FALLING FOR MY HUSBAND'S BROTHER

Chapter Five: The Night That Change Everything

My eyes widened the moment I realized what I had walked into.

Adrian stood near the mirror with a towel wrapped around his waist. Tiny droplets of water slid down his shoulders, making it obvious he had just finished taking a shower. I immediately looked away, my face burning with embarrassment.

What have I done?

"I'm... I'm sorry," I stammered, struggling to find my voice. "I was looking for the kitchen to get some water. I didn't know this was your bathroom."

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.

The only sound filling the room was the steady rain beating against the windows and the distant rumble of thunder.

Adrian let out a quiet sigh before speaking.

"The kitchen is on the left," he replied calmly.

There wasn't even a hint of annoyance in his voice.

That somehow made me feel even more embarrassed.

"I really am sorry."

Without daring to look at him again, I turned to leave as quickly as possible.

My mind screamed at me to get out before I embarrassed myself any further.

But the moment I took my first step, my foot landed on the wet marble floor.

Everything happened so fast.

The world seemed to tilt beneath me.

A startled gasp escaped my lips as I lost my balance, and just before I could hit the floor, a firm hand caught me.

I stumbled forward, crashing into him.

For one frozen second, neither of us moved.

My heart pounded so loudly that I was certain he could hear it.

I immediately tried to pull away, mortified by what had just happened.

"Sorry," I whispered again, unable to lift my head. "I'm so clumsy."

I wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole.

This had to be the most embarrassing night of my life.

First, I had walked into the wrong room.

Now, I had practically fallen into Nathan's brother.

I finally looked up.

Our eyes met.

His blue eyes were calm and unreadable, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

The air between us suddenly felt heavier.

I swallowed nervously, forcing myself to look away.

I quickly got off him, but he immediately held my hand and pinned it to the wall.

"What are you doing?" I asked, staring deeply into his blue eyes.

His eyes are so charming and beautiful that I couldn't stop staring at them.

He pulled a strand of my hair, touching my neckline. I swallowed hard, my body already reacting to his touch.

He grabbed my face as our eyes locked. "Are you crushing on me?" he asked.

I swallowed hard. "No, I can never be," I replied, knowing that it was a lie.

He raised my face, drawing his face closer as if he wanted to kiss me. I closed my eyes.

A sudden knock on the bathroom door shattered the silence between us, making my eyes fly open as though I had been awakened from a dream. My heart dropped into my stomach, and I instinctively stepped away from Adrian, my breathing uneven as another knock followed almost immediately. "Adrian?" Emily's voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you in there?" Panic flooded every part of me. If Emily found me here, there was no explanation that would make sense. It didn't matter that I had entered by mistake or that I had only been looking for the kitchen. No one would believe that story. They would only see Nathan's wife standing inside Adrian's bathroom in the middle of the night. Before I could think of what to do, Adrian glanced at me briefly before moving toward the door. With a slight gesture of his hand, he silently instructed me to stay out of sight. I hurried behind the wall beside the bathroom cabinet, pressing my back against the cold marble as I held my breath, praying that Emily wouldn't insist on coming inside.

Adrian opened the door only slightly, just enough for him to stand in the doorway. "What is it?" he asked in the same calm voice he always used, as though nothing unusual had happened. Emily narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You've been in there for quite a while," she replied. "And why does it sound like you're hiding someone?" Adrian let out a quiet chuckle. "Hiding someone? In my bathroom?" Emily folded her arms across her chest. "You never know. Stranger things have happened." Adrian shook his head with a faint smile. "You've been watching too many dramas." Emily rolled her eyes. "Maybe. Anyway, Mom wanted me to remind you that Grandma called earlier. She wants you to return her call before you sleep." Adrian nodded once. "I'll call her." Emily remained standing there for another moment, trying to look past him into the bathroom. My heart pounded so violently that I was afraid she would somehow hear it through the silence. "You're acting strange tonight," she muttered. Adrian simply raised an eyebrow. "Am I?" She studied him for another second before sighing dramatically. "Forget it. Good night." "Good night," Adrian replied before gently closing the door.

The instant I heard Emily's footsteps disappear down the hallway, I finally released the breath I had been holding. My legs suddenly felt weak. Adrian stepped aside without saying a word, giving me enough space to leave. I couldn't even bring myself to look at him. Keeping my head lowered, I hurried out of the bathroom and practically ran through the hallway until I reached my bedroom. The moment I shut the door behind me, I leaned against it and closed my eyes tightly. My hand rested over my racing heart as I tried desperately to calm my breathing. "What is wrong with me?" I whispered into the empty room. Everything about tonight felt wrong. Nathan was my husband. I loved him. Yet the memory of standing so close to Adrian refused to leave my mind. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, those piercing blue eyes kept appearing before me. I climbed into bed, but sleep never truly came. Every time I closed my eyes, the events of the night replayed themselves over and over until the first rays of sunlight finally slipped through the curtains.

By the time I finished getting ready and walked downstairs the following morning, I had convinced myself that last night had never happened. The delicious aroma of breakfast drifted through the villa, filling the dining room with warmth that contrasted sharply with the storm still lingering inside my heart. Mrs. Williams was already seated gracefully at the head of the table with a cup of tea in her hand, while Emily chatted cheerfully with one of the housemaids. Adrian sat quietly on the opposite side, reading the morning newspaper as though nothing unusual had happened between us. The moment I entered the room, he lifted his eyes from the newspaper, and for the briefest second our gazes met. Heat immediately crept into my cheeks. I looked away so quickly that I almost stumbled over the chair before sitting down. I silently prayed that no one had noticed.

Emily smiled brightly the moment she saw me. "Good morning, Clara. You look exhausted." I forced a small smile. "I couldn't sleep very well." "The storm kept all of us awake," Emily replied. "I thought the thunder was going to tear the roof off the villa." Mrs. Williams placed her teacup gently on its saucer before looking directly at me. "I hope you're beginning to settle into your new home." I nodded politely. "I'm trying my best." "Being part of this family comes with responsibility," she said calmly. "You'll understand that soon enough." I simply nodded again, deciding it was wiser to remain silent than say something that might be misunderstood.

Just then, Emily glanced toward the front entrance. "Where's Nathan? He said he'd be home this morning." Mrs. Williams checked the time. "He called earlier. He should be here any minute." My heart instantly lifted. The disappointment from the previous night slowly faded as excitement replaced it. Nathan was finally coming home. I couldn't wait to see him. I had missed him more than I expected after just one night apart.

As if the universe had heard my thoughts, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the villa. Emily immediately stood from her chair with a wide smile. "That's him!" My own heart skipped with excitement as I rose to my feet. Footsteps drew closer, and a second later Nathan walked into the dining room.

The smile on my face froze.

He wasn't alone.

A stunning young woman walked in beside him, dressed elegantly as though she belonged there. Before I could even wonder who she was, she slipped her hand naturally through Nathan's arm... and he didn't pull away.