While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Turn It Against Me

A knock on the door woke her.

Sunlight was pouring through the window. She had slept. She did not remember falling asleep, but she had slept. Her body felt heavy and her throat still hurt.

"Mrs. Thorne?" A maid’s voice. Soft. Urgent. "The test results have arrived. They’re asking for you downstairs."

Veyra sat up. Her heart jumped.

The test results.

She had been waiting for this moment. Dreading it. Longing for it. Everything came down to what was in that folder.

"I’ll be down soon," she said.

The maid’s footsteps retreated.

Veyra stood up. She walked to the mirror. Her hair was a mess. Her face was pale. The bruise on her throat had darkened overnight. She looked like she had been in a fight.

She had been in a fight.

She splashed water on her face. Brushed her hair with her fingers. Put on the same green dress because it was the only nice thing she had.

She was ready.

She opened the door.

Dorian was standing in the hallway.

He was already dressed. Dark suit. White shirt. His hair was neat. His gray eyes were sharp. He looked like he had been awake for hours.

"You’re up," he said.

"You’re here."

"I came to get you." He paused. "The results are in. Dr. Harrison is waiting."

She nodded. She walked past him toward the stairs. He fell into step beside her.

They did not speak.

The stairs seemed longer than she remembered. Each step felt heavy. Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears.

She stopped halfway down.

"Dorian," she said.

He stopped. Turned to look at her.

"Why did you agree to the divorce?" she asked. "Back in the living room. When your grandmother said you would have to divorce me if I was lying. You agreed so quickly. So easily."

He was quiet for a moment.

"Because I trust you," he said.

She stared at him.

"I trust your judgment," he said. "I don’t know you. Not really. But I’ve watched you. The way you saved my grandmother without hesitation. You’re not a liar, Veyra. You’re not a fraud. I know that."

Her throat tightened.

"You choked me," she said.

"I know." His voice was quiet. "And I was wrong. But that doesn’t mean I don’t trust you. It means I was scared."

She looked at him for a long moment.

No one had ever said that to her before. No one had ever trusted her unconditionally. Caspian had doubted her every word. The world had told her she was nothing.

And now this man and this stranger came along and he trusted her.

She turned and walked down the stairs. Her eyes were burning. She blinked the tears away.

She would not cry. Not now. Not in front of them.

Behind her, she heard Dorian’s footsteps. She did not look back.

But at the bottom of the stairs, just before she turned toward the living room, she glanced over her shoulder.

Dorian was watching her. His gray eyes were soft. And the corners of his lips were curled upward in a smile so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

She turned away.

But she carried that smile with her into the living room.

The living room was full.

Celeste was there. Marcus was there. Eleanor and Richard were there. The old woman was in her chair by the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket, her eyes sharp and watching.

Dr. Harrison stood in the center of the room. He held a folder in his hands. His face was serious.

Eleanor saw Veyra first.

"Well," Eleanor said. Her voice was loud. "The high school dropout finally decides to join us."

Veyra did not respond. She walked to the center of the room and stood facing Dr. Harrison.

"Let’s get this over with," Veyra said.

Eleanor laughed. "Nervous? You should be. Everyone knows you didn’t make that serum. A woman like you? With your education? Please."

Veyra turned to look at her.

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