The brothers who fought for me (by Levi Bennett) novel Chapter 1

**A Promise Lost Between Two Worlds by Jaxon Hale Ryder**

**Chapter 1**

On the day Juliette Sullivan turned one, she believed the world around her was bent to her will, as if the very sun and moon conspired to celebrate her existence.

The Owell brothers, two striking figures in her life, had spent years engaged in a playful yet fierce rivalry, each vying for her affection. Giovanni Powell, the elder of the two, exuded a calm sophistication that drew people in. He was the epitome of politeness, his mannerisms refined and deliberate. In contrast, his younger brother, Ezekiel Powell, was a tempest of emotion—wild, impulsive, and unapologetically honest. He wore his heart on his sleeve, making his passion both intoxicating and dangerous.

For eighteen long years, the brothers had fought tooth and nail for her attention. It was a battle that played out in both public and private arenas, each brother employing his unique charm and strategy. In the end, Juliette’s heart chose Giovanni, the man who would become her husband.

Yet, on one fateful night, everything shifted. As they lay together, Giovanni leaned in, his breath warm against her neck, whispering her name in a low, husky tone, “Darling.” The word sent a shiver down her spine, for it was a name only Ezekiel had ever used, a name that stirred memories she thought she had buried.

In a moment of confusion, as Giovanni rose from the bed, she instinctively grasped his arm, her voice trembling with uncertainty. “Who are you? Are you Gio or Ezzie…?”

Giovanni turned to her, his handsome features carved with a mixture of amusement and concern. There was a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes, as if he relished her confusion.

“Julie, even though Ezzie is my brother, I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy when you think of him,” he replied, his tone teasing but laced with an undercurrent of seriousness.

With that, he stepped into the bathroom, leaving her alone with a whirlwind of thoughts. The sound of water cascading from the faucet filled the air, pulling Juliette back into the depths of her memories.

The Powells were a name synonymous with power in New York, their legacy woven into the fabric of the city. Giovanni and Ezekiel, though identical in appearance, were polar opposites in every other respect. Giovanni had always been the ideal gentleman, chosen at the tender age of nineteen to be the family’s heir. He had effortlessly become a role model among the elite, his every action scrutinized and admired.

Ezekiel, however, was a force of nature—chaotic, brash, and unyielding. He was the kind of man who never forgave and never forgot, a reputation that preceded him wherever he went. It was said that he was born to stir trouble, and he did so with a reckless abandon that both fascinated and terrified those around him.

For over a decade, the brothers had competed for Juliette’s heart, their antics almost theatrical in nature. Giovanni would delicately feed her popcorn during movie nights, only for Ezekiel to come crashing in, sending the entire bucket flying. At family dinners, Giovanni would cut her steak with the utmost care, while Ezekiel would mischievously hide her utensils, reveling in her frustration.

Despite Ezekiel’s relentless pursuit, Juliette had never harbored any affection for him. His obsessive nature repelled her, and as she matured, she found herself drawn to Giovanni’s steadiness. When he finally confessed his feelings, it felt like a natural progression, a choice she made with her heart firmly in hand.

But the tides turned when Ezekiel, unable to accept defeat, spiraled into madness. In a desperate act, he whisked her away to the icy landscapes of Iceland, imprisoning her for a month, treating her as if she were merely an object to possess.

Giovanni’s fury erupted when he discovered her plight. The confrontation between the brothers was explosive, a clash of emotions and fists. In the chaos, Ezekiel fell into the frigid sea, disappearing beneath the waves, leaving behind a haunting void that Juliette could never fill.

Her gaze darted back to the man beneath the chandelier, his posture exuding a casual arrogance that began to awaken memories she had tried to suppress. Could it be that for the past three years, the man she had shared her life with, the man she thought was Giovanni, had been Ezekiel all along?

Before she could process this revelation, the front door swung open. Juliette’s attention snapped to the entrance, where a tall, elegant figure stepped inside. He wore a tailored black suit that radiated authority, and his striking features mirrored those of the man lounging on the couch.

But the golden pin on his collar—the unmistakable symbol of the Powell family’s heir—set him apart. This was Giovanni.

A tremor coursed through Juliette’s body, her nails digging into her palms as if to anchor herself against the tide of panic.

Giovanni strode confidently toward Ezekiel, his voice steady yet laced with an edge of authority. “Ezzie, don’t push your luck. I only asked you to keep Julie company in my absence. I certainly didn’t mean for you to hurt her.”

Ezekiel raised an eyebrow, a cold smirk playing on his lips. “Gio, you’re the one who claimed she was just a sister to you. You wanted to chase after your secretary, so you devised this elaborate scheme, letting me step into your shoes as her husband.”

His words were sharp, cutting through the air with a chilling clarity. “If you have regrets, we can always swap back. But don’t forget, Grandpa wants a great-grandchild this year. If it doesn’t bother you that she’s been with me, then feel free to take her back.”

Giovanni remained silent, his brow furrowing in deep thought. The look of disgust that crossed his face felt like a bucket of ice water poured over Juliette, extinguishing any flicker of hope that had dared to remain in her heart.