Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 55

They all turned to me in a synchronized manner, making me freeze under their scrutiny.

**Finished

“Willow?” Marcus asked, appearing annoyed that Tristan knew something about me that he didn’t.

Instead of looking at him, I looked at Tristan instead.

There was the faintest trace of amusement lingering in his eyes, enjoying the tension far more than he should.

“Don’t.” I said quietly.

His brows lifted slightly, and he opened his mouth to add to his previous statement.

“Tristan.” I warned, glaring at him slightly.

A small smile formed on his lips before he raised both hands in surrender.

“Okay,” he said lightly. “I won’t tell.”

Marcus’s gaze snapped between us.

“Tell what?” he demanded.

But Tristan had already leaned back into his chair, picking up his wine glass and ignoring his brother’s question.

The rest of them seemed to lose interest gradually, their attention drifting back to their plates and drinks. Still, the tension did not vanish.

Tristan and I shared silent conversations throughout the meal, with me warning him not to tell the table about my new job at Fiorane.

Just then, Marcus slammed his cup down onto the table hard enough to make Sara flinch.

“Since when were you so close?” he asked, his eyes fixed on Tristan, but the accusation was aimed at me

Tristan shrugged lazily. “We’ve always been close.”

Marcus let out a humorless laugh. “That’s funny.”

“It’s not Tristan replied. “You just never go to such lengths to know about Willow, so you don’t know.

Marcus jaw clenched.

The atmosphere turned unbearably awkward.

And then-

1:02 pm PMM

Chapter 55 Courage

Edmund laughed.

It was not a polite chuckle, but a deep and unrestrained laughter.

“Oh, this is a fun dinner,” he declared, sounding delighted. “You should come more often, Willow.”

I lowered my head slightly in acknowledgment, offering him a shy nod.

Finished

The twins did not look like they were having a good time anymore. Their earlier smugness had dissolved into thin irritation.

Just then, Marcus cleared his throat and leaned closer to his grandfather. “Isn’t my wife a good one, grandpa?” he said, draping an arm casually over the back of his chair. “I should bring her more often. right

The words made something inside me snap.

So, this was really his plan. He did not want to divorce me, and having his grandfather here just sealed the deal.

I pursed my lips tightly.

Even with Edmund Hale sitting at the head of the table, I could not swallow this

I exhaled slowly.

“Marcus,” I started off.

He turned to me, still wearing that curated smile.

“You don’t have to lie to them anymore.”

The smile froze on his face.

“What are you-” he began.

“Hand me the divorce papers,” I said calmly.

There was absolute silence after I said those words.

anymore.

Even the faint clink of cutlery from the kitchen beyond the dining room doors seemed to fade.

“What?” Sara whispered.

“Divorce?” Cara echoed, her voice rising an octave.

Marcus stared at me as though I had just spoken in a foreign language.

“Willow.” he said sharply.

But I was already standing

“Yes,” I continued. Divorce”

1:02 pm PMM

Chapter 55 Courage

Finished

No one moved or said anything else, so I took that moment to say everything buried in my chest.

“Marcus cheated on me.” I said clearly. “With Serena King.”

Theodore’s face drained of color while the twins‘ jaws dropped.

“I found out a month ago,” I continued. “He never loved me in the first place. I was convenient. I was quiet. I was someone he could marry without effort.”

Marcus stood abruptly. “That is not—”

“He wanted validation.” I cut in, refusing to let him twist the narrative further. “He wanted it from someone weak enough to love someone as incomplete as him.”

The words were cruel, but they were true.

Theodore looked between his son and me, horrified.

“Is this true?” he demanded.

Marcus said nothing, and that silence was answer enough.

“I came here tonight to get the divorce papers,” I continued. “He must have thought I wouldn’t have the courage to ask for them in front of all of you.”

I walked toward him slowly.

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