Chapter 4

Ethan watched me for a moment. Perhaps he realized how cruel he'd sounded, because his tone finally softened.

“You're here now. You might as well come in.”

I didn't move.

“No, thank you.”

If he hadn't meant it in the first place, there was no reason for me to stay.

Besides, I hadn't visited Luke in a long time.

At the thought of him, my grip tightened around my suitcase handle.

Luke Bennett was my younger brother. I'd only learned he existed shortly before our mother died.

He was seven years younger than me, autistic, and needed extensive support. He rarely spoke and avoided contact with other people. For years, he'd lived at a residential special-needs school outside the city.

Mom had kept him a secret for years. I hadn't found out until she got sick and I started sorting through the bills.

All that time she'd worked herself to exhaustion, it hadn't been to pay off debts. It had been to cover Luke's tuition and the expensive care and therapy he needed.

Bill after bill had taken almost everything she had. Working to keep up with them had finally worn her down, too.

Before she died, she'd held my hand and asked only one thing of me.

Take care of your brother.

So when Nathan paid for her final surgery four years ago, I couldn't help being grateful.

And when he told me to be with him, I hadn't refused.

It wasn't only because I owed him. It was Luke, too.

The residential program. Regular therapy. Medication. Care. Every part of it cost money.

At twenty, I had nothing except a brother I had to keep caring for. Nathan could give me exactly what I needed most.

That was why I'd been so agreeable all these years. Even when he humiliated me. Even knowing how little I meant to him. I hardly ever truly defied him.

Even tonight, when he'd sent me to Ethan, I'd gotten into that car despite how much it hurt.

Not because I'd agreed to be passed from one man to another. Because I knew I couldn't afford to act only on what I wanted.

Every month, Nathan had someone arrange the payment for Luke's care. If he wanted, he could stop it with a word.

I couldn't take that chance.

The thought left me exhausted.

At least Ethan had no intention of having anything to do with me. I didn't have to stay here anymore.

“I have somewhere to be.”

Ethan frowned slightly. “Now?”

I nodded.

“It's four in the morning.” He glanced toward the road. “It's hard to get a ride out here.”

“I'll manage.”

I took hold of my suitcase and had gone only a couple of steps when the front door opened.

A soft, sweet voice called out. “Ethan, what took you so long?”

I stopped.

Olivia stood in the doorway in white lounge clothes, her hair loosely pinned up. She wasn't wearing makeup. She was still so beautiful it hurt to look at her.

She'd been smiling. When she saw me, the smile slowly stiffened. Then she looked down at the suitcase beside my feet.

“Claire Bennett?”

She knew who I was. That didn't surprise me. She must have heard about the woman who'd spent four years at Nathan's side.

Then her expression turned completely cold.

“What are you doing here?”