Chapter 12%
The morning air in Switzerland was crisp and quiet, and for the first time in weeks, I felt well–rested.”
I stretched in bed, the golden sunlight peeking through the sheer curtains. The memory of yesterday’s date with Zack lingered warmly in my mind like honey in tea. He made me laugh again, made me feel like a woman who could be loved, cherished–not used or broken.
The doorbell rang.”
I blinked and glanced at the clock. Barely 7 a.m.”
I padded to the window, still in my soft robe, and peeked out. A black car. Tall figure.
A grin tugged at my lips.
Zack.
He probably brought breakfast. He always did like surprises. I ran a quick hand through my hair, tightened the belt of my robe, and padded to the door.
“Zack,” I said with a smile as I opened it.
But it wasn’t Zack.]
It was Brent.
Cold, angry. Standing like a storm waiting to explode.
His eyes swept over me, then narrowed.
“Zack?” His voice was razor–sharp. “You’re expecting Zack?“}}
My heart dropped. I immediately tried to close the door, but he stepped forward, holding it in place.
“You have someone with you now?” he asked again, harsher this time. “Did you move on that quickly, Layla?“?
I shoved the door harder. “It’s none of your business.”
His hand blocked the door.
“Layla–please, don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what, Brent?” I hissed. “Not answer the door to the man who threw me aside like garbage? Or not apologize to the man who let his twisted little obsession ruin our marriage?“>
He flinched.
I tried to slam the door again, but this time, he forced his way in. The door crashed against the wall behind it, and I took a step back, fury rising in my chest like fire.>
“Get out!” I shouted.
“No. Not until you hear me out.“>
“You don’t get to just show up here like this-”
“You’re seeing someone?” he cut in again, his voice hoarse. “Zack? Really? What–you run into his arms the second I turned my back?”
I laughed–laughed, because it was either that or break something. “You think this is about revenge? About making you jealous? You made it clear I meant nothing to you, Brent. You treated me like a placeholder. You let Celeste humiliate me, and now you want to come here and act like I owe you explanations?”
He looked at me, jaw clenched, chest rising and falling fast.”
“I never stopped loving you,” he said quietly.
Those words. I hated that they still made my heart ache.
I crossed my arms tightly. “You didn’t love me, Brent. You loved controlling me. You loved the version of me that stayed quiet and accepted being second best.”
“That’s not true,” he whispered, stepping closer. “I was a coward. I didn’t understand… I didn’t realize how much damage I was doing.”
I backed away, feeling my voice shake. “I begged you. I cried in front of you. And you walked away every single time.”
“I thought I was protecting you-”
“No,” I snapped, eyes burning. “You were protecting her. Always her.“}]
His shoulders slumped. “I was wrong.”
Silence.
Heavy. Bitter. Cold.”
“I came to bring you home,” he said. “My father… he saw the divorce papers. I didn’t say anything to him, because I didn’t know what to say. All I knew was–I needed to see you again. To fix what I broke.“>
I stared at him. This man who once held my heart in his hand and crushed it like glass. He looked wrecked. Disheveled. Lost.
But I wasn’t that girl anymore–the one who lived on breadcrumbs and excuses.
“There’s nothing left to fix, Brent,” I said softly. “You made your choices.“{!
“I miss you,” he said, voice cracking. “I miss your laugh. Your scent. The way you’d scold me for forgetting my umbrella. I miss the way you used to look at me like I wasn’t a monster.“}
He was shaking now.!!
handon My Husband who Only loves His Stepsister
1/2 47.9%
“I don’t sleep,” he admitted. “I see your face everywhere. I messed everything up–I know that–but please, Layla… give me one more chance. Just one. I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
Tears pricked my eyes.
“I loved you so much it almost killed me,” I whispered. “And now… I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
We stood there in the silence, hearts torn open. I saw it in his eyes–the regret, the longing–but also the guilt. The weight of everything he’d done. And a part of me… a small, fragile part, wanted to reach out.”
But I didn’t move.
Then-
“Get away from my sister!“N
Lucas.N
He stormed into the hallway like a hurricane, his eyes blazing with fury.
Brent barely turned when–N
CRACK.
Lucas’s fist collided with Brent’s jaw so hard it echoed through the foyer. Brent staggered back, his lip split, a stunned look on his face. “That’s for hurting my sister,” Lucas growled. “For making her feel worthless. For not showing up when she needed you the most.” Brent didn’t fight back. He just stood there, bleeding, eyes locked on me.”
“I deserved that,” he said quietly.
Lucas turned to me, voice softer now. “Are you okay?“M
I nodded. Just barely.
Brent looked at me once more–so full of something I didn’t know if I could ever forgive–and then he turned to leave.”
“I’ll wait,” he murmured. “However long it takes. I’ll wait.”
And with that, he walked out, leaving behind silence… and the shattered pieces of a love I wasn’t sure I wanted to put back together.
