The Brother I Was Never Supposed to Want

Chapter 18

Nathan didn't drive away immediately.

He sat behind the wheel, watching the light in Ava's apartment switch on.

Only when he saw her silhouette move past the curtains did he finally start the engine.

He wasn't worried about her getting upstairs.

He simply wanted to know she'd made it home safely.

Then he drove into the New York night.

---

Ava leaned against the inside of her apartment door and let out a long breath.

Mochi meowed loudly from the living room, clearly unhappy that she'd been gone for hours.

"I know, I know."

She laughed as she bent down to scratch behind his ears.

"I abandoned you."

Mochi accepted the apology after exactly three seconds and trotted toward his food bowl.

"You're dramatic."

She filled his bowl before setting her purse on the kitchen counter.

Something was missing.

She frowned.

"My sketchbook..."

Her eyes widened.

"Oh no."

She searched inside her bag once.

Then again.

Nothing.

"I actually left it."

Her phone buzzed.

Nathan

"You forgot your sketchbook."

She covered her face with one hand.

Of course he noticed.

She quickly replied.

Ava: I'm so embarrassed.

A reply came almost instantly.

Nathan: Don't be.

Nathan: I'll bring it tomorrow.

Ava: You don't have to.

Three dots appeared.

Then...

Nathan: I know.

Another message followed.

Nathan: I want to.

Ava stared at the screen for a long moment.

No grand speech.

No flirting.

Just four simple words.

"I want to."

She smiled to herself before placing the phone on the counter.

"What is wrong with me?"

Mochi meowed.

"You don't get an opinion."

---

The next morning...

Ava woke earlier than usual.

Instead of rushing through breakfast like she normally did, she actually sat down to eat.

She caught herself smiling halfway through her coffee.

"This is becoming a problem."

By the time she reached the studio, Chloe was already waiting outside with two takeaway coffees.

"There she is!"

Ava accepted one gratefully.

"Morning."

Chloe narrowed her eyes.

"You look different."

"I do not."

"You do."

"I slept."

"No."

Chloe shook her head dramatically.

"That's not it."

She gasped.

"You've got the 'someone texted me good morning' glow."

Ava nearly choked on her coffee.

"I do not have a glow."

"You absolutely do."

Several artists walking into the studio looked over curiously.

Ava lowered her voice.

"Can you not announce my personal life to the whole building?"

"I'm just asking questions."

"You never just ask questions."

Chloe grinned.

"So..."

She leaned closer.

"When are you seeing Mr. Billionaire again?"

"I don't know."

"Liar."

"I'm serious."

"You smiled before answering."

Ava rolled her eyes.

"You're impossible."

"I've been told."

As they stepped inside the studio, Chloe suddenly stopped.

"Oh."

"What?"

"Your billionaire is here."

Ava's heart skipped.

Nathan stood near the entrance, dressed in a charcoal suit, talking quietly with the receptionist.

The moment he noticed Ava, his attention shifted completely.

He walked toward her.

"You forgot this."

He held out her sketchbook.

She accepted it carefully.

"Thank you."

"You'd be surprised how often Alex forgets his."

She laughed.

"So I'm as forgetful as a seven-year-old?"

"Sometimes."

Chloe watched the exchange with shameless interest.

Nathan turned to Ava again.

"I won't interrupt your work."

"You aren't."

"I'll see you soon."

She nodded.

"You will."

He gave her one last look before leaving.

The entire studio remained silent until the front door closed.

Then everyone looked at Ava.

Chloe broke the silence first.

"Oh..."

She placed a hand over her heart dramatically.

"...that man is in love."

Ava's cheeks turned pink.

"Stop it."

"I'm serious."

"He looked at you like you hung the moon."

Ava laughed awkwardly.

"You're exaggerating."

"I'm really not."

---

Across the city...

The Walker family gathered for their weekly breakfast.

Nathan arrived exactly on time.

Victoria smiled warmly.

"I'm impressed."

Nathan kissed his mother's cheek before taking his seat.

Richard folded his newspaper.

"I hear you've become quite popular."

Nathan calmly poured himself coffee.

"I wasn't aware popularity concerned you."

