Falling For My Enemy’s Brother

Episode 3

Flora’s POV

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I dragged my legs away from the hallway, forcing my legs to hold up as I tried walking normally so the maids wouldn’t give me weird glances…not like they cared to begin with.

By the time I got to the door, it had become more difficult to keep up the pretense, and as I reached out to hold the door knob, it came rushing back to me

I had spent most of my life crushing hardly on Arthur Stone.

Like when I was ten years old and I would find joy in following him around the estate and watching with googly eyes while he spoke with his tutors, and when mom would ask me why? I’d simply say I wanted to be near him.

And even if he rarely spoke to me unless it was necessary, it still excited every fiber in me whenever hed ask me to keep quiet or whenever he told me how much I sounded like a squirrel and it irritated.

Contrary to what mom and everyone else thought, things didn't change even when we got older just slightly different because now I waited for him after his meetings with other and what ever food I could make only to get his signature nod and occasional, “Thank you, Flora,”

I thought that meant something.

I thought patience meant loyalty and loyalty meant love, but now I had come to the painful realization that it also meant convenience and not the good kind.

The sound of a notification brought me back to my senses and between you and I? I shouldn’t really have looked at it but then old habits never die do they?

If I was not inside the house where he expected me to be, he would notice.

Part of me wanted to go back. Part of me wanted to walk straight into the study and say, “I heard everything.” I imagined his face staying calm. I imagined him explaining it in a logical way.

He would probably say, “You misunderstood.”

Or he would say, “This is how the world works.”

Or maybe he would not explain at all.

Maybe he would simply look at me and ask, “What did you expect?”

I stopped walking for a moment.

What did I expect?

had expected him to care. Expected that proving we were compatible meant he wanted a future with me. But standing here, I realized it didn’t…I meant nothing to him

Mindlessly, my hand pressed against my stomach as tears soaked my face, I didn’t need anyone to tell me that I looked like I had come out from a horror movie with the way the mascara made my tears black

I couldn’t help but think about the perfect speech i had made on how i was going to tell him about the baby, how for once I would reach the part of him that was human.

Now, standing in front of the gate I realized his expression would not have changed at all.

He had already planned for this and I was done playing the exact role he wanted me to.

Swallowing the bile that had slowly built inside of me , I pushed the gate open and hailed the first taxi

I appreciated the cab driver for not asking too much questions and letting me wallow in my self pity.

Now I couldn’t help but wonder if he too chose me because I was safe and predictable.

This time I decided to look at my phone that had been vibrating non stop in my bag, seeing his name alongside tons of emojis I had used.

I rolled my eyes to the roof before stuffing it back into my bag.

“I’ll be fine here,” I gestured to the cab driver, unsure if it was safe to let him know my exact address.

By the time I reached my apartment, it had already gotten really dark outside. My hands trembled as I unlocked the door and stepped inside, muddy shoes leaving dark smudges on the floor. I sank to the ground as soon as the door clicked shut…and then my phone rang.

“Where are you?” His voice rang almost immediately from the other end. I didn’t miss how irritated and pissed he sounded.

“I left,” I said.

“Left where?”

“Home.”

He groaned into the phone, “what do you mean left flora? The announcement has not been made yet.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you leave?”

I closed my eyes. I could hear muffled voices from his end, probably guests beginning to arrive.

“I heard you,” I said quietly.

Another pause.

“Heard what?” he asked.

“Everything Arthur. Tell me for how long were you willing to pretend that you had feelings for me?”

“Did no one ever tell you that eavesdropping was considered rude?”

“That is what you are concerned about?” I asked.

“You misunderstood the context,” he said.

“Did I misunderstand the part where you called me a….” I lost my voice mid sentence , the sobs were beginning to make their way to my throat

“Breeding vessel” I managed, taking deep breaths to steady myself

“You are emotional right now,” he said finally. “We can discuss this later.”

“Classic.” muttered beneath my breath. “What exactly was I expecting?” It was Arthur Stone.

“You are overreacting.” He added

“Am I?”

“This marriage benefits you as well,” he said. “You know that.”

I almost laughed, but the sound did not come out right.

“Goodbye, Arthur,” I pleaded at last

“Flora,” he warned.

But I ended the call.

My chest hurt and it felt like my heart was going to cave, even my hands shook so badly that my phone slipped from my grasp, but on the bright side, I was grateful that I was no longer crying.

Picking up the phone I walked into my bedroom and opened my closet and pulled out a small suitcase and placed it on the bed.

For a moment, I stood there staring at it.

Was I really going to leave?

I sat down slowly and took the ultrasound envelope out of my purse. I opened it carefully, for the millionth time since I got the scan result a few days back.

I was responsible for whatever happened to the life I was carrying in me and it was completely oblivious to the fight for power and control.

It only existed because I had trusted someone.

I touched the edge of the photo gently.

“I will not let you be part of his game,” I whispered.

I thought about raising the child inside the Stone estate, surrounded by expectations and calculations. I imagined Arthur teaching him about competition before he could even walk. I imagined my child being measured against Carter’s future children.

I could not do that.

I would not give birth to his legacy just so he could secure his position.

If this child was going to be born, it would not be for him.

It would be for me.

I stood up and began placing clothes into the suitcase. Not everything. Just enough. A few dresses. Comfortable shoes. Important documents. My passport.

My phone rang in my hands again.

Was he really that desperate to control everything …even his brother?

I turned it off completely, I didn’t need him clouding my sense of judgement.

As I packed, more memories came back to me.

I remembered being sixteen and hearing rumors that he would marry someone powerful one day. I had cried quietly in my room that night, then told myself I would work harder to be worthy of him.

I remembered him saying once, “Emotions complicate decisions.”

I had smiled and said, “Then I will not complicate yours.”

I had shaped myself around his world so carefully that I almost disappeared inside it.

Not anymore.

When the suitcase was full, I zipped it closed. I took one last look around my apartment.

Mom would be so proud that I finally chose myself

I picked up the ultrasound photo again and placed it carefully inside my bag.

Dragging my legs to the door, for a brief second I let my mind ponder on the choice I was making. I let myself wallow in the thrill of Arthur looking for me.

I knew him long enough to know that he hated losing control of a situation

But for the first time in my life, I did not feel likes explaining myself to him.