Page 80 of Bad Boy Billionaire Protector

“Well, son. You seem to have found yourself a very fine woman. She’s lovely.”

“I have.”

“It’s a pity, the circumstances, what with Adam and all that…”

“The whole thing was a clusterfuck, Dad. I didn’t expect to fall in love with her or for her to fall for me.”

“I know. I just worry about your brother. He’s not as tough as he makes out.”

“I feel bad every day for what I did to him.”

“Well, you’ll get your chance to talk to him more. Sort it all out with him properly. He’ll come round to the idea soon enough. He’s going back to university next year so he’ll no doubt find someone new. The boy has always been able to attract the ladies. Besides, I want to make it clear that this shouldn’t break up our family unit. We’re strong and we have a lot of love for each other and I think that love should be the priority right now. For all of us. Including Amber.”

“Do you really like her, Dad?”

“She’s wonderful. Bright and sweet. I can tell you both fit perfectly with each other. She’ll make you a fine wife.”

“I know.” I smiled with pleasure.

“She looks radiant.” I turned around to see Adam standing behind me. This was the first time he’d spoken to me since he punched me in the face at the hospital. He looked healthy. Strong, tanned, as though the winter sun had done him some good. I knew he’d been out here since that day at the hospital and it was clear he had been working on himself.

“She looks happier than I’ve ever seen her.” He looked out the window, where he could see Amber chatting with mom and Hermione. There was a pensive look on his face.

I turned to pick a bottle of wine and then faced Adam. “I know this must be really hard for you…”

He held up his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to hit you or anything like that.

“That’s a relief.”

“You really seem to make her happy. I’m glad she’s found someone who will look after her the way she deserves.”

I stared at Adam, unsure of what I was hearing. It sounded like he was coming round to the idea of me and Amber being together.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to forgive you entirely for taking my girl, but if the best thing to come out of all of this crap is that Amber is happy, then I’m happy.”

“You really did love her.”

He nodded his head, swallowed hard and looked me in the eye with a hint of sadness. “Yes. I did.”

We stood in silence for a moment.

Then I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him hard for a long time. Pulling back, I didn’t say anything. There wasn’t really anything more I could say. I fell in love with his girlfriend. She loved me back. We were getting married. I was a shitty brother to him but my love for Amber was too powerful. I want to say that I would’ve done things differently but I could never give her up. Adam was the unfortunate victim out of all of this and it was just going to take time to heal and recover. Being forgiven for my egregious violation of brotherly code was too much to ask for.

Holding him by the shoulder, I said quietly, “I love you, bro.”

Nodding with a sad smile, he replied, “I love you, too.”

After a few seconds of silence, he joked, “Uh, just don’t expect me to be your best man at your wedding,” he joked.

“Ha! Don’t worry. Andrew’s got that duty. He doesn’t know it yet. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to make the best man’s speech.”

“He must have a lot of dirt on you.”

“He sure does,” I grimaced.

We both laughed and went back through to the garden where everyone was eating and laughing. I looked at Amber with my family and smiled. She really did look happy. Deep inside, I knew everything was going to be all right.

Epilogue – Amber

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