Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 34

“A loan? That’s beyond messed up. Are you even my sister?” Brendan’s face darkened. He shoved his hands deep into his jacket pockets, his chin jutting out, settling into an arrogant, challenging stance that screamed, You’ve crossed me, now what?

This man–child, coddled by their mother since birth, had long grown accustomed to the world revolving around him.

Growing up, under the weight of their mother’s blatant favoritism and intimidating rage, Aubrey had been forced to concede to him on everything, indulging his every whim.

She stopped letting anyone dictate her life the moment she became independent.

Not even her own mother held sway over her; her brother was certainly no one of consequence to her.

“How exactly am I being excessive?” Brendan’s voice was full of indignant self–righteousness. “You’re my sister. I’m getting married–this is a huge deal for me! I need money, and you have it. You should just give it to me, not lend it. We’re siblings; we’re supposed to help each other, support each other.”

Aubrey nodded slowly. “You’re right. Siblings should support each other. I’ll cover the full wedding fund, including the bride price, for your future wife myself. If it’s not enough, I’ll even borrow more from my friends.”

Brendan’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Joy spread across Chloe’s face, her smile widening into a brilliant grin.

She’d heard from her future mother–in–law that while Brendan’s sister appeared delicate, she was cold, fiercely reserved, and difficult to get along with.

She never expected Aubrey to be so easy to sway, so incredibly generous, and so devoted to family.

But her happiness was short–lived, fading almost instantly.

Aubrey continued, her voice even. “Oh, right. The three–story house we built? Mom has one floor, and you and your wife will take another. The remaining floor… that’s for me.”

Brendan froze, stunned. It took him a long moment to force out a stiff smile. “Sis, are you kidding me? Mom and Dad built that house for me. You’ll get married eventually, and everyone knows the old saying, ‘a daughter who marries out is like water poured from a cup‘ – meaning she’s no longer considered part of the family for inheritance. You don’t come back to claim your brother’s house. What kind of daughter does that?”

Oh, please. When he needed her, she was ‘dear sister.‘ The moment she asked for her share, she was ‘spilled water.‘

Family, she realized, was truly a painful double–edged sword.

Aubrey’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “If I get married in the future, I’ll just rent it out.”

Brendan tipped his head back, mouth open, gasping for air. Because she’d agreed to the $200,000 wedding fund, he forced himself to speak gently. “Aubrey, that’s the family home. When there’s a son, it’s always been understood that the house goes to him. Daughters don’t get a share, not traditionally, not ever.”

“Just a moment ago, you were calling me your dear sister, saying we should help and support each other, that my money should go directly to you, not as a loan. By the same logic, you can’t possibly use all of Mom and Dad’s house, It’s only right that I get a floor.”

Chloe’s face was livid, her fists clenched, and her eyes, sharp as a tiger’s, glared fiercely at Aubrey.

She looked at Aubrey as if she were a malicious sister–in–law, utterly detestable.

Brendan was rendered speechless. His mind raced, but he couldn’t find a single word to refuse Aubrey’s outrageous demand, all while still wanting her to willingly give the two hundred thousand dollars for the wedding expenses.

His eloquence was limited, his understanding even more so. After racking his brain, all he could do was scoff

Aubrey glanced at her watch, done with his nonsense. She dropped her last shred of patience, delivering her words deliberately, each one landing like a blow: “If a relationship isn’t built on equality, it’s favoritism. If interests are involved and there’s no fairness, then it’s scheming. Please stop using family ties to guilt–trip me. I may be your sister, but I don’t owe you anything”

Having said her piece, Aubrey turned and walked towards the subway station

Brendan’s face was livid, darkening with fury. He jammed his hands onto his hips, pasing back and forth, and with nowhere else to vent his explosive rage, he slammed his foot into the metal railing along the sidewalk

A second later, he was grimacing, his face contorted in pain, as he clutched his leg and hopped around frantically.

Finally, his temper snapped. He roared at Aubrey’s retreating back, “I asked you nicely, and you’re just going to say no? Fine. Then I’ll have Mom come

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get it from you herself. You’re her daughter, Mom raised you, and this is what you owe her. You will pay her back!”

Aubrey quickened her pace, her mood sinking deeper with every step.

It was stifling, so oppressive!

She felt an invisible weight pressing down on her chest, stealing her breath, and her eyes inexplicably welled up, a burning ring of moisture.

The sadness was fleeting, though, replaced swiftly by a practiced calm.

She couldn’t grasp what she had truly done to incur such an insurmountable debt to her family.

Emotional debts, financial debts, the weight of responsibility, the gratitude for her upbringing–even her role as an older sister felt like something she’d been born owing her brother.

The entire sky seemed shrouded in gloom; she couldn’t see a single ray of sunshine. Even the air she inhaled felt like a biting chill in her lungs.

Stepping into the subway, she was met with a constant flow of people.

Yet she felt a glass wall between herself and the world.

Inside the glass, there was only her.

Outside the glass, the world was a cacophony of life, loud and vibrant.

Even the endless demands of her work couldn’t dissipate the heavy melancholy weighing on her.

She didn’t know when it started, but the mere thought of seeing her mother and brother now filled her with a profound dread. Even the sound of their voices triggered a visceral wave of irritation and disgust,

Every encounter with them plunged her into a suffocating depression that lasted an entire day, sometimes even several.

She’d been in court that afternoon, and she’d lost.

