Since You Chose Your 'Bro' I Married Your Brother novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Everyone turned to look at him.

But nobody said shit–not with the kind of pull his family had.

“Sorry, babe. Couldn’t help it. But you’re spitting facts right now.”

His little innocent act just made Daniel even more pissed.

“Crane, cut the crap. I know exactly how ruthless you are.”

I cut him off:

“Oh, so only you get to talk? Look, I don’t know if he’s ruthless. But I know you are. Anyone who ditches their own wedding nine times for some pick–me girl? Yeah, that’s ice–cold.”

“Fiona, that’s not fair–I told you, I already have everything set up this time.”

I looked at him like he was something I’d scraped off my shoe.

“Save it for Lucy. I hope you two have a gorgeous wedding and make lots of babies. Just lock yourselves away and stop making everyone else

miserable.”

Daniel started to argue, but watching how comfortable Crane and I were together–how natural–every word just died.

The whole shitshow finally ended when I told everyone to get out.

Crane looked like he’d just won the lottery. He could finally be with me in public without sneaking around.

“You look way too happy about this. You know this means you’re done with your whole crew, right?”

“What crew? We weren’t even that close. Just hung out sometimes. Honestly, I was doing them a favor. With my family’s reputation, you think I

actually need those guys?”

Cocky as hell, but he wasn’t exactly wrong.

The next morning, I walked outside and immediately ran into Lucy.

“Please divorce him. I’ll give Daniel back to you.”

She could live with Crane not loving her. What she couldn’t handle was him choosing me.

“Go see a therapist. Seriously. Daniel doesn’t want you anymore, so now you’re coming after my husband? Do you just get off on taking my

leftovers?”

“I didn’t take Daniel! He’s the one who kept being nice to me–I couldn’t just shut him out. I’ll stay away from him from now on, I promise. Just please divorce Crane.”

She looked like hell. Eyes puffy, face pale. The desperation seemed genuine.

“That’s not my problem. My marriage is none of your business. Daniel–get her away from me before I lose my temper.”

Lucy spun around and froze. Daniel was standing right behind her.

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Since You Chose Your ‘Bro‘, I Married Your Brother!

6.6%

Chapter 9

“Danny, I didn’t-”

Daniel actually stepped back when she reached for him, disgust written all over his face.

That surprised even me. Only a few days and they were already falling apart.

Their whole friendship was basically plastic.

Lucy had somehow managed to piss off everyone. She clearly hadn’t realized Daniel was listening.

I let out a cold laugh.

“Why are you even following me around? Look what you did–you made your baby girl bro cry.”

“I’ve said this a million times–there’s nothing between me and her. I don’t have feelings for her!”

“Oh, I know you don’t. You just liked having two women fighting over you. Made you feel important.”

Now that I wasn’t playing that game, he’d lost that feel.

And without me as competition, Lucy suddenly wasn’t interesting anymore either.

His face went red. He looked embarrassed, like I’d just called him out on something he didn’t want to admit.

“I won’t talk to her anymore.”

“Do whatever you want. We’ve been over for a year.”

He didn’t want to accept that.

“I never agreed to break up.”

“I don’t need your permission. Nine weddings, Daniel. Nine: You were wrong every single time. I never did anything to you. You did this to yourself.”

“I’m sorry. I know I fucked up, Fiona. It won’t happen again. Please–just give me another chance.”

Daniel had a lot going for him. There were real reasons I fell for him. Sure, he didn’t come from Crane’s world, but we were cut from the same cloth–ambitious, hungry, driven.

But I forgot that people like us make great business partners. We’re shit at relationships. That’s how we destroyed whatever we had.

So I didn’t hate him for it. We just weren’t meant to work.

“Actually, I should thank you.”

He knew exactly what I meant. His jaw clenched.

“He’s wrong for you. This isn’t gonna end well.”

I just smiled and gave him a little wave.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But I’ll tell you one thing–younger guys hit different.”

That line landed like a slap. He was only three years older than me, but compared to Crane? In every way that mattered? He didn’t even come close. And that’s what was eating him alive.

Who gives a shit about later?

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Since You Chose Your Bro‘ I Married Your Brother!

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Chapter 9

Right now, I’m happy. That’s all that matters.

I figured after being that direct, Daniel would finally back off.

Didn’t expect a phone call in the middle of the night.

And the timing? Absolutely terrible.

“Don’t pick up.”

The phone wouldn’t stop buzzing, completely killing the vibe.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“What.”

My voice came out all breathy. Daniel went silent for a second.

When he spoke, he sounded shaky.

“Tiona… my stomach. It’s killing me.”

I bit down on my lip hard, trying to stay quiet. Crane clearly wasn’t having it.

“Let him hear.”

“Stomach hurts? Call a doctor. Oh–fuck-”

Couldn’t hold it back.

On the other end, I heard Daniel choke on something–probably tears.

“It really hurts. Can you… can you come get me?”

His voice cracked. He sounded desperate, broken. Even he probably didn’t know what he was really asking for. Part of him just wanted this to

be a bad dream.

I hung up.

That’s when he finally let himself cry.

Next time I heard Daniel’s name was at my wedding to Crane.

Apparently, he’d packed up and moved overseas to expand his business. I smiled a little when someone told me.

“He sent this. Said he couldn’t make it back from abroad.”

I took the gift box but never opened it.

Just stuck it in a corner somewhere and forgot about it.

Kind of like us.

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