Pampered By My Brother-In-Law

Chapter 2: None of your business

Timothy's face fell the moment the words left her mouth. “I'm sorry. I had no idea.”

Jade offered him a small, fragile smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. “It's fine. You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault.”

He reached across the space between them and took her soft hands in his, giving them a gentle squeeze. His touch was warm, steady, the kind of anchor she hadn't felt in years.

“It happened a long time ago,” she began, her voice already cracking. “A drunk driver slammed into our car. My brother was driving and…” The rest caught in her throat. Tears flooded her eyes, hot and sudden. She broke down right there, shoulders shaking as the memory ripped through her like it was yesterday.

“He died,” she sobbed, the pain raw and unguarded. “And the accident left me paralyzed from the waist down.”

The words hung heavy in the air. Jade pressed her palms to her face, trying to hold back the flood, but it was no use. Every buried heartbreak, every lonely night, every time life had kicked her while she was already down—it all came pouring out.

Timothy stared at her, his expression a mix of shock and something deeper, something he couldn't quite name. Her tears twisted something inside his chest. Pity, yes… but also a strange, unfamiliar ache. Her story sounded eerily familiar, like a ghost from his own past he’d tried to forget. His heart stuttered. Was she the… No. He pushed the thought away hard. It couldn’t be Jade. It just couldn’t.

He leaned in, nervous but sure, and wrapped his arms around her. Jade collapsed against his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. His body felt solid and warm, a safe harbor in the storm. When his strong hand accidentally brushed the curve of her breast, a spark shot down her spine. Heat bloomed low in her belly, butterflies fluttering wildly. It was strange, almost guilty, but God, it felt good. She hadn’t felt anything close to this since the early days with Justin, back when their marriage still held promise.

After a long moment, Jade pulled back, wiping at her wet cheeks. “I’m sorry I just dumped all of that on you,” she whispered, her lashes fluttering as she avoided his gaze. Those deep blue eyes of his were pulling her in like a tide she didn’t want to fight.

“I guess I’ve been…”

Timothy lifted a finger and gently pressed it to her lips, silencing her in the most tender, intimate way. “You don’t need to feel sorry, sweetheart,” he said softly, his voice low and soothing. He stroked her golden-brown hair with careful fingers, tucking a strand behind her ear.

Jade’s heart raced at how close he was. Too close. Dangerously close. His breath brushed her skin, and she found herself leaning into it, craving the warmth.

“You don’t have to keep everything bottled up inside,” he continued, his fingertips tracing lightly along her cheekbone. “This…” He glanced down at the wheelchair, then back to her face. “This doesn’t define you, Jade. Not even close.”

Tears threatened again, but she blinked them back, swallowing hard.

“Do you know what I saw the second I walked through that door?” Timothy asked, his voice sincere.

Jade shook her head, barely able to speak.

“I saw a stunning woman. Down-to-earth, full of life and love, even when life hasn’t been kind.” His blue eyes held hers without flinching, honest and steady. “You are a very beautiful woman, Jade.”

He whispered the last part, his lips brushing hers so lightly it could have been an accident. But it wasn’t. Jade closed her eyes, letting the warmth of him sink into her bones. Her toes tingled—actually tingled—something she hadn’t felt since the accident. She was ready. Ready to lean in, to explore whatever this magnetic pull between them was.

Then the front door swung open.

“Hey… what did I miss?” Elise’s cheerful voice cut through the moment like sunshine breaking clouds.

“Nothing much,” Timothy said quickly, pulling away and moving to sit on the adjacent couch, trying to look casual.

“I found my wine!” Elise announced with a bright grin, holding up two bottles like trophies. “Look at this—good stuff too.”

“Nice,” Timothy replied, reaching out to take one from her, his voice a little too steady.

“Nice music,” Elise said, swaying her hips lightly to the rhythm playing in the background. Then her eyes landed on Jade’s flushed face. “Oh my gosh… why are you blushing so hard?” she exclaimed, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “Did something happen while I was gone?”

“No… no, nothing,” Jade answered too fast, her gaze flickering involuntarily toward Timothy.

Elise caught it. Her eyebrows lifted just a fraction.

“Uhm… let’s all go eat,” Jade suggested nervously, desperate to shift the energy in the room.

Timothy stood and helped maneuver her wheelchair closer, his hands careful and strong.

“Oh my God!” The bottle of wine slipped from Elise’s fingers and shattered on the hardwood floor, red liquid spreading like blood. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered, her face going pale. “I had no idea that you were…”

“Paralyzed,” Jade finished for her with a small, tired smile. “It’s okay. Really.”

“Yes… paralyzed,” Elise repeated softly, still looking shaken.

“It’s fine. Let’s just eat and get to know each other better,” Jade said, trying to smooth things over.

Timothy helped guide her wheelchair to the dining table, his touch gentle but sure. Jade whispered a quick prayer under her breath before they all picked up their spoons.

But before anyone could take a bite, the front door opened again.

The three of them froze, spoons halfway to their mouths. Jade’s jaw dropped as Justin walked in, his arm slung possessively around Shanell’s waist. In Shanell’s arms was the baby from the photo—cooing softly, oblivious to the tension.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. So it was true. They really were together.

The butlers dragged in the luggage with quiet efficiency. Jade’s stomach dropped.

“What the hell is going on here?” she asked, her voice low and shaky.

Justin smirked, sliding a possessive arm around Shanell’s waist and pulling her closer. “What does it look like, Jade? We’re moving in.”

Jade’s lips trembled. “You’ve been cheating on me… with my own cousin?”

“Yeah,” Justin said with a casual shrug, like he was admitting he’d grabbed the wrong takeout. “And we’ve got a baby together now. Cute, right?”

Jade’s fingers tightened around her spoon until her knuckles went white. “So you actually had the nerve to bring your mistress into our house—”

“Our house?” Justin let out a short laugh and glanced at Shanell like they were sharing a private joke. “Baby, this has always been my family’s house. Not yours. You were just… staying here.”

Shanell smiled sweetly, adjusting the baby on her hip. The infant cooed innocently. “Exactly. You don’t really belong here anymore, Jade. I mean, bless your heart—you’re not just stuck in that chair… you can’t even give him kids.” She said it lightly, almost sympathetically, but the words landed like broken glass.

The “barren” jab still stung, even though Jade knew it wasn’t true. But the casual way Shanell paired it with her paralysis made her chest tighten.

Justin nodded along, his tone turning conversational, almost reasonable. “Look, Shanell here is actually a real woman. She can keep up with me, you know? She’s useful.” He gestured vaguely at Jade. “You just… sit there all day. Sulking. What am I supposed to do with that forever?”

“Shut up, Justin,” Timothy snapped, his voice sharp. “How dare you talk to your wife like that?”

Justin rolled his eyes and turned on his brother. “Stay out of it, man. This isn’t your business. And what the hell are you even doing here anyway? Does Mom and Dad know you’re back in the country?”

“They don’t,” Timothy muttered. “It was supposed to be a surprise visit.”

Elise kept eating through the chaos, her eyes flicking between everyone like she was watching a soap opera unfold.

Justin looked back at Jade, his expression hardening into something colder. “I can’t keep pretending to be married to someone who’s basically useless to me anymore.” He paused, letting the words settle. “I want a divorce.”