All Chapters of Marrying My Ex’s Older Brother: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“Shut up.” Julian's voice cut through Adrian's shouting. “I'll deal with you later.”He lifted Vanessa into his arms, careful of her injured hand, and turned toward the door.“Keep them here,” he told the men outside.Adrian was still talking when Julian carried her away. She pressed her lips together and held her hand away from his jacket. Even the slight movement of walking sent pain across the burn.In the treatment room, a doctor cooled her hand under running water. Julian stayed beside her through the examination, watching her face whenever she flinched. By the time the doctor applied ointment and a sterile dressing, her forehead was damp with sweat.“Bring her back if it blisters or the skin starts to peel,” the doctor said.Julian nodded. Daniel followed the doctor out, leaving them alone.“Does it still hurt?” Julian asked.“It's better.”Vanessa sat on the edge of the examination bed. Her knees ached, and she was exhausted, but underneath that exhaustion was an anger she coul

In the car, Vanessa let her shoulders relax for the first time that afternoon.“Thank you for helping me.”Julian turned toward her. The late sunlight fell across his face as he reached over and lightly brushed her hair back.“I told you I'd be there.”She looked at him a moment too long.It wasn't as though she hadn't known he was handsome. She had simply never sat this close to him, with his hand resting near hers and his attention entirely on her.She looked out the window and smoothed a crease in her skirt.They might have married for practical reasons, but Julian had given her more reassurance in a few days than Adrian had in five years.When they reached Hawthorne House, she went upstairs ahead of him. Halfway up, she remembered something she wanted to say and turned.“I meant to tell you—”He was closer than she expected. She bumped into him, her mouth brushing the corner of his.Startled, she stepped back and missed the edge of the stair.Julian caught her around the waist. Hi

Vanessa worked at the living-room table, her laptop open beside a stack of notes. The burn made some movements awkward, but she could still type.The household staff had returned from their break. Martha brought her a plate of cut fruit and set it within reach.“Have something to eat, Mrs. Ashford.”“Thank you, Martha.”“And tell us if you need anything. Most of us have worked for the family for years. We've never seen Mr. Ashford fuss over anyone like this.”Vanessa glanced up from her screen.“People change, I suppose. He wasn't always so nice to me.”Martha smiled as though Vanessa had said something amusing.“He was away for three years, but I watched him grow up. He's never been one to show much. If he's looking after you like this, there's a reason.”Vanessa returned her attention to the script. Martha was reading too much into it. Being considerate didn't necessarily mean Julian had feelings for her.Around four, an old university class representative called. Their school was h

“Vanessa can do better than Adrian,” Bianca said. “You can have him.”She pushed Natalie's shoulder, making her stumble back a step.“What's the matter? Aren't there any other men in the city?”The sales assistant near the counter had stopped pretending not to listen. Natalie saw her expression and flushed.“Don't talk about me like that.”She swung at Bianca.Vanessa caught her wrist and pushed it away.“She hasn't said anything you don't already know. Remember three years ago?”Natalie went rigid.Karla missed the change in her face.“You're both disgusting,” she snapped. “You've always been jealous of Nat. Adrian was right to leave you.”Bianca slapped her.The sound carried across the shop. Karla pressed a hand to her cheek, then threw herself at Bianca.They collided beside the display. Bianca's judo training settled the struggle quickly: within seconds, Karla was on the floor with Bianca holding her down.Customers began gathering by the entrance. Natalie glared at Vanessa, but

Bianca picked her up for the fundraiser on the third day.The university had set up an outdoor stage and rows of chairs across the grounds. Music played beneath the conversations of former students greeting old friends and exchanging business cards.Near the stage, the university president was talking to a group of alumni. Vanessa and Bianca waited for a gap to greet him.“Vanessa Bennett and Bianca Turner,” he said, smiling. “Still together, I see.”“You remember us?” Bianca asked.“You were inseparable. And Vanessa, your pursuit of Adrian was rather hard to miss.”Vanessa managed a smile.People still thought of it that way. Four years of her following Adrian around, trying to persuade him to love her.They had already been dating. He simply hadn't wanted to acknowledge it publicly. He'd said he needed to build his career first so he could give her a proper marriage. She had believed him, moved into an apartment of her own to see him more easily, and arranged her life around his.On