My Boyfriend's Brother

A New beginning

Meghan POV

(Flashback continued)

I wondered how I was going to cope with this situation. From the very first moment, Jeff had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me. I could understand where he was coming from.

No one could easily accept a stranger moving in out of the blue, especially someone with no family or support. Still, it didn’t make facing him any easier.

It had been a week since I arrived, and I hadn’t seen Jeff even once. At first, I wondered where he had gone. Had he perhaps left the house to avoid me? My subconscious rolled her eyes at the thought.

That didn’t make sense-he was the owner of the house. If he truly didn’t want me there, he could have simply asked me to leave.

Eventually, I found out that he had gone on a trip, but I only learned this a few hours before his return.

My heart started pounding at the thought. I wasn’t used to being intimidated by anyone, but Jeff had a presence that unsettled me, even though I had barely known him.

The past week had been easier with only Ethan around.

His company had helped ease the pain of losing my parents and all the inheritance that had been taken from me.

I had always believed that optimism could make life bearable, and having a positive mindset did help me cope with my troubles. Ethan’s presence reminded me of that truth.

We were laughing and arguing over something trivial when the doorbell rang. My stomach sank immediately. I knew who it must be.

Ethan had teased me about my fear of his older brother countless times, and I knew he found amusement in how nervous I got around Jeff.

He had even once suggested that some people felt intimidated because they were falling in love, but that couldn’t be true.I didn’t have feelings like that for Jeff. He was unattainable, perfect, and everything I could never be.

“Calm down,” Ethan said, reading my tension. “I know who’s at the door.”

I tried to distract myself with my phone, scrolling aimlessly, but the moment Jeff entered the room, his strong cologne hit me. I looked up and met his piercing blue eyes. My voice came out as a barely audible whisper. “Hey.”

A smirk played on his lips, and I couldn’t understand why he was smirking like that. Did he think it impressed me? I tried to regain my composure. “Good evening,” I said, hoping my voice sounded firmer than it felt.

He didn’t reply, just looked at me with those intense eyes, making my stomach churn. I was about to say something else when Ethan intervened.

“Damn it, Jeff, I’ve told you a thousand times to stop teasing my girlfriend,” Ethan said, pulling me gently into his chest. I felt some comfort, at least being close to him. His presence was calming, and I could feel the protective energy surrounding me.

“What have I done?” Jeff asked innocently, as if he didn’t understand the tension in the room. He really was a total jerk.

“I was just inspecting things in my house,” he added, his tone calm but firm. I couldn’t believe it.

Was he really blaming me for the state of my life? My parents were gone, my inheritance stolen, and here I was, struggling to survive in a world that had abandoned me.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself I needed patience. Eventually, I would find a small job, rent my own place, and distance myself from his intimidating presence.

“Where are you going?” Ethan asked as I stood up, pulling away from him.

“Just need to get something to drink for your brother,” I said, realizing I hadn’t thought of it until now.

“Damn it, he can do it himself,” Ethan said, a serious look on his face. But I had made up my mind.

“From today onwards, I will help with housework as a way of thanking you both for taking me in,” I declared, determined to show my gratitude.

“That’s not your responsibility. You’re my girlfriend, not the housemaid,” Ethan said firmly.

Jeff, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. “Let her do it,” he said curtly. “Nothing here is free.”

I didn’t wait to hear more. I headed to the kitchen to prepare the juice, determined to do at least this small act of service.

I doubted whether I would be able to tolerate Jeff for long, but there was nothing I could do.

He was the head of this house. Everything here belonged to him, and he had every right to behave as he wished even if it made my life more complicated.

As I carried the glasses into the living room, I tried to remind myself to stay calm.

Each moment with him was a test of my patience and my composure. He was intimidating, commanding, and completely unlike anyone I had ever met. And yet, a part of me couldn’t help but be fascinated by him.

There was something about the way he carried himself, the confidence in his every movement, that demanded attention. I felt drawn to that power, even as it made me nervous.

I handed the glass to him, and our fingers brushed briefly. The touch was electric, and I quickly withdrew my hand, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

His eyes followed me, sharp and calculating, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I reminded myself that he wasn’t someone to fall for—he was a force to be reckoned with, a storm I needed to survive.

Jeff took the glass without a word and sat down, finally offering me the faintest hint of acknowledgment. I sat across from him, careful to keep my movements composed.

Ethan smiled at me, sensing my tension, and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

For the first time since I had arrived, I felt a tiny thread of confidence returning. I could survive this. I could endure his scrutiny, his sharp words, and his intimidating presence.

I was determined to prove myself not to him, necessarily, but to myself. I could find my place here, even if it meant navigating the challenges that came with being under the roof of a man who seemed impossible to impress.

As the evening progressed, I found myself observing Jeff in subtle ways how he moved, the way he interacted with Ethan, the small nuances in his expressions.

He was perfection in motion, untouchable yet oddly human. And despite my determination not to be affected, I felt a mixture of awe and anxiety every time he looked at me.

I realized that this was going to be a long week, and probably many more to come. But I was ready to endure it.

I was ready to survive, to prove that I belonged here not as a guest, not as a burden, but as someone who had survived a life filled with loss and was determined to carve out a place for herself.

Jeff might be the head of this house, but I was determined to remain unbroken in his presence.

And that was my silent vow to myself as I finished pouring the juice, placing it gently before him, and taking my seat across from the man who had, unknowingly, become the greatest challenge in my young life.