A Night With My Brother-In-Law

id

He moved swiftly, tucking himself into the shadows just as the door cr

something unreadable. He ran a hand through his hair, his suit still slightly wrinkled fr

own. This wasn't the first time he disappeared without warning, only to return with an

dying him for any sign of guilt. But Dick was a professional liar. He had perfe

he pulled off his tie, ready to undress.

lace

k it up, stuffing it back into his pocket like nothing had happ

oked

ers tilting my chin upward,

rogance. "It shouldn't mean anything, though. After all, I

my sides. There it was-the constant reminder that this marriage was n

oward the kitchen. I needed a distraction, somethin

d into the livi

itting on

u doing here, Paul?" I hissed. "

x," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "This isn't my first time h

only made my anxiety worse. Did he not realize how dang

else, a sharp voice sliced t

e you tw

air

lickered between me and Paul. She was wearing a fitted desi

d her approach. But that was Victoria-she mo

ed, his express

hard. "What

"There's something off about the

se qui

ad no

n from last night still clung to me, suffocating and undeniable. But it wasn't

o

ught was

digging into my palms. "You'

darkene

tone. As if she had already decided the truth

give her that

d, my voice firm but laced with frustration.

the sound echoing like a warning. "I wonder how Dick would fee

ran down

threat

to let her see my fear. "

rned. "Simple.

d. "You

said smoothly. "But you... you're in

ou might be his brother, but that doesn't make you untou

ready turned away, walking out of the room with the gr

at followed wa

d sharply.

stomach twist

ng to make sense of everything. But a

ng the edge of the

ly filled with concern. He reac

m f

I wa

. At first, I thought it was stress. The anxiety of this ent

o

n't po

s shut, forcing m

rs since that night. And I

n't po

was it. The stress, the sleepless nig

, but I heard the worry in it.

ead. "No. It

id the words, do

it wasn'

as I pressed them

n't be

t

like

e if I

baby w

h. No. I refused to

s just

ing

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