Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 99

Loving The Better Brother

Chapter 99 The Kind One

WILLOW

87

Finished

We were left all alone in the hospital room while Tristan did all of the paperwork. It turned out like that, somehow.

The door had clicked shut behind him just moments ago, and the quiet that followed felt heavier than I expected.

I sat there, my hands folded neatly on my lap, unsure of what to do with myself.

When I looked at Kate, she was smiling widely, like none of the tension between us existed. Her beauty was even more striking up close, and it made me feel more intimidated.

I froze for a second.

“You’re Tristan’s new girlfriend?” she asked. “Willow?“.

My eyes widened immediately.

“No,” I said quickly.

The answer came out faster than I intended, almost like a reflex. I did not know what to say beyond that.

Because what were we?

The question echoed faintly in my mind, but I pushed it aside quickly.

Her brows lifted slightly in surprise.

“Oh,” she said softly. “I thought you two were together.”

I swallowed.

“It’s because you look good together,” she added with a small, thoughtful smile. “I actually wanted to congratulate the two of you.”

I stared at her, and something twisted uncomfortably in my chest.

I suddenly felt awful.

Was she actually… kind?

I had expected something different. I expected her to be more like her brother.

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11:21 Sat, May 16

Chapter 99 The Kind One

However, it seemed she was nothing like that.

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“I’m sorry for calling you here,” she said gently, her fingers reaching out to and loosely wrapping around mine. “You must have been on a date.”

My lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

“You’re very pretty today, too,” she added.

There was no hint of sarcasm in her tone. No hidden agenda behind her words. She sounded really simple and honest.

Meanwhile, I had spent hours thinking she was intimidating. The shame settled quietly in my chest.

“I can see why Tristan likes you,” she continued softly.

My breath caught slightly.

I stayed silent, but I forced a small smile onto my lips.

“Anyway,” she said. “Like I said, I’m really sorry.”

She let out a small sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

“I don’t have anyone to call,” she admitted. “My brother is somehow so busy these days.”

She pouted slightly. “He won’t answer my calls,” she added.

I watched her quietly.

“I had no choice but to call Tristan,” she continued, her voice softening. “It seemed my bill wasn’t settled just yet.”

She looked down, her fingers fidgeting slightly with the edge of the blanket.

That quiet guilt inside me grew heavier.

“It–it’s okay,” I said.

“If you need any help… you can just tell me too,” I said with full sincerity.

She looked up at me, surprised. Then, a wide smile appeared on her lips.

“Thank you,” she said.

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11:22 Sat, May 16

Chapter 99 The Kind One

‘Sorry,” she added again, almost out of habit now.

Her fingers played absentmindedly with each other.

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“It’s because I’ve become quite sickly three years ago,” she explained. “So even with a small collision… I end up like this.”

She placed a hand over her stomach.

Instinctively, my eyes followed the movement.

Through the thin fabric of her hospital gown, there was a faint line–a scar.

“I think you’re bleeding,” I said immediately, leaning forward slightly.

She shook her head quickly, turning her body slightly away from me.

“No,” she said. “It’s an old scar.”

Her tone softened.

“It’s the reason why I’m so sickly.”

I frowned slightly, concern settling into my chest.

“Is it alright if I ask what happened?” I asked carefully.

She hesitated for a moment. After that, she cleared her throat and turned back to me.

“Well,” she started.

Her gaze drifted slightly, like she was looking back into the past.

“There was a time when the oldest Hale was sick.”

My brows furrowed.

“Sir Edmund?” I muttered.

She nodded.

“Yes. Sir Edmund Hale,” she confirmed.

“He helped me a lot when I was modelling,” she continued. “Back when I was just starting out.”

Her fingers tightened slightly over the blanket.

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11:22 Sat, May 16

Chapter 99 The Kind One

“So when he needed a kidney… and I turned out to be a match…”

She paused briefly.

“I had to give him one of mine.”

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Finished

The world around me seemed to go quiet. Even the faint hum of hospital equipment faded into the background.

I stared at her, and I felt truly, undeniable awful.

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