Brotherzoned

a's

moment, I stared at it, steam from my tea curling up into the

la

let things rest for e

ething in me wanted to hear what he'd so

r and held the

name soft on his lip

of your business," I said f

Then a low chuckle,

id you ten grand to s

e straight for the

voice even. "My team finished ever

upposed to be there. You. I didn't hire your team. I

ind my eyes. "You thin

e. "Everything's about money, I

once told me he loved me. That same voice that used to wh

card," I said quietly. "Not

ately. "Don't do that. Don't mak

got married, Silas. Married. You walked down that aisle and said v

is time. "I didn't plan f

ck. "You just-what?-tripped

eavy with fake remorse. "Everything moved

ether for eight years, Silas. Eight. Years. And you couldn't f

victim in a play. "You're ac

ecause that's exactly what it loo

hifted, cooler now, defe

You're always looking for someone to b

don't marry someone overnight

You never were. You liked the fun. The thrill. You wanted me because of how I

an I wanted it to.

ou," I said slowly, "because I

at silence-god, that silence-was wo

"Don't turn this int

n-rage, begging, pain-but I hadn't imagined his voice sounding this calm, this

?" I whispered. "Becaus

about this. You walked out during the ceremony. It looked unprofessional. You can't do that.

muttered. "The 'I

at's not a tip. That's an investm

id me to work, not to stand there

d now. "You're making

me believe you still loved me, and then you made me work your weddi

ou hadn't been so dramatic about it, things wouldn't ha

I laughed. "Yo

n that dangerous calm tone he us

ul, it might. You walked out on a paid job. That's a breach o

shift. From love

voice, the one he used when h

tening me," I

d gets around that you walked off during a wedding, especially m

led. "You'd r

sla. During my vows. I had to improvise, smile through it while my guest

," I whispered. "You don

led like he pitied me. And t

back in. "I'm not asking for much. Refund part of the payment,

isbelief thick in my th

mes a problem," he said smoothly. "Because once this

nd him, the faint echo of laughter, like he

elievable,"

m practical. You can't gh

shaking. "You were my-" I stopped myself. The wor

ee? You're still mixing business and em

o myself than him. "And you still f

e replied, all calm control agai

e, the cooling tea leaves at the bottom, and finally said,

I'll talk to people. Pierce, Isabella's f

father in-law. The na

g Pierce i

. "Don't make me remind p

verything in me to say, "Goodbye, Silas," I said,

"You don't have much to lose, b

re he could sa

afterward wa

r face pale with fury. "He actually said that?

e's desperate to

alled into fists

tely. "That's what he w

ng herself onto the cou

d. "Where do I