Chapter 17
1126 Words
Nate’s Pov
Marcus stood there in the hallway, looking like someone had punched him in the gut. Serena’s hand tightened in mine until her nails dug into my palm. My best friend—my CFO, the guy who’d had my back for years—was her twin brother. The hidden one. The secret Eleanor had buried.
“Marcus?” I said, voice rough. I pulled Serena closer to my side, my arm around her waist. She was shaking a little. “You’re… her brother?”
He nodded slowly, eyes on Serena. “The lab just confirmed it. I always knew I was adopted. Never dug too deep. But this… Serena, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
Serena stepped forward but stayed pressed against me. Her free hand reached out, then dropped. “A brother. All this time you were right here, helping Nate, and we never knew.” Her voice cracked. I rubbed her back, trying to steady her.
I kissed the side of her head. “Hey. It’s okay. This is a lot. But he’s still Marcus. Still the guy who calls me out on my s**t. We’ll figure it out.”
She looked up at me, eyes shiny. “You’re handling this so calmly. For me. I love you, Nate. Even when the world keeps flipping upside down.”
“I love you too,” I whispered, forehead against hers for a second. “We face it together. Always.”
We moved inside. Robert sat up straighter on the couch, staring at Marcus like he was seeing a ghost. The room felt too small for all the emotions. I kept Serena tucked against my side on the couch, her head on my shoulder. My fingers traced circles on her arm, the way she liked.
Marcus sat across from us, hands on his knees. “I don’t want to mess up what you two have. Nate, you’re like a brother to me already. Serena… if you want nothing to do with me, I get it.”
Serena shook her head. “No. I want to know you. As my brother. This is crazy, but… it feels right somehow. Nate’s best friend turning out to be family? It’s like the universe was trying to connect us all along.”
I squeezed her shoulder. “See? She’s stronger than all of us.” I turned to Marcus. “We’ll run more tests if you want. But I believe it. You’ve always felt like family. Now you really are.”
Serena smiled a little through the tears. She reached out and took Marcus’s hand for a moment. Then she turned back to me, burying her face in my neck. I held her close, rubbing her back. “You okay?” I asked softly.
“Better with you here,” she murmured. “I went from no siblings to a twin in one day. But I have you. That makes it bearable.”
We talked for hours. Simple things at first. Marcus shared what he remembered from his childhood—foster homes, the feeling something was missing. Serena told him about growing up with Robert, the good memories. I stayed quiet mostly, just holding her, kissing her temple when she needed it. Every touch said I’m here. I love you.
At one point, Robert spoke up. “You look like her mother around the eyes, Marcus. Welcome to the family, son. It’s messy, but it’s ours.”
Marcus nodded, emotional. “Thank you. Nate… you good with all this?”
I looked at Serena, then at him. “Yeah. As long as she’s happy. You’re still my right hand at the company. And now my brother-in-law someday.” I smiled at Serena. She smiled back, tired but real.
Later, after Marcus and Robert went to rest in the guest rooms, I pulled Serena into our bedroom. We lay on the bed, her curled against my chest. I ran my fingers through her hair, slow and gentle.
“Today was wild,” I said quietly. “But you handled it like a champ. I’m so proud of you, Serena. The way you opened your heart to Marcus even after everything.”
She tilted her head up to look at me. “Because of you. You make me brave. You held me through every twist. I love you, Nate. Not the billionaire. Not the boss. Just the man who chooses me every time.”
I kissed her deep and slow. She kissed me back, hands on my chest, body pressing closer. It wasn’t rushed. It was full of love and relief after another hard day. When we pulled apart, I rested my forehead on hers. “I’m marrying you soon. Will or no will. Tests or no tests. I want forever with you.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Forever sounds good. With you and now Marcus too. Family the way we choose it.”
We fell asleep like that, tangled together. Her breathing evened out first. I stayed awake a little longer, watching her peaceful face. No matter what secrets came next, I had her. That was enough.
Morning came too fast. We woke to knocking. Marcus stood outside the door, phone in hand.
“Bad news,” he said. “Diana got the full twin records. She’s holding a press conference in an hour claiming the engagement is part of a bigger family cover-up. And the will executor wants us all there. Stocks are in free fall. Victor’s making moves to take control if the clause fails.”
Serena sat up beside me, gripping my hand. Her face went pale but she lifted her chin. “We face it together.”
I nodded and kissed her quick. “Together.”
We dressed fast. I helped her pick a simple outfit, my hands lingering on her waist. “You look beautiful. Strong. Ready?”
“With you? Yes.”
We walked out hand in hand. Marcus joined us. The three of us—me, Serena, her twin—headed downstairs. In the car, I kept her close, arm around her shoulders.
“You’re my rock,” she said softly, head on my shoulder. “Don’t let go.”
“Never,” I promised.
At the office building, cameras flashed the second we stepped out. Diana waited inside with Victor and the executor. Reporters shouted questions.
The executor cleared his throat when we entered the conference room. “New information from the letters. Eleanor knew about the twins. She hid the boy because… he wasn’t the only secret. There was a third child. Another daughter. From Victor’s side.”
Serena gasped. I pulled her tight against me.
Diana smiled. “And guess who that third sibling is? Me.”
- Writer