"It concerns me when it embarrasses this family."

Victoria sighed quietly.

Richard continued.

"You've been seen taking Ava Carter around Manhattan."

Nathan didn't bother denying it.

"Yes."

"People are talking."

"They usually do."

"She's Ethan's ex."

Nathan looked directly at his father.

"And Ethan made sure she stayed his ex."

Richard's expression hardened.

"You know exactly what I mean."

"I do."

"Then end whatever this is."

Nathan placed his cup down.

"No."

The answer came so quickly that even Victoria looked surprised.

Richard let out a humourless laugh.

"You're willing to throw away years of this family's reputation for one woman?"

Nathan's voice remained calm.

"I'm choosing someone who deserves better than what this family gave her."

Richard stood abruptly.

"She's a struggling artist."

Nathan stood too.

"And?"

"She doesn't belong in our world."

Nathan held his father's gaze.

"Maybe that's what I like about her."

Silence stretched across the dining room.

Richard pointed toward the door.

"I already have someone who belongs beside you."

Nathan didn't react.

"You remember Isabella."

Victoria immediately looked at her husband.

"Richard..."

"No."

He ignored her.

"She's intelligent."

"Respected."

"Our families have known each other for decades."

"She understands responsibility."

Nathan answered quietly.

"I don't love Isabella."

"You don't have to."

"I do."

Richard stared at him.

"You'll regret this."

Nathan picked up his jacket.

"I've regretted many things."

His eyes turned colder.

"Pursuing Ava won't be one of them."

He walked out without another word.

The front door slammed shut.

Victoria looked at her husband.

"You need to stop trying to control him."

Richard picked up his phone.

"If Nathan won't make the right decision..."

He dialled a familiar number.

"...I'll help him."

The call connected.

A calm female voice answered.

"Richard."

"It's been a while, Isabella."

"It has."

"I need you back in New York."

There was a brief pause.

"I assume this is about Nathan."

"It is."

"And the rumours?"

"They're true."

Another pause.

"So..."

she said thoughtfully,

"...he finally met someone."

Richard's jaw tightened.

"A street artist."

A soft laugh came through the phone.

"That certainly sounds unlike Nathan."

"I need you here."

She didn't answer immediately.

Finally,

"I'll take the first flight."

---

Meanwhile...

Ethan sat alone inside his apartment.

The silence was unbearable.

Every room reminded him of Ava.

The coffee mugs she'd bought.

The blanket she'd insisted on keeping in the living room.

Even the tiny cactus she'd placed near the window was still there.

He picked it up.

She used to water it every Sunday.

He hadn't touched it since she left.

It had started to die.

His phone buzzed.

A message from one of his friends.

Bro... are you okay? Saw Nathan with Ava again yesterday.

Attached was another photo.

Nathan opening the car door for Ava.

Nathan looking at her.

Not because she was beautiful.

Because she mattered.

Ethan closed the picture.

His chest tightened.

He whispered into the empty apartment,

"I really lost her..."

For the first time...

He believed it.

---

Late that evening...

A private jet landed at JFK Airport.

Airport staff hurried into position.

The cabin door opened.

A pair of elegant black heels appeared first.

Then, a woman stepped onto the staircase wearing a cream-colored designer suit.

She removed her sunglasses slowly.

Long dark hair.

Confident smile.

Grace that seemed effortless.

Her assistant walked beside her.

"Welcome back to New York, Miss Sinclair."

Isabella glanced toward the city skyline.

"It hasn't changed."

"The car is waiting."

She nodded.

As they walked toward the exit, her assistant spoke again.

"Mr. Walker's father sounded rather... desperate."

Isabella smiled faintly.

"Richard has always preferred planning over waiting."

"And Nathan?"

She was quiet for a moment.

Then she laughed softly.

"Nathan has never done anything I expected."

She stepped into the waiting car.

"Take me to the Walker estate."

"Tonight?"

"Yes."

She looked out the window as the city lights reflected in the glass.

"I think it's time I met the woman everyone's talking about."

The car disappeared into the traffic.

Somewhere else in the city...

Ava had no idea that the peace she'd finally found...

Was about to be tested.