In His Brother’s Arms のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 16

The next morning, the house was quiet in a way that felt menacing. No tinkling of dishes, no distant murmur of servant's gab. Just quietness, as if everyone was held back from talking.I sat alone in the breakfast room. Coffee chilling unconsumed before me. Sleep had been out of the question- every corner of the house, every car pulling into the entrance had thrown my heart into fear.When Aaron strolled in, he didn't worry about exchanging greetings. He grabbed the chair opposite me, his tie already slackened as if he'd been up for hours."Father demands a meeting," he said levelly.My stomach dropped. "Again?""He wants to chew over how we 'treat the narrative.'" His mouth warped around the phrase. "Which means he needs you to act the voiceless, devoted wife while they twirl whatever story makes Justin look least blameworthy."I backed away, glaring at the garden through the large windows. "I don't know how much more I can take, Aaron. Every room I enter, I'm the center of attention

The boardroom was more icy than usual, though maybe it was just me.I sat at the far end of the shiny table, feeling very much like a trespasser in a space full of men and women who had been managing the company for a long period of time. Their voices were stubby, weighed, but the tightness was undeniable.At the head of the table sat Mr. D’Cruz, his countenance sculpted from granite stone. Beside him was Aaron, unbent and reserved, as though he had been expecting a day like this. “Given Justin’s condition,” one of the Chief executors was saying, “we need a provisional leader to oversee the operations of the company. The shareholders are becoming concerned. If we don’t take action now, we risk a drop in trust — and stock prices.”“Justin will be back in no time,” Mr. D’Cruz said, though his tone lacked assurance.“With respect, sir,” another executor replied, “ we all want him to recover and get back but his recovery might take weeks or months, and let’s not forget about the police i

The storm outside had been busy all night, lightning shouting hard against the windows like the sky was restless. I too, on the other hand, was restless.Justin had contacted us again earlier, leaving a string of poisonous voicemails that Aaron eventually muted by turning my phone off completely. Dinner with Mr. and Mrs. D’Cruz had been noiseless and firm — Mrs. Margaret barely spoke to me, and Mr. D’Cruz didn’t utter a word.When I came back to my apartment, I couldn’t stop pacing about. Every nerve in my body felt fresh, connected too hard.Aaron knocked gently at the door before coming in without waiting for me to give him consent.You’re trembling,” he voiced softly, his eyes in search of my face.“I can’t continue this way,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “Waiting for him to hit again. Waiting for the next gossip, the next headline, the next threat—”Aaron crossed the room and walked towards me, taking my hands, grounding me. “Then stop waiting,” he said gently.I looked up at hi