Page 84 of Marrying His Brother

Daniel’s eyes widen, his brow furrowing. “Dead? But wasn’t he traveling?”

“That’s what I thought too,” I say bitterly. “But he’s been here the whole time, in a coma. Since before we even got married.”

Shock flashes across Daniel’s face. He shakes his head slowly. “A coma? And you didn’t know?”

I let out a humorless laugh, rubbing my hands over my face. “All these months. I was there, by her side, while she told me he was overseas, off on some trip. Meanwhile, he was here. Fighting to survive.” The words taste bitter. “And I didn’t even know.”

Daniel lets out a low whistle, taking it all in. “Wow. I don’t even know what to say.”

“Everything I thought I knew about her was a lie. How do I trust her now?”

Daniel leans forward, watching me carefully. “She must’ve had her reasons, Andrew. And you said they were following his wishes to keep it a secret. But yeah, it’s a hell of a thing to find out like this.” He pauses, searching my face. “You need a drink. Come on. I’ll keep you company.”

I nod, needing the break from my own spinning thoughts, and follow him as we head out to a nearby bar.

We find a quiet corner, away from the noise. I order a whiskey, while Daniel sticks to water.

As the amber liquid burns its way down, my mind turns back to Emily. “She should have told me, Daniel. I’m her husband. I should have been part of this.”

Daniel leans back, his face thoughtful. “Maybe she didn’t know how. Or maybe she thought you wouldn’t understand.”

I look up sharply. “Why wouldn’t I understand?”

Daniel shrugs. “The need for secrecy. I imagine she would have had to swear you to secrecy and knowing you, I don’t know if you would have agreed.”

“That’s not the kind of secret you keep. The man was in a coma. How can you keep that from people you consider family?”

Every time I think of the magnitude of the lie, it baffles me. I just don’t get it. Daniel is right. I would never have been party to such a lie.

I motion to the waiter for two double whiskies, draining them faster than I should. The alcohol hits my veins, my body warm and numb.

“Maybe you should get some water now,” Daniel says, eyeing me with concern.

I order two more doubles and drain them in less than five minutes. I’m probably getting drunk, but I don’t care. I just need something to numb the pain in my body.

“You’re slurring,” Daniel says at some point. “Seriously, get some water now.”

I laugh. “That’s you saying that I should get some water?”

Daniel doesn’t laugh. “Listen, I know what it feels like to use alcohol to cover up your pain or shame. Trust me bro, it doesn’t help. It makes everything a lot worse than it is and makes you do really stupid things.”

I stared at him incredulously. “What am I going to do? Go to Emily when she’s mourning her father and tell her what? That’s she’s a liar? An imposter? Cold hearted?”

A thought crosses my mind. Something I hadn’t thought of before. Another laugh leaves my mouth. “My she’s good. She had us all fooled. The only thing Emily is interested in saving is her father’s precious company.”

I grip Daniel’s hand. “What woman would agree to marry her fiancé’s brother after he ditched her?” I shake my head at how deep in the sand my head had been.

“I don’t think that’s fair,” Daniel starts to say.

“No, what’s not fair is how stupid I was,” I continue, then take a generous sip of my whiskey.

The pain is gone. I feel nothing.

“I’m guessing this is the wrong time to put some sense into you,” Daniel says with a sigh.

I shake my head, bitterness creeping in. “I was supposed to be there for her. To support her through anything. I thought we had that kind of marriage. But I’m nothing more than a stranger to her.”

Words leave my mouth without my brain filtering them. “She doesn’t even love me,” I mutter, barely coherent. “I was just convenient.”

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