Chapter 11
Chapter 11
“Ah! I need to go home, Jonathan,” Laura blurted out suddenly, her eyes darting to her phone again. She stood up quickly, grabbing her things in a flurry of motion. “I have somewhere to go today.”
Jonathan blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, already?” he asked, but before he could say much else, Laura was already halfway to the door.
“See you later!” she called over her shoulder, flashing him a quick smile before rushing outside. Jonathan watched as she waved down a cab, his hand halfway raised in a futile attempt to stop her.
As the cab pulled away, Jonathan sat back down, a strange, hollow feeling settling in his chest. The coffee in front of him went untouched, cooling rapidly as he stared at the spot where Laura had been just moments before.
Jonathan stabbed his fork into the steak on his plate, the sharp clink of metal on ceramic echoing in the otherwise silent dining room. The atmosphere was intense, as usual, during family dinners–his father at the head of the table, his mother seated next to him, and Tabitha across from Jonathan with her face gleaming in anticipation. The only sound that filled the space was the faint clattering of utensils, the weight of unsaid words pressing on Jonathan’s chest.
Then, the silence broke.
“How was your travel, Nathaniel?” Mr. Reed’s deep voice carried across the table, directed toward his eldest son.
Jonathan stiffened, keeping his gaze focused on his plate.
Of course, he thought bitterly. The golden child.
Nathaniel who was ever composed, slowly set down his utensils and dabbed his mouth with a napkin, his expression soft and refined. “It was good, dad. I’ve been excited to finally be home.” His voice was smooth, calm, everything Jonathan’s
wasn’t.
Tabitha, always eager for attention, grinned and chimed in. “Did you get me souvenirs, brother?” she asked, her tone playful, full of the spoiled innocence she could afford as the youngest.
Nathaniel chuckled, his perfect older brother charm never wavering. “I could never forget you, Tabitha.” His gaze then flicked over to Jonathan, his smile steady but more cautious. “You too, little brother.
Jonathan’s jaw clenched. He could feel all eyes shift to him, but he didn’t lift his head. He just stabbed at his food harder. “Why did you come here, really?” Jonathan’s voice came out sharper than he intended, slicing through the polite atmosphere like a blade. His question caught everyone off guard, especially Nathaniel. Jonathan finally looked up, meeting his brother’s eyes with a cold glare. “Did you come back to take over dad’s company? I thought you weren’t interested in Dad’s wealth.”
The room tensed immediately, Tabitha’s smile fading as Mrs. Reed glanced nervously at her husband. Mr. Reed instantly shot a warning look in Jonathan’s direction, his voice barely contained.
“Jonathan.”
But Nathaniel, ever the saint, raised his hand with his smile unwavering. “It’s okay, dad.” He looked at Jonathan with an almost pitying expression. “I’m not planning to take over the company. We already talked about it.” His eyes softened as he spoke. “I want you to handle it, little brother. After all, I’m getting married soon. I have other responsibilities to take care of.”
At his words, a stunned silence immediately filled the room.
“Married?!” Tabitha exclaimed, her excitement returning in full force. “To who?! Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Her voice was eager, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Chapter 1
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Mrs. Reed, too, looked stunned but quickly beamed with pride. “Oh, my goodness, Nathaniel. That’s wonderful news! Who’s
the lucky girl?”
And Mr. Reed, for the first time that night, smiled genuinely, leaning forward. “How did you?
Jonathan felt his stomach twist as Nathaniel paused. His older brother hesitated for a brief second, his gaze flicking toward
Jonathan before he spoke. The motion was so small, it was barely noticeable to anyone else, but Jonathan caught it. His grip
tightened around his knife.
“We met a long time ago,” Nathaniel finally said, his voice laced with warmth. “She wasn’t interested in me at first, but her
father contacted me and mentioned her. I agreed immediately. She’s… one of a kind.”
Nathaniel’s words hung in the air, filled with affection, but Jonathan kept his focus on his plate, his stomach churning.
Of course, he thought bitterly. Nathaniel comes back and everything revolves around him. Again.
He could feel the weight of his family’s admiration directed entirely at Nathaniel–the golden son, the successful one, the one who always made them proud. Meanwhile, Jonathan was just… there, a shadow that never quite measured up.
As his family marveled over Nathaniel’s engagement and bombarded him with questions, Jonathan’s thoughts began to drift. No matter what he did, he could never escape his brother’s shadow.
His knuckles whitened as he gripped his fork, the sound of his family’s happy chatter fading into the background. All Jonathan could hear was the pounding of his own heart.
Mrs. Reed leaned forward as a proud smile spread across her face, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she absorbed Nathaniel’s news. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” she asked, her voice brimming with pride and joy. It was clear that the idea of her eldest son finally bringing home a daughter–in–law filled her with deep satisfaction.
Nathaniel smiled warmly at her, a hint of apology in his expression. “That’s why I flew here, mom. I wanted to tell you in person.” He paused, glancing at the faces around the table. “I need your help with the arrangements. I’ll be announcing our engagement in two days, and I thought we could have a humble party to celebrate.”
The table buzzed with excitement. Mrs. Reed clasped her hands together, practically glowing with pride. Mr. Reed’s face softened into a pleased smile, clearly happy with the news. Tabitha, of course, couldn’t contain her excitement and immediately began peppering Nathaniel with questions about the party and his fiancée.
But Jonathan sat in silence, his jaw tightening as he absorbed his brother’s words. Two days… He could feel his chest tightening again. So this is why he came back. His mind raced with thoughts of the impending engagement, and the attention Nathaniel would continue to steal. He forced himself to keep calm, even as the weight of his brother’s presence pressed down on him more than ever.
