While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Admiration Is Not Love

The words hung in the air.

Do not develop any inappropriate feelings for me. I already have someone I like.

Veyra blinked. Her heart stuttered. Then she laughed.

It was not a bitter laugh or a sarcastic one, but it was a genuine laugh that was surprised.

"Dorian," she said. "You think I’m falling in love with you?"

His jaw tightened. "I think you should be reminded of the terms of our agreement."

"You threatened to cut off my hand twenty minutes ago. Now you’re worried I’m catching feelings?" She shook her head. "You have a very high opinion of yourself."

Dorian’s expression did not change. But something flickered in his eyes.

"Let me make something clear," Veyra said. She stood up straight. Her voice was calm. "I admire you. You’re smart and very capable. You saved my life and Lily’s life. You gave me a home when I had nothing."

She paused.

"But admire is not the same as love. You are like an idol to me. Someone I look up to. Someone I want to learn from." She met his gray eyes. "I know we come from two different worlds. I know this marriage is a contract. I know that when the baby is born, we go our separate ways."

She took a breath.

"I am very self-aware, Dorian. I know my place. You don’t need to worry about me developing inappropriate feelings."

Dorian was quiet for a long moment.

His face was unreadable. But something in his posture shifted. His shoulders relaxed. His jaw loosened.

He should have been satisfied. She had said exactly what he needed to hear. She had drawn the line clearly. She had promised not to cross it.

So why did he feel uncomfortable?

He pushed the thought away. He did not have time to analyze his own emotions. He had trained himself for years to ignore them.

"Good," he said. His voice was flat. "Then we understand each other."

He walked to the window. He looked out at the dark garden.

"Change of subject," he said. "The pizza shop. Xander Hale."

Veyra’s expression shifted. The lightness drained from her face.

"I’ve investigated his background," Dorian continued. "He’s a loan shark. Small-time. But he has connections. Local officials. A few low-level gangsters." He turned to look at her. "Killing him would be a matter of a single word from me."

Veyra’s eyes widened. "Killing him?"

"Metaphorically. His business could be destroyed. His assets frozen. His connections cut off." Dorian’s voice was cold. "He would disappear. Permanently."

Veyra shook her head. "No."

Dorian’s eyebrow rose. "No?"

"I appreciate the offer. But I want to handle this myself."

"Yourself." His voice was skeptical. "With an empty gun and a coffee shop apron?"

Veyra’s chin lifted. "I started this. I’ll finish it. Aunt Chen saved Lily’s life. I owe her. I won’t let Xander Hale hurt her or her daughter."

Dorian studied her. His gray eyes were sharp.

"Pride," he said.

"What?"

"This is pride. You want to prove something. To yourself. To me. To the family."

Veyra did not deny it. "Maybe. But it’s also about responsibility. I involved myself in Aunt Clark’s life. I can’t just hand her problems to someone else."

Dorian sat down in the armchair. He crossed his arms.

"Fine," he said. "Show me."

"Show you what?"

"How you plan to resolve this. Without my help." He tilted his head. "I’ll wait."

Veyra felt the weight of his gaze. He was testing her. Watching to see if she would crumble.

She would not.

"I will," she said. "You’ll see."

She turned and walked toward the bathroom. She needed to think. She needed a plan.

Her phone rang just as she reached the bathroom door.

The screen glowed. Unknown number.

She hesitated. Then she answered.

"Zoe." The voice was rough. Familiar. Xander Hale. "We need to talk."

Veyra’s grip tightened on the phone. "How did you get this number?"

"I have my ways. Don’t hang up." He paused. "I’m with your father. Peter Solenne. He wants to speak to you."

Veyra’s blood went cold.

Her father. The man who had thrown her out when she refused to marry the man he had chosen for her. The man who had taken his new wife’s side over his own daughter’s. The man who had not called her once in seven years.

She heard shuffling on the line. Then a voice she had hoped never to hear again.

"Zoe." Peter’s voice was loud. Angry. "You stupid girl. What have you done?"

Veyra said nothing.

"Do you know who you’ve offended? Xie Heng is a powerful man. You’ve humiliated him. In front of his men. In front of strangers." Peter’s voice rose. "You will come back here immediately. You will kneel and apologize to him. You will beg for his forgiveness."

Veyra’s hand shook. But her voice was steady.

"No."

"No?" Peter sputtered. "What do you mean, no?"

"I mean no. I will not kneel. I will not apologize. I will not beg."

"You will, or—"

"Or what? You’ll disown me? You already did that seven years ago." Veyra’s voice was cold. "You threw me out because I wouldn’t marry the man you chose. You let your new wife call me a disgrace. You let my half-sister laugh at me. I have nothing left for you to take."

The line was silent for a moment.

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