My Boyfriend's Twin Brother Is Too Tempting

Emily’s pov “What’s going on here?” My Boyfriend’s voice hit me from behind as the delivery man was about to hand over my package to me. One thing he detest the most was to see a man stand near me. What could be going on in his mind? Thankfully, this was a delivery man. Will he believe that? I spun around, heart racing. There he was, wheeling himself towards me like I was his possession. “Who’s this?” Fred asked immediately, his cold eyes on the man. In order to dissolve his anger, I quickly said, “It’s just the gown I ordered.” “Gown? From a man?” His tone darkened, suspicion greatly reflected in his voice. Can’t he see that he was a delivery man? “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” He asked. His presence and question made everything still. It was at this point that I needed to tell him the truth. Hoping that he should know I meant well for him and his family, that I will be meeting for the first time. “I wanted to surprise you,” I said softly as I took the package from the man’s hand. “I have been saving for this. I bought it because of your dad’s anniversary that is coming up tomorrow night.” I brought the gown out of the box. “Doesn’t it look glamorous?” I shrugged with a smile. “Why on earth did you buy something like this?” His eyes narrowed. “Did you buy it or the man that just left gave it to you?” His words were cruel. I stood there, unable to move and speak as I turned to see if the man hadn’t gone far. “I bought it myself. Didn’t you see his uniform?” I whispered and touched my chest as I tried to prove a point. “Let’s assume you bought it. So, you thought you did flaunt your body in front of everyone? All I want people to see is your beautiful face. Do you want them to think you’re available? This is the kind of dress a w***e would wear.” I took a step back. “What? How could you say something like that?” His expression didn’t soften. “Why are you acting so shocked? I’m imagining how you will be parading yourself at the event. Did you think I’d let you wear this and attract men to you?” Tears almost came out of my eyes, but I fought them back. This wasn’t the first time he had spoken to me like this, accusing me of things I hadn’t even imagined. His broken leg kept him from storming across the sitting room. But even temporarily confined like this, Fred found ways to control me, to make me feel small. Just three weeks ago, nobody would have imagined Fred, so proud and tall, bound to a wheelchair. When I asked Fred why he suddenly became obsessed with the gym where he broke his leg, his answer left me speechless. He said it was because his twin brother was visiting. I couldn’t make sense of it. How did his twin brother’s visit have anything to do with working out? In the sixteen months we’d been together, I hadn’t even met his twin brother. The accident had changed things—or at least, it should have. But somehow, it only seemed to make him worse, angrier, more paranoid. “I can’t believe this,” I said softly, more to myself than to him. “I thought—” “You thought what? That you could seduce half the men at the party in that gown?” He cut me off, eyes flashing. “I’m not a fool, Emily.” “I bought it because I liked it,” I snapped back, finally finding my voice. “Not for anyone else. And certainly not to attract men. I can wear it now for you to see…” I was still talking when he let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t lie to me. You knew exactly what you were doing. I won’t have you prancing around like that in front of my family and friends. Does it mean that because of this leg I can’t sleep with you, you are looking for a way to attract someone? Can’t you hold your s****l urge for quite some time?” This was entirely the opposite of what I had in mind. I glanced at him in disbelief. He hadn’t changed. He had always been like this; jealous and possessive. And each time, I had to find a reason to stay, to come back to him. But now? Now, I have reached my limit. “I’m not going to the party with you,” I said, my voice trembling. “If wearing this gown is such a problem, then I won’t go. Fred’s jaw clenched. He moved his wheelchair much closer, a dark expression in his eyes. “Give it to me,” he demanded. “Give it to me, or I swear I’ll tear it to pieces.” I stepped back, out of his reach, my heart pounding. “No. You won’t.” For the first time, I saw something glimmer in his eyes and he was powerless. He was used to getting what he wanted, controlling every aspect of our relationship. And yet, now, trapped in that chair, he couldn’t force me. I held the power, and it terrified him. “If I wasn’t stuck in this chair…” He let the sentence hang, his frustration pouring out in waves. “Are you doing this just because I’m like this? Because I can’t stand up and stop you?” I shook my head, my voice hardening. “No, Fred. I’m doing this because I’m tired of everything. Tired of you telling me what I can and can’t wear, of accusing me every time someone looks in my direction.” He stared at me, his face unreadable, but I didn’t flinch. I couldn’t anymore. Not after everything. A few months ago when he had not had this accident, he showed up at my place of work with my lunch. This was something he had never done. I felt he wanted to be more romantic, but what he did next was to humiliate me in front of everyone. He accused me of cheating when a male customer exchanged pleasantries with me. He hadn’t cared that the man’s wife was right there or that my colleagues and customers saw the whole scene. I almost lost my job because of him. I told him I was breaking up with him when we met later that day. I even stayed away from him for some weeks and he kept apologizing. That was when my mum fell sick again and he came to the hospital uninvited and paid for all the bills. He even transferred my mum to the hospital’s intensive unit for proper attention. Then he promised to change, and like a fool, I had believed him. But here we were again, trapped in the same cycle. “I’m leaving,” I said. I took the gown down and grabbed my bag. “I can’t do this anymore.” Fred’s face paled. “What are you talking about? You’re leaving me?” “That’s right,” I said firmly, stepping toward the door. “I’m going home.” “You can’t leave me, Emily,” he said, his voice dropped. “Not now. Not when I need you the most.” “I can, and I will,” I shot back, holding the doorknob. “I paid for your mother’s huge medical bills and she would have died, and you know that! I put a roof over your head! You can’t abandon me after everything I’ve done for you,” he shouted, his desperation raw. I paused, his words like the entire building resting on my chest. He had helped me. Financially. Emotionally. He had been there during some of the darkest times in my life. He was the one who saw me through my final year at college when I lost my dad. But that didn’t give him the right to treat me like this, to own me. I couldn’t keep sacrificing myself for his insecurities. “I’m sorry, Fred,” I said quietly, opening the door. “But this isn’t love. Not anymore.” I left without looking back. As the door slammed shut behind me, I let out a long, shaky breath. It felt like I was finally breaking free, walking away from something that had been constricting me for far too long. Outside, I quickly stopped a taxi, and as I slid into the backseat, my phone began to buzz in my bag. Fred, calling again. I ignored it. Minutes passed, and then came a text. I hesitated before opening it. “Hi Emily, I’m sorry. I need you. My twin brother is arriving from Boston today, and I can’t pick him up. You’re the only one who can help as we have already planned. Remember everything I’ve done for you… Please come back. Don’t leave me like this. In fact, wear whatever you want to wear at my dad’s anniversary…Please!” I stared at the screen, my mind wasn’t stable again. Was he really trying to guilt me into coming back, yet again? I thought about turning around, about going back. But then I remembered the gown, the accusations, the commanding feeling of being under his control. It was at this moment, another text message came. “If I weren’t in your life, your mum would have been dead. Is this how you are going to pay me?” His words still had the power to break me, just like they used to. But this time, I was determined to end our relationship. I had to, if I really wanted to live my own life. As I was gathering my strength to keep going, my phone lit up with a call from Mum. “Should I tell her my decision?” I whispered to myself. No. I couldn’t. Mum had always taken Fred’s side. “Mum,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady. “Emily, love, please, can you let your boyfriend know that my doctor has scheduled a fresh operation for the end of the month? I don’t think we can manage the bill without his help. Please, tell him. He’s always been there for us.”