Falling for My Brother's Best Friend

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

Riley.

I always believed that happily ever after was real. I lived it—or so I thought. But it seems fairy tales only exist in movies and books because my own dreams crumbled to dust.

As I stepped inside my husband's workplace, the sleek marble floors and the low hum of fluorescent lights greeted me.

Carrying a bag of food, I took the elevator up to the ninth floor, where Liam, the CEO of Breaking Brief, a major Chicago newspaper, works.

I moved here with him when we got married, even though my parents were against it. My older brother pleaded with me, but I wanted to make Liam happy.

I only get to see my family during Christmas because he is always busy. However, in three weeks, I will fly to London, my hometown, to spend time with my mom, dad, brother, his wife, and their kids.

I’m eager to help my mom, Anna, put up the Christmas tree, just like we did when I was a child.

That feeling brings back memories of twinkling lights, pine needles, and the magic of the holidays.

I love the festive sounds of Christmas carols filling the air as we dance around the tree, carefully placing shimmering baubles on its branches.

My brother, Jackson, always helpful, would lift me to the very top so I could crown the tree with a sparkling angel.

Once we finished, we’d rush out to Regent Square, where the twinkling Christmas lights served as a magical beacon.

As I’m lost in happy memories, the ding of the elevator brings me back to reality.

When I step out, I look around in confusion and realize that his usual assistant isn’t sitting at her desk; she must have gone for lunch herself.

I would normally call to let him know I was bringing lunch, but since I’ve been doing this for a couple of weeks now, I didn’t feel the need.

With a wide, joyful smile on my face, I grab the handle and slowly push the door open. However, as his desk comes into view, my smile vanishes, and my heart sinks. A feeling of dread rises in my throat, and the bag of food from his favorite sandwich shop tumbles from my hand, landing with a thump on the floor.

For six years, I have been married to my husband. And yet here he is with his assistant bent over his desk. low moaning coming from her mouth as he is bent over her panting like a damn dog. both to occupied to notice I’m even here.

My chest begins to constrict, each beat a painful thud against my ribs, and I feel as if I can’t breathe making me grab my chest. while also frozen at the sight in front of me.

I’m unable to move, to talk as he keeps thrusting into her. his face buried in her shoulder.

The shock wears off replaced with anger as I blurt out. “What the f**k”

His head snaps up his eyes bulging. as his assistant gasps straightening up and closing her blouse so her t**s are no longer on display.

His f*****g assistant Amy. My stomach churns just at the thought. How could he do this to me, to What We had. he’s destroyed it all and for what a piece of ass that he will get bored with at some point.

He stands there, speechless, his jaw hanging open in disbelief. Regaining his composure, he starts to take a step towards me, but I raise my hand to stop him.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” I say, my voice dripping with venom. I point at both of them and demand, “How long has this been going on?”

I feel so sick that I have to grab the bin at the side of his desk. I’ve been faithful to this man, given everything up, and for what? To be treated like this.

The contents of my stomach come pouring out into his bin. All I can think is Good I hope his office stinks for days. While he stares at me as if he’s a deer caught in headlights, not even bothering to answer my question. Instead, he reaches out to touch me again.

I slap his hand away, clear my throat, and yell, “I told you not to touch me! Just answer my damn question!”

When he ignores me and looks at Amy, I turn my gaze to her and ask, pointing to my so-called husband, “How long have you been sleeping together behind my back?”

She appears to debate with herself before finally making a decision. She lets out a breath then looks at the floor, her hands gripping her top tightly as she whispers, “Two years.”

Her words hit me like a physical blow, and I can’t hold back the tears that well up in my eyes. I turn my gaze to him, my voice barely a whisper as I murmur, “Two years.”

“She is lying, Riley. She seduced me, and I couldn’t help myself. You know how we men are,”

I can’t help but laugh, a raw, shaky sound. “No, not men, Liam. I know what you’re like,” I spit out, my voice thick with hurt. “Was I never enough for you?”

“Baby, you’re always enough for me. That will never change.”

“But you said—” Amy starts, but he interrupts her with a low growl, “Leave.” His eyes narrow, his anger evident.

Ignoring him, I turn back to her. “What did he say?”

My voice is a whisper, barely audible over the sound of my heart. “He said that he was leaving you for me that he has already signed the divorce papers, for me and our child.”

Tears I didn’t want filled my eyes and began to roll down my cheeks. “You know what? He doesn’t need to lie to you anymore, Amy, because that divorce he told you about just became a reality for him.”

My voice breaks as I look at him. “I’m done, Liam. I’m going back to London today. You won’t be seeing me ever again. I hope you’re happy with yourself because what we had is now over. Expect the papers through the mail within the next couple of months.”

