Chapter three
1267 Words
The Brother
The plane landed in London just after noon.
Selina stepped out of the airport with dark sunglasses covering her eyes and a calm expression on her face. No one looking at her would guess that only two days ago she had been a bride whose wedding collapsed hours before the ceremony.
But inside, the fire was still burning.
Her suitcase rolled behind her as she walked toward the taxi line. London was colder than she expected, the air crisp and slightly damp, but she barely noticed.
Her mind was focused on one person.
Adrian Carter.
Jason’s older brother.
The man who lived overseas and rarely came back home.
Selina had only seen him in photos before—family gatherings Jason once showed her on his phone.
Tall.
Sharp features.
Calm, serious eyes.
Jason used to say Adrian hated family drama and avoided it whenever possible.
Perfect.
Because Adrian had no idea who Selina was.
He didn’t know she was supposed to marry his brother.
He didn’t know the wedding was canceled.
He didn’t know his brother had betrayed her.
Which meant Selina had the advantage.
The taxi stopped in front of a sleek glass building in the center of the city.
Selina paid the driver and stepped out, looking up.
Carter International Holdings.
Jason once bragged that Adrian ran the European branch of the family company.
Selina smiled faintly.
So this was his world.
She walked inside.
The lobby was quiet and elegant. Marble floors. Tall windows. Professional silence.
The receptionist looked up.
“Good afternoon. How can I help you?”
Selina removed her sunglasses.
“I have an appointment with Mr. Carter.”
The receptionist typed quickly.
“Your name?”
Selina paused.
Then she said calmly,
“Selina Hayes.”
She wasn’t ready to use Jason’s last name.
She regretted why she changed her surname so fast, she could have taken her time now she has to go all that stress to erase that name.
The receptionist checked the schedule.
“Yes, you’re expected. Twenty-second floor.”
Selina nodded and walked toward the elevators.
Her heart beat faster as the doors closed.
This was it.
Phase two.
Adrian Carter stood near the large window in his office, reviewing a report when his assistant knocked.
“Mr. Carter,” she said, “your guest has arrived.”
Adrian frowned slightly.
“Guest?”
“Yes. Miss Selina Hayes.”
He searched his memory.
The name didn’t sound familiar.
Still, he said calmly,
“Send her in.”
A moment later, the office door opened.
Selina stepped inside.
Adrian looked up.
And for a second, he didn’t speak.
The woman standing in front of him was… striking.
Tall, elegant, confident.
But there was something else in her eyes.
Something sharp.
Adrian set his pen down slowly.
“Miss Hayes,” he said politely.
Selina gave a small smile.
“Mr. Carter.”
Adrian gestured toward the chair.
“Please sit.”
She did.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Adrian studied her quietly.
Something about her felt… unusual.
Like she wasn’t here for business.
“So,” he finally said, “what can I help you with?”
Selina folded her hands in her lap.
“I wanted to meet you.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“That’s a very broad reason.”
Selina’s smile deepened slightly.
“Let’s say I was curious.”
“About what?”
“About you.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
“Interesting.”
Most people who came to his office wanted contracts, investments, or business partnerships.
This woman looked like she wanted something else entirely.
“Have we met before?” he asked.
Selina shook her head.
“No.”
“That’s what I thought.”
He studied her again.
“But you know who I am.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Selina hesitated for a brief second.
Then she said smoothly,
“I’ve heard about you.”
Adrian crossed his arms.
“From who?”
Selina held his gaze.
“Mutual connections.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He could sense she wasn’t telling the whole truth.
But strangely… he didn’t mind.
There was something intriguing about her.
“And what exactly did these connections say about me?” he asked.
Selina tilted her head thoughtfully.
“That you’re difficult.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“That’s accurate.”
“That you don’t trust people easily.”
“Also accurate.”
“And that you stay away from family drama.”
Adrian’s expression changed slightly.
“Now that’s interesting.”
Selina watched him carefully.
“I find that admirable.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“So tell me, Miss Hayes… why are you really here?”
For a brief moment, Selina considered telling the truth.
Your brother ruined my life.
I came here to use you for revenge.
Instead she said,
“I recently went through something… unpleasant.”
Adrian remained silent.
“Someone betrayed me,” she continued.
“And now?”
Selina met his eyes directly.
“Now I’m trying to start over.”
Adrian studied her for several seconds.
Something about her story felt real.
But there was still a hidden layer.
A secret she wasn’t saying.
And oddly enough, it made him curious.
“So you came to London,” he said slowly, “to start over.”
“Yes.”
“And somehow that involves meeting me.”
Selina smiled slightly.
“Maybe.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You’re mysterious, Miss Hayes.”
“Is that a problem?”
He considered that.
“No.”
In fact, it was refreshing.
Most people around him were predictable.
Selina wasn’t.
Adrian stood up.
“Well,” he said, “since you came all this way…”
Selina looked up.
“Yes?”
He grabbed his coat.
“Let me take you to dinner.”
Selina blinked.
She hadn’t expected that so quickly.
But she recovered instantly.
“That sounds nice.”
Adrian studied her again.
“Unless you’re busy.”
Selina stood up slowly.
“I’m not.”
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, something electric passed between them.
Adrian felt it.
Selina did too.
And that made her pause internally.
Because this…
This wasn’t supposed to feel real.
This man was supposed to be a tool for revenge.
Nothing more.
But standing here, looking into his calm, intelligent eyes…
Selina suddenly felt something unexpected.
A flicker of doubt.
Adrian opened the door for her.
“Shall we?”
Selina walked out beside him.
Downstairs, the city buzzed with evening life.
Adrian’s car waited outside.
As they drove through London streets, Selina stared out the window quietly.
Her plan was moving forward.
Everything was going exactly as she intended.
Soon enough, Jason would discover the truth.
That the woman he betrayed was now close to the one man he respected most.
His brother.
The thought should have made her feel victorious.
Instead…
Selina felt something unfamiliar growing inside her chest.
Something dangerous.
Because Adrian Carter was nothing like Jason.
And if she wasn’t careful…
She might end up hurting the one man who didn’t deserve it.
Across the car, Adrian glanced at her thoughtfully.
He didn’t know why this woman fascinated him so quickly.
But he knew one thing.
Meeting Selina Hayes today felt like the beginning of something important.
Something that might change both their lives.
Neither of them realized it yet.
But the moment Selina walked into his office…
Their fates had already collided.
And when the truth finally came out.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
- Writer
