Leo's parents divorced mine.
After the split, my father used his assets to destroy Joan's company.
Joan and Leon Rey couldn't cover their debts; bankruptcy followed.

Joan, unable to face ruin, jumped off a cliff.
Rumor was, before jumping, she drugged Leon and Leo with sleeping pills, planning to take them with her.
Something went wrong.
Leon died; Leo vanished.
My father and I were glad they were gone, but their deaths weren't our doing.
"Suicide? Murder!"

"Joan left everything to you and your father! Why drag me and my dad down with her?"
"Owen, know this? That night, I only survived because I spat out the milk!"
Leo answered my question.
He glared, hatred consuming him.

"Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Garcia loves you most! Please don't leave her... Ah!"
Leo suddenly grabbed my hand, pleading dramatically.
Then, he threw himself sideways, crashing into an incoming SUV.
Blood spilled from Leo's body.
But a smirk played on his lips.
"Brother, I lost a little skin. You? You lost the wife who adored you most. I still win!"
Leo declared his twisted victory just before Vivian rushed out and scooped him up.
He was ten years younger.
But his mind was twenty years older.
A wife? Never more important than oneself.
I calmly pulled out my phone to call an ambulance.
He'd set me up; I couldn't let him die on my watch.
Before I could dial 911, Vivian seized my wrist, shoving me back hard.
The woman who moments ago pinned me, declaring her love, now glared at me with utter contempt.
"Owen, I never thought you could be this vicious!"
"Leo never hurt you! Why push him?"
"If anything happens to him, you'll pay!"
With that, Vivian, frantic with worry, bundled Leo into her car and sped towards the hospital.
Watching her car vanish, a bitter knot tightened in my chest.
Why hadn't I reacted faster?
I should have slapped Vivian!
A mistake.
I'd remember next time.
Though, maybe there wouldn't be a next time.
I remembered the road from the courthouse to the hospital had construction.
I remembered Vivian's flaw: easily distracted while driving, emotionally volatile.
I called Vivian.
"You asked if I knew Leo's father?"
"I'll tell you everything."
"Vivian, listen closely. Leo is my half-brother, same mother. Ten years into my parents' marriage, my mother hooked up with Leo's father, had him. Later, my father and I were kicked out. To force the divorce, Leo's father had me kidnapped."
"I told you long ago, before I met you, something bad happened. That was it."
I needed the sting to be sharp.
I continued.
"Had your affair been with anyone butLeo, I might have tolerated it. But of all people, you chose him."
"Also, my car has a dashcam. It shows whether I pushed Leo or he jumped at the car."
"Your 'playful, fun' Leo? He targeted you from the start. He doesn't love you. He wanted to steal you from me. Use his father's old tricks. Become the new 'Mr. Rey'."