Brother

Axel’s POV

I was boiling in anger, my chest tight and my fists clenched so hard. I still couldn’t believe what was happening. Where had Dami even met Doman?

He has been trying to get to me ever since I exposed the secret that landed him in prison. When had he even come out? What the hell was going on? I lost my company and my house, and now Doman had returned to finish me off.

Dami’s assistant, Sophia, followed her upstairs. I exhaled sharply and Alexa mirrored me. “Okay, what the hell is happening to us? When did Doman get out of prison?” she whispered, eyes wide.

“I don’t fucking know,” I muttered back. “This guy is going to ruin our lives including Dami. He’s always up to no good.”

Our mother walked in, rolling her eyes. “This same boy killed his own mother just for money and her properties. He doesn’t even like us. We need to leave this house.”

“You can leave if you have anywhere to stay,” I said bitterly. “I’ve called my friends, none of them is picking up. We were all business partners, their money tied in the company. I’m screwed at this point.”

Mom placed a hand on mine. “I can go stay with my friend. My feeding and expenses will be on her until I get back on my feet. This is your problem, Axel. I’m not ready to get killed by one nuisance or bullied around by a little girl. I’ll go pack my things,” she announced flatly.

My jaw dropped. She was leaving her children, knowing we were in danger. What kind of mother did that? In that instant I realised she’d been the root of my problems all along.

“You’re leaving without us? You caused this, Mom. You brought Samantha into my brother’s life and made us hate Dami. Now you want to run away when everything’s gone bad. Shame on you, Mother!” Alexa spat, voice trembling.

“You don’t speak to me like that,” Mom snapped.

“We’ll speak to you however we please,” I shot back, my eyes stinging. “You ruined me, Mom. You caused all this bullshit. Now you want to leave without looking back? I don’t even blame you. I’m the stupid one for listening to you. You pushed me to divorce Dami, and now look at me.”

Her name on my tongue burned. In my mind, I saw her again as she used to be. Soft laughter, warm hands and eyes that had once looked at me as though I was her world. Regret clawed at my chest. How had I thrown her away?

Mom slapped me across the cheek, her own eyes wet, then stormed upstairs.

“Run like you always do!” Alexa shouted after her. “We’ll overcome this!”

I broke. My knees weakened and tears spilled down my face. Now I understood Dami’s rage, this was what it felt like to love and be betrayed.

Alexa wrapped her arms around me. “You don’t have to cry, Axel. I’m here. We’ll fight this together,” she whispered.

I let it out, then wiped my face as footsteps creaked above. Alexa and I watched our mother leave without a word. For the first time in my life, I hated her.

Later, Alexa and I served dinner. We ate quickly, waiting for Dami to come downstairs. “Do you think you can get a job elsewhere instead of working for her?” Alexa asked quietly.

“You’re the one who said I have to win her heart back,” I murmured. “The only jobs I can get now are cleaning or security. Those loan people posted my picture online, no one would hire me.”

She nodded. “That’s true. You have to stay close to her. But I’m really worried about Doman. I know he has some evil plan. I don’t trust him. Dami just arrived here and he’s suddenly her man? It doesn’t make sense.”

“I’ll expose him,” I said, a flicker of the old determination stirring. “Dami must see how evil he is. Once she knows, she’ll stay away from him.” Maybe then she would see the man who still loved her hiding under all my mistakes.

Alexa gave me a small, pained smile. “You can do this. And I’m sorry for everything. I know I’m also one of your problems.”

“It’s fine, Sis. Finding a way out is what we should both focus on,” I said and hugged her. I was grateful she was still here. She could have run off to friends but chose to stay despite the humiliation.

Dami walked down with her assistant and my heart stuttered. She was beautiful. I had been so consumed by chaos I hadn’t noticed. She used to be my innocent wife once, now she was a tiger wearing my memories like armour.

I pulled a chair for her. Alexa and I served the food in silence. Chicken soup with rice, the meal she used to love. When I placed it before her, she stared at it for a long time as if it reminded her of our past. My lips trembled into a small smile. Maybe my plan was working.

Next morning.

Alexa and I slept in the guest room. We were lucky she gave us one. She didn’t ask about my mother; I overheard her telling Sophia about the conversation she had with her before she left.

I walked to the kitchen and found Alexa making breakfast. “Good morning, Axel,” she greeted.

“Morning. Is Dami up yet?” I asked. She shook her head.

Then came a knock at the door and i opened it. Doman stood there with his hands in his pockets. His smirk was slow and poisonous, eyes glittering with malice.

“Well, hello there brother,” he drawled, his voice cold. “Miss me?”

My pulse spiked. “What the fuck do you want? Stay away from me and Dami or I’ll expose your secret,” I snarled.

Doman’s laugh was low and cruel. He stepped forward and shoved me hard. I hit the floor with a grunt. He crouched, his face inches from mine, and all the charm drained out of his eyes.

“You think you can expose me?” he whispered. “I will destroy you piece by piece, Axel. I will take everything you have left. I’ll make you watch while I do it. And when you finally crawl to me for mercy,” he leaned closer, lips curling, “I’ll kill you first.”

His breath brushed my ear like ice.

He straightened slowly, looking down at me as if I were already dead. For the first time in years, I felt a chill run down my spine.