Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 2

WILLOW

I had already packed all of my belongings.

There wasn’t much when I really looked at it. Clothes I’d bought to suit his image. Everything fit neatly into two suitcases, as though my life here had always been temporary.

Marcus stood by the doorway, arms crossed, watching me zip the last bag.

He didn’t look panicked. Instead, he looked curious and amused.

“Come on,” he said lightly. “You’re really going to leave?”

“Yes,” I replied. My voice surprised me with how cold it sounded.

He frowned, probably not expecting the answer to come so easily.

I lifted the suitcase and turned toward him. Up close, I could see the faint crease between his brows—the one that only appeared when things didn’t go according to plan.

“You know everything is just business, right?” he continued, gesturing vaguely. “The Kings are important shareholders. Serena’s family holds influence. I need to keep her entertained.”

I laughed quietly. It slipped out before I could stop it.

“Then entertain her more,” I said. “I’m no use to you, right?”

His jaw tightened. He clicked his tongue, irritated, and reached out to grab my wrist.

“Hey.” His grip was firm, possessive. “Don’t be like that.”

I looked down at his hand around my arm.

“You love me,” he said, like he was stating a fact. “We’re married.”

I met his eyes. “You don’t love me.”

“You’re being dramatic, Willow.”

“No,” I said calmly. “I’m just telling the truth.”

His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go.

“You want a family, right?” he said, switching tactics. “You’ve always wanted that. We can have that—after I secure this deal with a bigger company.”

The words hit something deep in my chest, dragging memories to the surface.

Every night, he came home late, ranting about his brother and how unfair it was that he had to fight twice as hard. I had sat beside him on the couch, listening, nodding, absorbing his anger so he could sleep. I had believed in his dreams even when he didn’t believe in himself.

“Wait for me,” he said. “The Kings have secured a deal with that particular company. This is it, Willow. Once this goes through, everything changes. My dad said he’ll give his shares to the one who secures this deal.”

I felt tired.

“Let go,” I said softly.

He didn’t move.

“You’re really leaving me?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said again.

He stared at me, searching my face for hesitation.

I gave him none.

“You’re making a mistake.”

I finally pulled my arm free. “No,” I replied. “I made one when I stayed.”

His expression hardened.

I grabbed my suitcases and walked past him toward the door. My heart was pounding, not from fear, but from the finality of it all. Every step felt like peeling myself away from a version of me that had been shrinking for years.

“You don’t have anything without me,” he said again, louder this time.

I didn’t stop.

“You’re emotional right now,” he continued. “You’ll calm down.”

I opened the door.

“You’ll be back in no time,” he called after me.

***

The cafe smelled like burnt sugar and roasted beans. I wrapped my hands around the ceramic cup in front of me, letting the heat seep into my fingers. Across the table, Kath leaned forward, already halfway to anger on my behalf.

“I’ll be staying with you for a while,” I said quietly. “Just until… things are arranged.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Of course you are.”

The company—my company, though I still couldn’t say that out loud even in my head—had already reached out. They said a house was being prepared for me, as per my late father’s request. I still hadn’t seen it. In fact, I knew that the company was big, but I had never researched it.

Kath didn’t know any of that.

In fact, no one did.

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