Chapter 7: The Brother Who Held the Missing Piece
Nathan arrived twenty minutes later.
Nobody spoke while his car rolled through the open garden gates.
The wedding decorations moved gently in the evening breeze. The flowers that had looked beautiful under the afternoon sun now seemed almost abandoned.
The guests were gone.
The music had stopped.
Only the people carrying the weight of the truth remained.
Marcus stood near the entrance, watching his brother step out of the car.
For most of his life, Nathan had been the person Marcus trusted most.
When their father died, Nathan was the one who taught him how to run the family business.
When Marcus failed his first major deal, Nathan was the one who told him failure didn’t define him.
When Marcus met Brielle, Nathan was the one who smiled and said:
“She’s different. Don’t lose someone like that.””
Now Marcus couldn’t stop thinking about those words.
Because maybe Nathan wasn’t warning him.
Maybe he was protecting himself.
Nathan walked closer.
His expression was tired.
Not guilty.
Not angry.
Just exhausted.
“Marcus.””
Marcus didn’t move.
“Don’t.””
Nathan stopped.
“I know you’re angry.””
“You have no idea.””
Nathan looked down.
“You’re right.””
That answer surprised Marcus.
“You knew about her.””
“Yes.””
The honesty hit harder than any excuse.
Marcus laughed quietly.
“You’re not even going to deny it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
Nathan looked toward Brielle.
Then toward Evelyn.
“Because lies are what brought us here.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You helped her.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she was married.””
Nathan hesitated.
“Yes.””
Marcus shook his head.
“How long were you planning to let me walk into this?””
“I wasn’t.””
“Really?””
Nathan looked at him.
“I tried to stop it.””
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“When?””
Nathan reached into his coat and pulled out his phone.
He opened a message.
A message sent three days before the wedding.
To Evelyn.
*I found something about Brielle. We need to talk before Marcus marries her.*
Marcus stared at the screen.
“You knew three days ago?””
Nathan nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Mom asked me not to.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
The disappointment on his face was immediate.
Evelyn looked away.
“She thought she could handle it.””
Nathan continued.
“She wanted proof before destroying your wedding.””
Marcus shook his head.
“My wedding was already destroyed.””
Nobody argued.
Nathan looked at Brielle.
“I never wanted this.””
Brielle’s expression hardened.
“You knew what would happen if you told him.””
Nathan looked at her.
“Yes.””
“And you still almost did.””
“I should have.””
The answer caught her off guard.
Marcus noticed.
There was history between them.
More than he understood.
“You two need to stop talking like I’m not standing here.””
Nathan looked at him.
“You deserve the truth.””
“Then give it to me.””
Nathan took a deep breath.
“Four years ago, Brielle came to me because she needed help.””
Marcus waited.
“She was running from Daniel.””
Brielle nodded slightly.
Nathan continued.
“She told me Daniel had ruined her life. She said she needed money to disappear.””
Marcus looked at Brielle.
“Did you?””
She whispered:
“Yes.””
“Did you ask Nathan for money?””
“Yes.””
Nathan added quietly:
“But that wasn’t all.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
Nathan opened his phone again.
This time, he showed Marcus a bank transfer.
The amount was large.
Very large.
Marcus frowned.
“What is this?””
“The money I gave her.””
Brielle closed her eyes.
Marcus looked between them.
“You gave her that much?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Nathan’s face tightened.
“Because I believed her.””
Marcus stared.
“And then?””
Nathan looked at Brielle.
“Then I found out she wasn’t just running from Daniel.””
Brielle whispered:
“Nathan, don’t.””
Marcus turned.
“What wasn’t she telling you?””
Nathan didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation said everything.
“Tell me.””
Nathan looked at Marcus.
“She was pregnant.””
The world seemed to stop.
Marcus blinked.
“What?””
Brielle’s face went pale.
Marcus slowly turned toward her.
“You were pregnant?””
She shook her head.
“Marcus…”
“When?””
Her silence answered.
Nathan looked away.
“Four years ago.””
Marcus felt like he couldn’t breathe.
Four years ago.
Before their first date.
Before their relationship.
Before everything.
“Daniel’s child?””
Brielle started crying.
“Yes.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
He didn’t know what emotion he felt anymore.
Anger.
Confusion.
Pain.
All of it blended together.
“Where is the child?””
Nobody spoke.
That frightened him more.
“Where is the child?””
Brielle whispered:
“She died.””
Marcus looked at her.
The anger in his face softened slightly.
“What?””
“She was born too early.””
Her voice broke.
“I lost her.””
The garden became quiet again.
Nathan looked at Marcus.
“That’s why I helped her.””
Marcus stared at Brielle.
“Then why hide it?””
She wiped her tears.
“Because I was afraid you would see me differently.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You mean you were afraid I would know your past.””
“Yes.””
“And instead you let me build my future on a lie.””
She had no answer.
Nathan stepped forward.
“There’s more.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Of course there is.””
Nathan lowered his voice.
“Daniel knew about the pregnancy.””
Brielle looked at him.
“Stop.””
“He knew.””
Marcus frowned.
“What are you saying?””
Nathan looked at Brielle.
“She wasn’t only running from Daniel.””
Marcus waited.
“She was running because Daniel blamed her for the baby’s death.””
Brielle’s tears fell faster.
“He became dangerous.””
Nathan nodded.
“And that’s where the story should have ended.””
“But it didn’t,” Marcus said.
Nathan looked at him.
“No.””
A cold feeling moved through Marcus.
“What happened next?””
Nathan looked at Evelyn.
Then back at Marcus.
“Brielle came into your life.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Coincidence?””
May you like
Nobody answered.
And that silence terrified him.
