Craving My Husband’s Brother

CHAPTER 6 . LIAM

The heavy iron gates of the Hawthorn estate swung open, and I immediately felt a headache coming on.

I gripped the steering wheel, I stared up at the massive limestone mansion. Every single window was blasted with bright lights. The driveway was already packed with sports cars and luxury SUVs, valets running around trying to keep up with the crowd.

God, I hated this place.

This house was nothing but bad memories. It was where my mother cried herself to sleep, where my father threw his weight around, and where I spent years feeling guilty for things I couldn’t fix.

I swore I’d never come back here.

But my dad was dead, the company was already turning into a mess, and on the other hand, my little brother, Nathaniel, was completely f*****g useless. As the oldest son, I had to take over and put things in order.

I turned off the engine, and i just sat there in the quiet for a minute, taking deep breaths as my chest tightened.

My head was completely fried tonight. And honestly, it wasn’t even because of the business or having to deal with my family.

It was because of her.

Alice.

I could still feel her skin under my hands, the warm and tight heat of her body, and the way she gasped my name in the dark of that VIP room. She was a complete fire in my arms, but she also had this deep sadness in her eyes that I couldn't shake.

I still didn't understand why I couldn't stop thinking about her. It was just supposed to be a one-night stand to release some tension.

I thought it would make me forget about what Steph, my ex-fiancée, did to me. We had dated for six months before I proposed, thinking I’d finally found the one. She was sweet, caring, and absolutely breathtaking.

Turns out I was wrong. She was just a gold digger.

And now I’m falling into another trap again. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can’t I just get over last night?

I sighed and then straightened my suit jacket and got out of the car, but as I walked toward the entrance, I could swear I could still smell her perfume on my skin.

"Welcome home, Mr. Hawthorn," the old butler said, holding the front door open.

"Thank you, Jeremiah. It’s good to see you again," I said, offering him a rare, genuine smile.

Jeremiah was one of the few people in this world I actually had a soft spot for. Growing up with a douchebag of a father wasn't easy, but Jeremiah always made sure I kept my head screwed on straight.

The second I stepped inside, the noise hit me like a wall.

Loud classical music, glasses clinking, and a bunch of fake, high-society laughs.

Here we go.

"Liam! Look at you!" Rita, my step mother, came gliding over, her gray hair pulled back tight. She gave me a big smile that didn’t even come close to reaching her eyes.

My father remarried her a few months after my mom passed.

I never really tolerated her because I obviously knew what she wanted.

"Rita," I said, keeping my voice flat.

"We are so glad you're back, Liam. The company needed a real man in charge. I can't do it all by myself, I'm getting old after all," she said.

"I see," still maintaining my flat voice.

"We heard about your fiancée... ex-fiancée, I meant.

Women of these days can be very complicated. But I bet you can get any kind of woman you want, you are indeed very handsome." She said, making me roll my eyes frantically.

She really loved the sound of her own voice, and I was in absolutely no mood to entertain her bullshit.

I completely zoned out of her rant, the image of Alice clouding my mind until she finally mentioned my brother.

"Where is Nathaniel by the way?" I asked, cutting her off.

"Oh, probably hiding at the bar. You know how he can be."

I didn't, actually. I hadn't seen him in years. But I was positive he had only gotten more useless with time. I honestly pitied the woman he married.

"Come, let me introduce you to a few people," Rita insisted, trying to guide me through the sea of wealthy shareholders and businessmen.

After ten minutes of continuous, fake grinning, I couldn’t even feel my cheeks anymore. I broke away from her and made a run for the bar. I needed a real drink to survive the rest of the night.

"Brother!" a voice yelled from behind me.

I turned around. Nathaniel was walking towards me. He looked a little older but he still carried the same arrogant smirk.

Before I could stop him, he rushed in and threw his arms around me in a sloppy hug. He reeked of alcohol.

"Nathaniel," I muttered, tapping his back once before firmly pushing him off me.

"Yoo... look at you! You look good, brother," he said mockingly, scanning my suit. "I bet you’re getting plenty of p*****s over there in Europe."

I ignored the crass comment. My brother and I were never the loving siblings. We were complete opposites in terms of nature, morals, and goals. He was just a brat my father spoiled, while I had to build my own discipline. We never agree on a single thing.

"You don’t look bad yourself," I lied, looking him up and down.

"Let me introduce you to my lovely, hot wife," he said, puffing out his chest.

Right. I finally get to meet the poor woman who has to put up with my brother’s tantrums.

I figured I should probably offer her a medal for survival.

Nathaniel looked around the room, then barked at a passing waitress. "Hey! Go find my wife and tell her to get down here right now."

What a jerk. He was a complete control freak.

He turned back to me, crossing his arms. "Alice should be around here somewhere."

Alice?

My chest tightened.

Could it be the same Alice?

No, absolutely not. It's just a common name. It’s a coincidence. I told myself, desperately trying to wash the image of last night out of my head.

A moment later, the crowd parted near the base of the staircase.

And there she was, wearing a dark green dress that fitted her curves perfectly. Her wavy dark brown hair. Walking towards us majestically was my brother's wife,Alice.

My Alice! No, I mean Alice from the other night.

‘What the f**k. No there’s no fuckin way’ my heard rang.

I couldn't breathe. My chest went tight. No, there was no way. Her hazel eyes locked right onto mine.

The music, the talking, the crowd of people around us, everything went completely dead silent.

It was her. The girl from the club. The one I couldn’t stop thinking about.

I came eye to eye with Alice.

My brother’s wife.