THE KINGSTONS DESIRE

JEREMY'S POV Sipping my bourbon, I let the burn ease its way down my throat, warming me from the inside out. The world outside my window was quiet, dark, and indifferent, a perfect reflection of how I felt. The same damn memory played on a loop in my head like a broken record. "It's already too late, Jeremy," Dad had said, his voice steady, not a hint of regret in his tone. "While you were gone, all our partners and investors have been acquainted with Jared. It's not ethical for the current power hand to be shifted to you. If only you had been this serious back then... but there's nothing I can do, son. Jared takes over, and you lead by his side." Lead by his side, I scoffed staring into the amber liquid swirling in my glass, what a joke. Jared had taken over everything, the business, the respect, the trust. And I was supposed to just stand there like a good soldier, backing him up when needed. I was elder son,the one who was supposed to inherit it all. But I had screwed up, hadn’t I? I took another sip, the sting of the alcohol doing little to dull the ache that had settled deep in my chest months ago. I’d been too damn arrogant, thinking everything would fall into my lap because I was born first. I didn’t take any of it seriously back then. I shrugged off responsibilities, passed up meetings, spent my nights at bars, my mornings with hangovers while Jared on the other hand, had played the perfect son, did everything right, said everything right. And I let him,I didn’t care at the time, and that was the problem. Now, here I was, paying the price. I should’ve seen it coming. The way Dad would praise Jared, how his eyes would light up whenever Jared walked into the room, always complimenting his “dedication” and “focus.” It didn’t matter that we were twins, Jared had always felt like the golden child. And me? I was the shadow. I guess I figured the business would just come to me because it was supposed to but the truth is I never earned it. Not like Jared did. Still it stung. Being told to “lead by his side” was just another way of saying, You’re second. I didn’t know how to handle that then, and I still didn’t know now. I took another long sip of bourbon, feeling it burn away the bitterness for a moment. Today was Jared’s wedding day, and I had gracefully decided to be absent from the whole affair. I told myself it wasn’t out of spite I just didn’t want to be there. I couldn’t stomach the thought of standing in the background, watching as everyone celebrated his success, his life. The empire was his now, and today, the woman too. He had it all. It’s not that I didn’t love my brother, in some twisted way, I did. But watching him take everything, watching him become everything I should have been it ate away at me. I had no one to blame but myself, but that didn’t make it any easier to swallow. I leaned back in my chair, staring out the window at the city skyline, glittering in the distance. I could almost hear the cheers and clinking glasses from Jared’s reception. The Kingston Empire was his to control now, and I was supposed to be his wingman. The thought of it still twisted my gut in my father’s eyes, I wasn’t capable of taking the lead,not anymore that ship had sailed a long time ago The memory of Dad’s words still lingered, cutting deeper each time they echoed in my head. Jared takes over, and you lead by his side. The condescending tone in his voice made me want to smash something. But instead, I drained the rest of my bourbon, welcoming the numbness it brought. I’d tried to atone, though. After I realized I’d screwed myself over, I went to business school. Spent two whole year learning the ropes, thinking maybe if I could show Dad I was serious, he’d reconsider. But by the time I got back, it was too late. Jared had already been groomed for the role, and I was just another accessory. Jared, of course, played the humble victor. He extended his hand to me with that same smug look in his eyes, offering me a seat beside him as if I was some loyal second-in-command. And I took it. Because what choice did I have? The bourbon was starting to wear off, and I hated that. I got up and poured myself another glass, trying not to think about how things could’ve been different if I’d pulled my head out of my ass years ago. But regrets are useless, they gnaw at you, but they don’t change a damn thing. The silence in the room was thick, but it was better than the noise of Jared’s wedding. I could imagine it, the big, extravagant affair. The perfect bride, the perfect groom, everyone in awe of how great they both were. I didn’t belong there. Not anymore. I couldn’t even bring myself to answer Mom’s calls this morning. She was always the peacemaker, the one who tried to smooth things over. She’d been checking up on me every day for months, asking if I was okay, if I needed anything. Part of me was grateful, but most of the time it just pissed me off. I didn’t need her pity, she didn’t understand what it was like to be shoved aside, to be told you weren’t good enough. I downed the drink in one gulp, the alcohol working faster now. I needed that, needed to forget for a little while longer. My phone buzzed on the desk, and I glanced at the screen it was mom again again. I sighed, knowing I couldn’t keep dodging her forever. I picked it up and hesitated before answering. “Hey, Mom,” I said, trying to sound neutral. “Jeremy, I just wanted to check in,” her voice was soft, careful. She always knew when something was off. “You didn’t come to the wedding. Are you alright?” I stared at my empty glass, considering my words. “Yeah,my apologies but I didn’t feel like being there today.” There was a pause, the kind that hung heavy in the air. “I understand, I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I know things haven’t been easy.” “I’m fine,” I said, but even I could hear the hollowness in my voice. “I love you, Jeremy,” she said quietly. And I could hear the worry in her voice. She always worried about me. “I love you too, Mom.” When I hung up, the room felt even quieter than before. I poured another drink, my third, fourth? of the night, and stared out the window again. I wasn’t going to the wedding. I wasn’t going to pretend like I was okay with all of this. I was in the shadows now, and maybe that’s where I belonged.