His Half Brother Wants Me

Yolanda's POV

"I am proposing to Penelope soon."

Reed's words hit me square in the chest like a glacier, sending chills down my spine.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, unable to force the words out of my clogged brain.

Say something, Yolanda. Anything.

"Wow," was the only word I could manage after a torturous moment, as I stared at Reed from across the table, my heart heavy with despondency.

I had been in love with Reed for the past nine years, after I met him on my first day of high school.

Back then, he had been in his final year, and was the confident president of the photography club, and had come to my classroom to recruit new members.

Right there and then, I had developed an interest in photography.

"Let me show you something," He said, completely unaware of my inner turmoil.

"Okay," My voice came out as a croak, but Reed was busy rummaging through his drawer to even notice it.

So, this was what heartbreak felt like.

The most painful part of it was that Reed and I hadn't even dated, still yet it felt like a shrapnel was lodged in my chest.

I never even got a chance to confess to him.

I held my breath as he opened a small box, revealing the most beautiful diamond ring that I'd ever laid eyes on.

Just one look at it, and I could already tell that it was extremely expensive.

"It is beautiful," I chose to be truthful, "Penelope will definitely like it."

"I hope so." Reed replied, staring at the ring with utmost affection; a sight that made my stomach twist, "I'm really nervous, Yolanda."

After Reed graduated high school, I'd been inconsolable for days.

Then, I chose to move on, concluding he was just a high school crush, and I would meet the man of my dreams in college.

Only for fate to entwine our paths and cause us to meet again in college.

Instead of sticking to my initial resolve to move on, I decided to stand by him, waiting for the perfect chance to confess.

Even after he introduced sweet, blonde with blue eyes Penelope to me, as his girlfriend.

Maybe I did deserve to get heartbroken, given that I'd chosen to hover over someone else's man for years like a parasite.

"Don't be," I forced out after a while, "It will go well."

Four years ago when Penelope and Reed broke up, I had been the happiest person on earth, thinking I could finally use the opportunity to get closer to him.

I had started by volunteering at his small media company, even going across town everyday, after he graduated college, and moved its location.

Now that I thought about it, I'd really been pathetic.

I centered my life completely around him, even teaching myself how to take pictures via youtube videos, and saving my feeding allowance to buy a small digital camera.

However, on the very day I planned to finally confess to Reed, he had brought Penelope to work.

And without him saying a word to me, I knew they were back together.

Instead of moving on, I remained delusional, hoping he would one day leave Penelope for me.

After graduating college, he had employed me as a full time photographer in his company, which further boosted my morale to have him as my own.

"Thank you so much, Yolanda," Reed beamed, and his dimpled smile made my heart ache even more, "I don't know what I will do without you."

If only I had listened to my best friend, Zoey, when she told me to do away with my feelings for Reed, this wouldn't be happening to me.

But instead of that, I had told her off, which had caused an argument between us.

For several months, we didn't speak to each other, until my mum noticed it, and made us settle our differences.

"You are welcome," I said, standing up on shaky legs, "I need to get back to work now."

"Are you okay? You look pale." Reed's gaze brimmed with concern.

"How on earth was I supposed not to fall in love when you act like this?"

"Why do you have to care about me?" I thought bitterly, as I stared at his gorgeous blue eyes.

Swallowing the distasteful lump of tears in my throat, I nodded, "I am."

"Are you sure?" Reed stood up and walked around the table to me.

Looking up at him, especially with the lack of space between us, made me swoon.

Immediately, I reminded myself of Penelope.

Strangely enough, I had never felt guilty for being around Reed in the past.

It seemed the scales had finally fallen off my eyes, leading me to see how stupid and pathetic I'd been all along.

Any other woman would have been suspicious of how close Reed and I were, but she had never found a fault with it.

Had both of them known my intention, they would have cut ties with me.

Yes," I said, discreetly inhaling lungfuls of his leathery cologne one last time.

I couldn't continue hanging around Reed anymore.

I had to discover my own path in life.

Finding another man was completely out of it, because I knew I could never love another man like I loved him.

Were Reed standoffish and Penelope evil, I would have a valid reason to hate both of them, so I could easily move on.

Unfortunately, they were two of the purest people I knew.

Walking back to my office, I plopped onto my chair and finally switched on the waterworks.

I desperately hoped for the tears to wash away my pain away as I wept bitterly.

Shortly after, I got a grip and forced a tape on my shattered heart.

Then, I sat down at my desk and began to type my resignation letter.

To think I had never thought a day like this would ever come, because I had stupidly assumed that Reed and I would eventually get together.

As I perused the resignation letter one more time, my throat hooked with knots, a knock came on the door.

I quickly hid the letter before answering, "Who is there?"

"Yolanda, it's me," Reed's gravelly voice came, prompting the alarms in my head to go haywire.

"One minute please!" I yelled, ransacking my bag for a reflective object.

I found my pocket mirror, and the sight that I beheld was completely horrible.

Why would Reed come by right after my weeping session?

Since I'd brought no makeup product to work, I decided to just hope for the best.

"Woah, what happened to you? Have you been crying?" Reed exclaimed when he saw me, after I told him to enter.

"My allergies are acting up," I fibbed, and his brows furrowed.

"But you don't have any." He said, which made my breath hitch.

I had almost forgotten how well Reed knew me.

"It's not an allergy per se," I tried to salvage my lie, "Just a reaction to a medication."

"Have you complained to the doctor?" Reed asked, causing me to almost break down in tears.

I hated that he cared, because it only heightened my love for him, which was horrifyingly dangerous now.

"Yes, I did. Don't worry, I'm fine," I lied.

"Ensure that you complain again though," He said, "I'm off to the airport. Penelope just landed."

Oh.

By soon, he had meant today.

"Okay," I said, forcing a polite mask over my face, "Give her my regards."

Flashing a smile at me, which fluttered my heart, Reed nodded, "I will."

I was racking my brain on how I'd present the resignation letter to Reed, when my phone chimed with a call.

Looking at the screen, I saw my mum's name.

I swiped to answer, "Hel-"

A stranger's frantic voice cut me off.

"Yolanda, please come to the hospital right now. Your mother has collapsed."