he found me the most professional equipment and the best mentors.

He even personally modeled for me.

Now, I'm a top-tier freelance photographer and influencer in the country.

But my initial dream was really just to be a useless, idle rich kid.

So, I constantly opposed him.

When he was having a meeting in the home office, I would hide under his desk and pull his leg hair.

When he went on blind dates with women, I would expose embarrassing stories from his childhood.

I also frequently took ugly candid photos of him.

Unfortunately, either my photography skills were too good, or he was just too incredibly handsome.

No matter how I shot it, he looked breathtakingly good.

I hated him, but I also relied on him.

I never thought there would come a day when he would disappear from my world.

But thinking about how decisively he left, a nameless anger flared up inside me.

"Heartless jerk. Left without a second thought, not a single bit of attachment."

I took out my phone and sent an angry dog emoji to Ethan.

Ethan: ?

The next day, I sat anxiously in the CEO's chair, listening to the department heads arguing back and forth.

This is not a job for a human being.

I slumped over the massive mahogany desk, wanting to cry but having no tears left.

After a whole morning of meetings, I had absolutely no idea what they were arguing about.

The documents on my desk were piled up like a small mountain.

How did Ethan manage to process all this in a day and still get home in time for dinner?

No wonder he ran away like he was fleeing a famine.

Now, I wanted to flee too.

I couldn't help but ask my executive assistant.

"Did Ethan do this much work every day too?"

The assistant adjusted his glasses.

"Miss Evelyn, Mr. Davis—I mean, Mr. Smith—had to handle much more than this. Today is your first day; it will only get busier from here."

I let out a helpless wail.

What a disaster.

"Why was Ethan able to do so much work?"

"Mr. Smith has managed the company for many years, after all. He has a bit more experience than you do."

I shot up from the desk.

"Right, it's not that I can't do it, it's just that he has more experience."

"How about this: you can go ask Mr. Smith to tutor you. You're so smart, you'll definitely catch on quickly. You can also ask him to help you do some of it."

I was tempted. Shamefully tempted.

I didn't want to work this job for another minute.

But I was stubborn.

"I don't need him. I can do it myself."

Saying that, I buried my head in the mountain of documents.