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.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify