Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32 No Denial

WILLOW

“What?”

I nearly spat out the bacon.

“He’s dating someone?”

Finisher

“Right?” Kath exclaimed dramatically, throwing her arms into the air. “He’s so hot, but this is like his first dating scandal since he became Hale’s CEO. The single women of this Earth are miserable today.”

She looked genuinely wounded, clutching her muffin like.

“Dating scandal?” I repeated faintly.

“Yes,” she said, already reaching for her phone again. “You do not understand the magnitude of this. Tristan Hale dodges personal questions like he’s allergic to them. And now? Boom. Mystery woman. Secret romance. Public’sighting.”

She thrust the phone toward me.

“Here’s the photo.”

I snatched it from her hand faster than I could stop myself, partly out of curiosity and partly out of disgust. If we did all of those things when he actually had a girlfriend… I was going to be sick.

She continued rambling while I stared down at the screen. Her voice faded into background noise.

Because when I actually looked at the photo, my entire body went still.

It was not what I expected.

I had imagined a glamorous woman in a red dress. Or perhaps a model stepping out of a luxury car. I expected a candlelit romantic dinner just for the two of them.

12:39 pm

ppp.

Chapter 32 No Denial

Flushed

Instead, the image showed two figures in the back of the car engulfed by a shadow.

One of them was unmistakably Tristan.

The other was me.

I couldn’t be mistaken because this was where we grabbed coffee, and this was also the exact outfit I had worn on Tuesday.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

“Right?” Kath said excitedly. “I am sure she is a beauty, too. She is hidden in the dark, but you can tell she carries herself well. Look at that posture.”

I swallowed.

“Hey,” she added slowly, squinting at the screen as she leaned closer. “Is that not similar to the suit you were wearing on Tuesday?”

“No,” I blurted out immediately. “Definitely not.”

Kath raised an eyebrow.

“She must be rich,” I continued, forcing a small laugh. “I bought mine while it was on sale. It was seventy percent off on the clearance rack. You were there with me, right? It’s simply impossible.”

My voice sounded overly cheerful, even to my own ears.

She tilted her head slightly.

“You have similar hair, too,” she murmured.

I brushed my fingers through my hair instinctively.

“There are a million brunettes in this city,” I said lightly. “With mid–length hair.”

She studied the image for another second before shrugging.

“Well,” she conceded, “it is not like you two are close. You said you rarely met when you were with Marcus.”

12:39 pm P pp.

Chapter 32 No Denial

Fashed

“Yes,” I replied quickly. “Very rarely.”

“Let us just watch some television,” I said abruptly, tossing the phone back onto her.

Kath narrowed her eyes at me for a second before shrugging.

“Alright,” she said, grabbing the remote.

I sank into the couch beside her, determined to think about literally anything else. The universe, however, appeared to have a vendetta against me.

The moment the television turned on, there he was again–Tristan Hale in high definition, walking briskly through a crowd of reporters outside Hale Enterprises‘ headquarters.

“Oh my god,” I whispered.

I lunged for the remote, but Kath slapped my hand away.

“Do not you dare,” she said. “We are watching this.”

Reporters swarmed him like bees around honey.

“Mr. Hale! Is it true that you are dating someone?”

He did not slow his stride. His expression remained composed, not even bothering to give them a glance.

Another reporter called out, “Is the woman in the photo your girlfriend?”

Refuse it.

Refute it.

Deny it immediately!

My heart hammered as I stared at the screen.

He continued walking, security parting the crowd efficiently.

12:39 pm

ppp.

Chapter 32 Ne Denial

Finished

“Are you dating the woman in the photograph?” another voice shouted.

This was his chance.

This was the moment.

All he had to do was say no.

He stopped right before opening his car door.

He glanced toward them, a knowing smirk forming on his lips before he winked at the camera.

Kath let out a high–pitched squeal beside me.

“That was so cute!” she shrieked. “That wink was illegal. Did you see that? He basically confirmed it without confirming it. This is so exciting.”

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