CH001: The Other Brother

[ SYDNEY]

“Long time no see, Sydney.”

Hunter, my ex-boyfriend flashes that perfect pearly-white smile at me as his arm wraps possessively around his fiancée, Cassie’s waist.

Who would’ve thought that the moment I arrive at my parents’ house in Charleston for my brother’s wedding, he’ll be one of the first people I bump into?

“Good to see you, Hunter.” I force a smile so tight my cheeks hurt.

My eyes betray me, drinking in his tall, masculine frame, the sharp jawline, and warm hazel eyes that still have the power to gut me even after seven whole years.

Cassie leans into him, her bright blue eyes scanning me up and down with a small, amused smirk.

“You look… great, Sydney. Honestly, I’m impressed by your new style.” Her chuckle is light and venomous. “Never thought I’d see the day the biggest nerd in college cleaned up this well.”

A few of her friends snicker behind their drinks.

Cassie has been like this since college. Never outright violent, but always armed with sweet-sounding jabs and backhanded compliments designed to humiliate me.

She made sure my last years there were hell after Hunter publicly chose her over me.

Which is why today, I’m extra intentional with my outfit, ensuring that they don’t see me as that nerd from seven years ago.

I’m wearing a sleek black off-shoulder dress that hugs my curves. My short golden-blonde bob is pressed straight and sleek, and the heels I'm wearing make my legs look endless.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Cassie adds, eyes sparkling with fake interest. “How’s that medical residency going? Still saving lives?”

My stomach knots at her question. Shit, I should’ve braced myself for that expected question.

For that torturous moment, the terrible events of two weeks ago crash through me:

My repeated mistakes in the theater. The patient I nearly killed. The board’s decision to temporarily suspend my license, and the depressed phase that followed.

I’d locked myself indoors for those two weeks, crying myself to sleep every night, beating myself up for being a failure, that I almost did not make it to Charleston for Ellis’ wedding.

It was my best friend, Maddie, who forced me to drag my sorry ass here, reminding me that if I skip this, Ellis would skin me alive.

And now, barely ten minutes after arriving here, I am already regretting it.

Back to the present, I swallow hard and paste on a thin smile.

“It’s going great, Cassie. Thanks for asking.”

Thankfully, Ellis finally steps in just then. He wraps a strong arm around my shoulders.

“Excuse us, guys. Gotta introduce my sister to some people.”

He steers me away through the small party in the house, fist-bumping people and laughing as they hail him as the ‘incoming groom.’

The second we’re out of earshot, I hiss. “Really, Ellis? You threw me straight at Hunter?”

“Relax, Syd. It’s been seven years. You’re over him.”

I bite the inside of my cheek hard.

No, I’m not. Pathetically so.

Even after leaving Charleston for my medical residency, I’ve tortured myself by stalking his I*******m every single night like a masochist. Photos of him and Cassie being disgustingly happy still make my chest ache.

You wouldn’t blame me for that, you know?

Hunter was the golden prize who knew exactly how to ruin a girl. So, forgive me when I say I’ve come to the conclusion that I may never fully get over him in this life. Maybe in my next life, who knows?

Ellis leads me toward the makeshift bar in the corner where three guys stand. “Yo, guys!”

My eyes scan around as we head towards them. I can already picture my parents walking in and losing their minds.

The entire house looks like a college frat party exploded. Even though Ellis is thirty-two, he’s never going to outgrow this. He’s always been the ultimate party freak.

“Hey, man.” Ellis grins wide, shaking hands with two of them as they greet him back with easy laughs.

The third guy has his broad back to us, deep in conversation. He’s clearly the tallest and most built of the group.

I stifle a yawn, already bored. As soon as this is over, I’m hunting down Maddie and sneaking off somewhere quiet to catch up. Unlike Ellis, I can’t stand loud, chaotic spaces like this.

“Raven, I’ve got someone to introduce to you.” Ellis says, pulling the third guy’s attention.

The moment he turns around, my breath catches hard in my throat.

Holy fuck.

He’s… beautiful.

Easily 6’4”, broad-shouldered, with a heavily muscled build that would send any woman straight to her knees. His sharply sculpted face is intense, almost predatory, with high cheekbones, a strong jaw and a stubble.

