Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 93

Chapter 93 Waiting For You

WILLOW

I woke up because it felt like I was burning.

My entire body felt heavy, like it was sinking into the mattress, yet at the same time, heat coursed through my veins that made my skin prickle uncomfortably. My head throbbed faintly, and when I shifted even slightly, a dull ache spread through my limbs.

“Whoa,” I muttered under my breath, my voice hoarse.

I really got sick.

I turned my head slowly to the side and glanced at Kath.

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She was fast asleep beside me, one arm flung over her pillow, her breathing steady. Soft snores escaped her lips every now and then.

She must have stayed up late taking care of me. The thought made guilt settle in my chest.

I should let her rest.

Carefully, I pushed myself up. I paused, squeezing my eyes shut as a wave of dizziness hit me.

“Okay…” I whispered. “Slow.”

I swung my legs off the bed, my bare feet touching the cold floor.

The chill shot straight up my spine, making me shiver despite the heat burning inside me.

Each movement felt heavier than the last, but I managed to make my way out of the bedroom and into the living room.

I grabbed a glass from the counter with slightly trembling hands and filled it with water.

The sound of it pouring felt louder than it should have been in the quiet apartment. I brought the glass to my lips and took a slow sip.

The coolness helped a little, but it was still not enough.

As I lowered the glass, my vision swam slightly.

Just then, a thought crossed my mind. I had the urge to check the door cam.

My fingers tightened slightly around the glass.

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Chapter 93 Waiting For You

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He would not still be there, right?

It had been hours.

It was already-

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

1:00 AM.

My feet moved before my mind could catch up. I set the glass down and walked slowly toward the door, my steps quiet against the floor.

My heart started beating faster.

I reached the small screen beside the door, hesitated for a moment, then finally pressed it.

My breath caught the moment the camera turned on.

He was still there, leaning against the railing just outside Kath’s apartment.

The rain had already stopped, but that meant it was colder now.

His head was tilted slightly forward, his eyes closed.

He looked exhausted.

My fingers hovered near the door handle.

I opened the door.

The cold air rushed in immediately, wrapping around me and making me shiver.

The sound must have woken him because his eyes snapped open instantly.

“Willow.”

My name left his lips like a breath he had been holding in for hours.

He pushed himself off the railing and stepped toward me quickly.

I stepped back instinctively, putting space between us.

His expression shifted slightly.

He really did not look good. He still looked handsome, but his hair was messy, his clothes

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Chapter 93 Waiting For You

wrinkled, and his face pale.

There were dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he had not rested at all.

“It’s cold,” I muttered.

My voice sounded distant, even to my own ears.

“You should go home.”

“No.”

The answer came immediately.

He took another small step forward, but not enough to close the distance completely.

“Please,” he said, his voice softer now. “I want to explain myself.”

His eyes searched mine.

“I’ll leave after that,” he added. “I promise.”

I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Speak,” I said.

He let out a breath.

“I was supposed to meet you at three,” he started.

“But I got a call,” he continued. “I needed to go to the airport.”

I froze. The words echoed in my mind.

So it was true–everything.

I swallowed hard.

“Did you pick Kate up?” I asked.

His brows furrowed immediately. He looked at me, confusion flashing across his face.

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Just answer my question,” I said.

He paused, letting out a deep breath, before he nodded.

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“Yes,” he admitted.

I exhaled slowly and moved to close the door.

That was enough.

I did not need to hear anything else.

But before I could-

“I wanted to go to you.”

His voice stopped me.

“I really did,” he continued quickly. “But Kate doesn’t know anyone else here, and she and her brother-”

He stopped for a second, like the words were hard to say.

“They got into an accident.”

My head snapped toward him.

“What?”

“They were in a car accident,” he said.

My mind blanked.

“I went to the scene,” he continued. “They don’t have any family left, Willow. There was no one else to sign the papers.”

“I stayed at the hospital,” he added. “I had to sign documents, talk to the doctors, and make sure they were taken care of.”

The anger inside me faltered.

“I was going to come to you right after,” he said.

His jaw tightened.

“But my car broke down on the way.”

“And there was no direct transportation from the hospital to here,” he continued. “I lost my phone too.”

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Chapter 99 Waiting For You

His hand ran through his hair in frustration.

“I tried to get here,” he said. “I really did.”

His voice dropped.

“I even tried to hitchhike after everything was settled.”

“I wish I were making this up,” he added quietly.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

His gaze met mine.

“I’m really sorry.”

The words felt sincere, and my heart wavered again.

“I’ll make it up to you,” he added softly. “I promise.”

I stared at him.

My mind was a mess. Everything tangled together.

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It felt like a thorn had been pulled out of my heart, but the wound was still there–still painful.

I opened my mouth to say something, but the moment I did, my vision blurred worse than before.

“Willow?”

His voice sounded distant.

My body swayed slightly.

I tried to steady myself, but my limbs felt weak.

“Hey-”

The last thing I felt was his arms catching me before everything went dark.

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