consequence of desire

chapter 4: A brother's pride

Franklyn had barely taken his jacket off when Daniel barged into his office the next afternoon. The heavy oak door swung wide, and Daniel dropped onto the leather chair opposite Franklyn’s desk like he owned the place.

“You’re not going to believe this,” Daniel said, grinning so wide it was almost ridiculous.

Franklyn set his pen down and leaned back. “You say that every time you walk in here.”

“No, this time I mean it. Eliana—” Daniel’s voice softened, the grin turning almost shy. “She’s different. I think… she might be the one.”

Franklyn raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t I heard that before?”

“Not like this,” Daniel shot back, shaking his head. “With her, I actually want to grow up. She makes me want to be better, steady. Can you imagine me, steady?”

Franklyn allowed the corner of his mouth to twitch — almost a smile. “Barely.”

Daniel laughed, unbothered. “You’ll see. You’ll understand when you know her better.” He leaned forward, suddenly serious. “I’m going to propose.”

Franklyn’s hand stilled against the arm of his chair. For a heartbeat, silence filled the office, broken only by the muffled hum of traffic outside.

“Propose,” Franklyn repeated.

“Yes.” Daniel’s grin returned, bigger than before. “I’m going to ask her to marry me. And I want you there when I do it. Best man, naturally.”

Franklyn forced himself to nod, to breathe evenly. “Of course.” His voice sounded steady, even to him, though something heavy pressed against his chest.

Daniel leaned back in the chair, folding his arms behind his head, completely unaware of the storm his words had stirred. “She’s going to say yes. I can feel it. And when she does, it’s going to change everything for me.”

Franklyn turned slightly toward the window, hiding his expression in the gray wash of the city skyline. He told himself it was nothing more than a brother’s duty, to support Daniel, to keep the family whole. But as Daniel went on about candlelit dinners and diamond rings, Franklyn couldn’t ignore the flicker of something sharp, unwelcome, and undeniably real deep inside him.

By the time Daniel left the office, still grinning, Franklyn had convinced himself of one thing: whatever this… pull toward Eliana was, it had to be buried. For Daniel’s sake. For his own.

And yet, as the door clicked shut, Franklyn sat in silence, staring at the empty chair his brother had just left. For the first time in years, he felt like his carefully ordered world had begun to c***k.