And those bright amber eyes? God.

“Syd, meet Raven,” Ellis says, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Raven, Sydney.”

Raven stands there with a calm but darkly magnetic look on his face. The kind of face that feels like a crime against other men.

“Raven’s my friend and business partner,” Ellis continues. “Actually, he’s the CEO of our tech company. I’ve told you about him before, remember?”

I nod, swallowing hard, struggling to keep myself from visibly drooling over him.

Ellis has mentioned Raven before: the genius software designer who makes serious money. But I never paid much attention.

And now that I’m standing in front of him, I understand the obsession.

Then Ellis drops the bomb.

“Oh, and he’s Hunter’s brother too.”

The words hit me like ice water. I whip my head toward Ellis, eyes widening in disbelief.

“Yup,” Ellis says, catching my shocked expression with an amused twinkle. “You’re not the first person surprised by that.”

I snap my gaze back to Raven. He stares at me unblinkingly, cool and unreadable.

There’s no resemblance at all.

While Hunter has that polished golden-boy charm, Raven carries a cold, calm, and dangerously dark energy that warns you to stay away or get burned beautifully.

My stomach sinks in bitter disappointment.

There goes my first real chance at crushing on someone new in seven years, ruined before it even started.

“Nice to meet you, Raven.” I manage, forcing a fake smile.

“Same here,” Raven replies, his voice low, silky-rough, and velvety. “Ellis has told me a lot about you.”

He stretches out his hand.

The moment my small fingers slide into his big, warm palm, my insides turn to liquid.

Snap out of it, Sydney. That’s your ex’s brother, for fuck’s sake!

Thankfully, my phone rings in my purse. I pull my hand back quickly.

Glancing down at the caller, I see that it’s Josephine. My closest colleague at the hospital.

“Excuse me,” I mutter, already stepping away. “Nice meeting you too, Raven.”

I don’t wait for his reply. I hurry upstairs to the rooftop, away from the noise, and answer the call.

“Hey, Jo,” I greet. “What’s up?”

“Fire on the mountain, Syd.” Her voice is heavy with a sigh. My heart clenches instantly.

“What happened?”

“Things aren’t looking good, hun. That patient’s family showed up at the hospital. They want to sue over what happened to their father.”

All the blood drains from my face. I grip the railing tightly as dizziness hits me.

Josephine continues. “And from what I heard, the hospital is planning to throw you under the bus. You need serious connections in the city to get out of this. I’m really worried for you.”

“So… not only is my license suspended, but I’m facing a heavy lawsuit?” My voice cracks. “And if I don’t have powerful people on my side, I’m dead meat?”

“Sadly, yes,” Josephine says with another sigh. “We need to act fast.”

Tears burn my eyes as I stare out into the dark Charleston night.

“Why are they doing this?” My voice breaks completely. “My therapist’s report already came in, Jo. I was diagnosed with sensory overload and high sensitivity. That’s why I froze in the OR. I just need more treatment… Isn’t that what we agreed? Why are they throwing me to the wolves?”

“I’m so sorry, Syd. You don’t deserve this.”

Of course I don’t.

I fucking love my job. I love saving people. Yes, I made repeated mistakes, but I don’t deserve to lose everything!

“I’ve gotta go, Syd. I’ll update you if anything comes up.”

The moment the call ends, I lose it.

A quiet sob tears out of me as I grip the railings even tighter, anger and frustration choking me.

Why do terrible things keep happening to me? For years I’ve had no real success, no love, and no wins. The only thing I have is my career. And now I’m losing that too?

I can’t even tell anyone. Not Maddie or even my family.

I don’t know how long I stay there sobbing, but eventually, I manage to pull myself together.

Wiping my face with my palms, I turn around to return inside, but freeze instantly.

A tall silhouette leans against the other end of the rooftop railing, smoking quietly. The glow of the cigarette lights up sharp, dark, familiar handsome features.

Raven.

How long has he been standing there? Did he hear everything?

“Rough night?” he asks, his bright amber eyes lifting and locking onto mine, as he drags a smoke.

I almost collapse.

He did hear me.

“What if I told you I can fix your problems?” He takes slow steps towards me now, eyes never leaving mine. “All of them. But nothing in this world comes free, princess.”