The moment she stepped out of the courthouse doors, her client ambushed her with a torrent of abuse.

Didn’t you say we had a strong case?!” the client shrieked, her voice echoing in the marble hall. “You look all prim and proper, like some educated lady, but you’re dumber than a sack of bricks when it comes to actual work! All looks and no brains–that’s what you are! You can’t even win a lawsuit, and You still have the nerve to call yourself a lawyer? Go find a man and get married, stop embarrassing yourself here!”

Her already shattered mood plummeted further, the vicious words striking her like physical blows. Her chest ached with a raw, burning fury.

But she couldn’t retaliate, couldn’t stoop to the level of such a crude, ill–mannered person and unleash her own venom. It would obliterate her >rofessional image and reputation.

Her face was a mask of cold fury, her voice razor–sharp as she laid out the facts for him. “I’m a public interest lawyer; I didn’t charge you a penny. I’ve andled hundreds of cases like this, and I almost always win. But not one of my clients has ever concealed the truth from their lawyer like you. You veren’t injured during a delivery. You were out soliciting prostitutes during work hours, got hit by a car on your way out, and that’s why your ompany fired you. If you had been honest with me from the beginning, I never would have taken your case. You’ve smeared my professional eputation. You have moral issues, and instead of reflecting on them, you blame me?”

What’s wrong with me sneaking off for a hooker during work hours?” he shot back. “That was still company time, so it’s a work injury! You’re just ncompetent, don’t try to say I have moral issues. What man out there doesn’t go looking for prostitutes? Which one-”

Aubrey’s anger flared, and she cut him off sharply. “Not every man is as rotten as you are! You’re filthy yourself, so you see the whole world as filthy. jay one more word, and I’ll make you the defendant in this case.”

With that, she strode away.

But the man was utterly vulgar. Even after she’d walked away, he continued to yell, his words a stream of vile profanities.

She was utterly drained, the weariness washing over her once more. She just wanted to tune him out, refusing to deal with such people any longer. lesperate to leave.

Nightfall had blanketed the city, and its neon lights blazed, a dazzling spectacle.

Aubrey left the law firm and took the subway home.

Sierra sent a message on her Whatsapp: “Bree, are you off work? Want to go shopping?”

Aubrey leaned her head against the subway door and texted back on the app: “I’m so tired. I just want to go home and rest You should ask Ethan Sterling to go with you.”

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“What’s wrong? You’re always saving you’re tired lately. Every time I ask you out, you always refuse.”

Aubrey road Sierra’s message, too exhausted to even summon the energy to type a reply.

She couldn’t be bothered to reply, just shoving her phone into her bag and staring blankly at the floor.

All she wanted now was to lie down quietly, nestled in her covers.

Stepping out of the subway, the streetlights were bright.

A biting wind hit her, and Aubrey hunched her shoulders, shoving her hands into the pockets of her black coat.

Winter in Crestview City was damp and cold, a chill that seemed to seep into her bones.

The unwelcome cold stung her face.

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Arriving home, she unlocked the door with her fingerprint, stepped inside, kicked off her shoes, and pulled the door shut behind her.

The living room was lit.

You’re home a deep, warm voice asked.

Aubrey’s cold heart gave an unexpected flutter, and she froze, looking up.

Damon was sitting on the couch, still in the loungewear he’d woken up in, casually scrolling through his phone.

The cool white light spilled over him, making him appear as soft and refined as jade.

The halo of light seemed to carry a tangible warmth, softly chasing away the room’s chill and bathing the living room in a cozy glow. Compared to the damp, cold weather outside, it felt like a world away.

The moment she saw Damon, the gloom in her heart melted away, replaced by a sudden, fierce longing.

All she wanted was to fall into Damon’s arms, wrap herself around him, and bury her face in his broad, solid chest, seeking a measure of warm solace.

But Damon wasn’t her boyfriend anymore.

Damon noticed her lack of reaction, lifting his gaze from his phone screen to meet hers.

The moment their gazes connected, Aubrey snapped out of her daze, quickly averting her eyes before slipping on her house shoes and stepping inside.

As she passed through the living room, Damon asked softly, “Did you eat dinner?”

Aubrey stopped abruptly, freezing in place once more.

She’d forgotten to eat dinner. Again.

Annoyance rippled through her. How had she not felt the hunger?

Damon put down his phone and turned to look at her. “Didn’t eat?”

I did. Aubrey replied, dismissing him.

What’s wrong?

Hm Aubrey turned, meeting his gaze “What’s wrong with me?”

Damon frowned “You look very unhappy”

Aubrey pursed her lips baterly, forcing a smile Her soft voice was devoid of energy Tm not

‘Are you will mad about me asking you to make breakfast this morning?

No”

A strange sadness washed over Aubrey All day long, the only thing that had made her feel fulfilled, happy, and accomplished was making breakfast that

The rest of the time had been spent steeped in gloom

Damon rose from the sofa and moved to and beside her, handa tucked into ho poskets, leaning his bask again the wall a couple of feet away. “Then wtry

Aubrey continued to hide her true feelings Im not unhappy”

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Damon’s expression hardened. “Aubrey, I’m not blind.”

Aubrey lowered her head, her spirits incredibly low.

She took a step back, leaning her hips against the back of the sofa.

Her hands braced on the backrest, her legs slightly bent, and her body instantly sagged.

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