Page 12 of Marrying His Brother

I hold up my hands in mock surrender, grinning, “Noted.”

Chapter 6: Emily

“Have you completely lost your mind?” my usually mild-mannered mother screams down the phone, her voice so loud I instinctively flinch.

This is definitely not the conversation I wanted to have right now. I’d been putting off telling my mother for as long as I could, but when Andrew mentioned today that he told his parents and they were on board with it, I realized I couldn’t wait any longer. The last thing I need is for her to hear it from someone else—like Andrew’s mother. So here I am, driving to Andrew’s house, having the worst possible conversation, at the worst possible time.

My fiancé—I have to get used to thinking of Andrew as my fiancé—hadn’t even flinched when he broke the news to his parents. The word fiancé still feels strange on my tongue, even if this marriage is purely business.

Not that my mother cares, but, I must admit that telling her over the phone is probably not my best idea. And yet, here we are.

“Mom, calm down,” I say, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter as I navigate the streets. “It’s the same thing I was doing with Daniel.”

Even as the words leave my mouth, I cringe internally. I know it’s a weak defense. My mind scrambles for something better, but what else am I supposed to say? At the end of the day, it is the same arrangement—it just happens to be with a different Bennett.

“That’s your defense?” she snaps, her voice still elevated, disbelief laced with every syllable. “Andrew is Daniel’s brother! You don’t know anything about him! Daniel was a friend!”

“For the record, I was never intimate with Daniel.” The very idea makes nausea swirl in my belly. “I never even kissed him.” I can’t believe I’m saying all this to my mother. Too much information.

But, I care what she thinks, and I’d hate for her to go around thinking she has a sick husband and a slut for a daughter.

“That is not what is worrying me,” Mom says. “They are brothers at the end of the day.”

I wince, knowing she’s not wrong. “It’s a business arrangement, Mom,” I say for what feels like the hundredth time. “Andrew’s family needs this just as much as we do. It’s practical, and it’s the only way to save the hotels.”

“You’re playing with fire.”

I bite my lip, trying to stay calm as I merge into traffic. “I’m not playing with anything. It’s a simple agreement, nothing more. We both get what we want, and that’s it.”

“And what about your happiness?” she presses, her voice gentler now but no less worried. “Are you really willing to marry someone for the sake of the business? What would your father say?”

I feel a pang in my chest at the mention of dad. I know exactly what he’d say—he’d want me to find another way, a better solution that doesn’t involve sacrificing my future. But the reality is, I don’t have time for that.

“I’m doing what needs to be done, Mom. I don’t have any other options. If I don’t go through with this, everything Dad built will crumble. It’s just a year and then I’m free. It will all be over and Riviera will be safe, stable, and have a promising future again.” We’ve had this conversation so many times that the words just flow seamlessly from my mouth.

There’s a long pause on the other end of the line, and I know my mother’s struggling with what to say next. She’s always been protective, always the one to tell me to think about my choices. But right now, there’s no other choice and the ink on the paper is already dry. We’re having this wedding.

“I just don’t want you to lose yourself in this, Emily,” she says finally, her voice quiet, but I can hear the pain there. “Don’t let him change who you are.”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to focus on the road instead of the knot tightening in my stomach. “I won’t. Andrew knows this is business. He’s not trying to change anything. We’re in this together, and we both know what we’re getting into.”

“Alright,” she sighs, the sound heavy with reluctance. “Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself. And if it gets to be too much, don’t be afraid to walk away.”

“I promise, Mom,” I say, my voice softer now. “I’ll be okay.”

I end the call just as I turn onto Andrew’s street, his house coming into view for the first time. It’s large and imposing. I expected nothing less. It has a beauty to it though, a sort of rugged example of wealth, not too overbearing or in your face, but definitely well-maintained.

As I pull into the driveway, I take a deep breath. I can still hear my mother’s words swirling around in my mind, her concerns lingering in the air like a shadow. But, I push them aside.

This is business. Nothing more. I can handle this. I have to handle this.

The gate opens automatically, gliding aside as if expecting me. The front lawn is impeccable, manicured to perfection, with lush green grass and flowers that look like they were arranged by a professional. Of course, they probably were.

Everything about this place screams control, order, and wealth—just like Andrew himself.

I park the car as the front door opens.

Andrew steps out, and before I can even process what’s happening, two enormous dogs bound out after him. They’re huge, barking excitedly, and circling my car with such energy that fear surges through me.

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