Summary: What if the best man in your life was your adopted brother? For someone who sticks by your side no matter what, you shouldn't throw that love away!

Villainess: Mella Evans
Male Lead: Orson Graves
Secondary Lead: Abel Evans
Female Lead: Gina Steward

Requested by: CristyChavez9
———————————————————————————————————

"Mella, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for some time."

Abel Evans is one of the few choices for a love interest in the otome game Twilight Lovers.

The game prided itself on having unconventional routes and many different ways to earn the love of each male lead. There were four in total, but every girl wanted to be with the male lead Orson Graves, a suave student council member who came from a rich family. The other three males were well off, but they weren't as popular as Orson. If the player chose Orson, they would get his happily ever after scene with a beautiful wedding. Like every game, there was a heroine and a villainess. Gina Steward, the default female lead, was kindhearted and sweet while the villainess, Mella Evans, was cocky and snide. In every route, Mella was seen thrown out of the Twilight Academy, and either arrested for attempting murder or even taken out by the male lead. Needless to say, she was written to be hated.

However, due to this being an otome game, there was a secret route that not many players knew about. Nobody had ever posted how to earn the right nor did anyone attempt to hack the code. The creator of the game themselves had spoken about the last route with great joy. This route was the brotherly love route, in which the player could seduce Mella's adopted brother Abel onto their side. Abel was cold and unfeeling due to the abuse from his former family and the constant verbal abuse from his new family. Mella treated him like trash, constantly making him do things for her, and even forcing him to be her servant while at the academy. However, despite the other routes, Abel is seen dying due to his sister being killed or breaking her out of prison. The fandom was split down the middle with Abel since he was a victim of abuse but seemed to care for the villainess in a twisted way.

There was a player who managed to find the hidden route and she was horrified to find out how the route ended. Like the other routes, Mella got what she deserved for treating Gina like trash and was seen getting kicked out of the academy. The worse part was that Abel was also thrown out due to associating with her, causing a rift between him and Gina. To keep her kind appearance, Gina tries to persuade the police to not arrest Abel but is unable to. So, with a heavy heart, Gina breaks up with Abel as the shocked boy is sent to jail while Orson comforts her. The route ends with both siblings being sentenced to death for fraud and Orson and Gina getting married after school.

"What a load of bull crap! How do I even play as Gina when I know she's just as terrible as Mella!" The beta tester roared, nearly smashing her keyboard. "Everyone needs to know about the terrible writing for the hidden route."

Before she could gossip about the hidden route, the beta tester blacked out and found themselves in pre-game content. She had been thrown into the body of Mella before Abel entered the household. The Evans were a wealthy couple with one daughter but was unable to have another child. Adoption was the only way to keep the family thriving, so young Mella was raised alongside Abel to keep face. Abel was a year younger than she was but passed because he looked like her father enough.

"No way am I following the Mella of the story! I'll be killed or worse!" The tester bit her lip as she watched the car holding her future brother inside enter the grounds. "Knowing how each route ends and how Abel feels for Mella, I should use this time to make a better connection instead! No matter what happens, I will be the best big sister ever and make sure nobody hurts my precious Abel!"

So the new Mella spent most of her childhood treating Abel like a prince. Their parents were shocked when they introduced them and she immediately hugged him. Throughout their life, Abel started to melt his cold exterior around Mella as she helped him process his mental abuse and even took him to therapy. The two grew close enough that they held hands when walking, waited for the other before eating, and celebrated their acceptance into Twilight Academy.

"Are you excited as I am to be going to the academy?" Mella asked Abel, who was brushing her hair with a gentle smile on his face.

"I'm a little nervous...what if someone tries to take you away?" Abel spoke softly, tying ribbons in her hair. "Like, if you meet someone who will like you?"

Mella turned and gave him a wink. "No matter what happens, I will always be your number one! Just stick with me and you won't have to worry about someone taking me away. After all....you are the only important thing in my life."

Entering the academy was a new change of pace. Mella made sure to know who and where the other love interest hung out. Instead of making them fall in love with her, she made friends with them. Since she was not a villain anymore, there was no reason for them to be suspicious of her. She also informed Abel about Orson and Gina, telling him that the two were sneaky and to not be trusted.

"Abel, you are so sweet!" Gina said, sliding next to him and batting her eyes. "Your relationship with your sister is so cute. I want to see this side of you more."

Abel gave her a cold look, causing the girl to shiver. "I don't want to associate with you. Please stop trying to make friends with me."

"Abel, why are you being so cold towards me? I thought you were nice." Gina whimpered, twirling her hair. "I mean unless your sister told you to avoid me. She doesn't control you, Abel, let me know if she's controlling you!"

Abel stood up, a tinge of red on his face. "My sister is not the problem, you are. You think just because someone doesn't like you, you have to force them to like you. News flash Gina, not everyone is going to like you!" He gathered his stuff, turning his back on the popular female.

After that confrontation, Gina cried towards Orson to find a way to get rid of Mella so that she could have Abel all to herself. What Orson didn't know was that Gina was playing him as well. If she could have Abel, then she could have Orson too. In her eyes, having all this power at her fingertips allowed her to get rid of the most friendly face at the school. Mella was nice, sweet, and put others before herself. That was her job, not some wannabe.

The day came when the entire school had an assembly. Orson, being student council president, gave his usual announcements before making eye contact with Gina in the front row. Mella, noticing this, smiled at Abel, who grasped her hand tightly.

"In other news, I have one big issue still on the line." Orson stared at Mella, who gave him a soft smile. His heart leaped a bit, seeing the genuine smile on her face. He couldn't do it, she did nothing wrong and was just as kind as Gina. In a way, he was accusing her of being kindhearted. "There is a student at this school who has it out for an individual who helps out with everyone, makes no fuss, and wants to help this school become a better place."

Gina turned around to glare at Mella. This was it, the moment when everyone would know how terrible she was. However, to her surprise, Mella stood up along with Abel and walked to the front of the auditorium. The three other members followed suit, all of them staring at Gina.

"Gina Steward, the student council has had you under investigation for a while now." Mella proclaimed, revealing herself as a member. "You aren't even supposed to be here as a student nor did you qualify for a free scholarship. This means that you have no place in this school and are to be injected as of now."

In her mind, the beta tester grinned to herself as she watched a stunned Gina be escorted off school grounds. The best part about knowing the game was also knowing everyone's dirty secrets and finding out that Gina had faked her papers to gain access to the school. She informed Abel, who started a full investigation alongside the other members of the council to bring her to justice.

With the biggest threat removed from the school, Mella and Abel ran out of the room to celebrate Gina's excavation. That's when the usually quiet Abel took her hands into his and gave her a shy smile, declaring the opening statement.

"What is it, Abel? Is something wrong? We got rid of Gina finally!" Mella exclaimed, bringing herself in for a hug. "I guess now you and I can finally rest easy."

Abel sighed, placing an arm around her waist. "Mella, are you certain that you want to do this? I have to tell you something important that could change your perspective of me for"

Mella shut him up by placing her lips on his and smiling. "Oh...I think I figured out what you were going to say and yes, I would love it if we started up a proper relationship."

"B-B-But we are supposed to be brother and sister!"

"You keep forgetting that you are adopted. This is fine."

"People will judge us."

"Let them judge us. It's you and me against the world, Abel. This means if you marry me, you automatically become part of the family dummy."

The beta tester just smirked as she and her now soon-to-be husband walked back inside. Thanks to her meddling and telling someone the plot.

Abel was safe and she was happy.