As I turn to leave, he grabs me, pulling me close to his body. “You’re not going to believe her over me, are you?”

I look up at him with cold eyes, the love I once felt gone. Poking his chest with my finger, I spit, “I believe every damn word she said. I thought you didn’t want children, Liam. I thought it wasn’t the right time for it.” I glance at Amy. “I guess she was more special, right?”

I shake my head and finish with, "You know what? Have a happy life." As I turn to leave, I step over the bag I dropped and say over my shoulder, "Don't be surprised if he vanishes from your life. He always said he didn’t want kids. Good luck; you're going to need it."

Just as I step inside the elevator , I'm met with a desperate plea, a voice filled with regret and longing: "Wait, Riley, please let me explain."

I don’t want to hear any more excuses. What I want is to go home to my family. I should have listened to them; I should never have moved here. I feel so stupid.

With a blank stare and no emotion in my voice, I say, “There’s no need for explanations. You’ve been having an affair with your assistant for two years. I understand now that I meant nothing to you and never will.”

His voice is filled with desperation as he says, “Please, I didn’t mean for this to happen. It just did.”

he always said he didn’t want kids and now he’s having one with her I chose to accept his decision at the time hoping he would change his mind someday. But now, I see it as a blessing that we don’t have any, sparing them from this chaos.

My throat is think with emotion, as I yell “No, you just tripped and fell inside your assistant’s v****a”

He takes a step towards me, and that’s when I raise my hand and slap him across the cheek. “Let me leave,” I spit I have never hit someone in my life, but he deserved that.

His eyes widen in shock once more as he instinctively touches his cheek, where a red mark is already forming.

Shaking his head, he drops to his knees in front of me. “Please,” he says, wrapping his arms around my legs. “Just give me a chance to explain. It was all her, Riley. You have to believe me.”

Why do men always blame women? It’s a two-way street. Yes, she may have seduced him—if that's even true—but if he were a real man and truly loved me, he wouldn’t have been tempted.

A long moment passes as we stare at one another, my disgust at him touching me overwhelming, but just as I’m about to push him away, his phone rings and that is the only thing that saves me. he won’t ignore it not even for me.

With his eyes still on me he begs “Wait for me at home please, I will be there soon,”

He must be joking. I’m not waiting for this asshole. I will never wait for him ever again. Without another word, he grabs the phone from his pocket, turns, and walks away, giving me the freedom to leave.

As the elevator begins its descent to the ground floor, I close my eyes and lean against the railing, completely drained of energy.

I take a few moments for myself before I dive into action. Grabbing my phone, I rush to my car and book the closest flight to London.

As soon as I arrive at my parents’ house, I will ask my father’s friend Kenny, who is a lawyer, to prepare divorce papers for me. I don’t want to be married to this man any longer than necessary.

It takes me ten minutes to reach the home we once shared, and as I approach, my tears begin to fall.

All I can see is him carrying me in bridal style after our honeymoon, the laughs we shared while cooking dinner together in the kitchen. and the cuddling on the couch as we watched movies together.

Shaking my head, I clear my mind and ignore the lingering pain in my chest as I walk past the kitchen and head directly to the bedroom.

I grab the suitcase from the top of the closet and pack as many clothes as I can into it. Along with my my makeup bag from the bathroom before zipping it up.

A while later After a long check-in line, where a woman became frustrated because her ticket time was incorrect despite booking it herself, I finally make it in the boarding line.

That’s when my phone rings. I know it is him, so I don’t bother looking at it or answering.

As the line moves down, I grab my case and walk towards the woman in a red hat, paired with a matching skirt and blazer. She greets me with a wide smile as I approach.

“Boarding pass please”

Gathering as much energy as I can, I give her a small smile and hand over my pass.

She checks the details then scans it all the while. keeping the warm smile on her face as she gives me the pass back, she says “thank you for flying with American airline have a safe flight”

Without a word I walk into the tunnel ready to touch down in London, I should be home by seven or eight o’clock.

I don’t like flying; the jet lag makes me sleep for a while. But knowing I won’t be doing this again anytime soon, I don’t mind.

I won’t let anyone try to talk me out of leaving this jerk. Maybe his mother and father would, but my family will support me in every way they can, and for that, I’m grateful.

Taking a deep breath, I step onto the plane and find my seat. Since it will probably be a while before we start moving, I quickly send a text.

“Hi Jackson, don’t tell Mom and Dad just yet, but I’m coming home early for Christmas. I’m already on the plane. I will see you soon. Okay, remember to keep it a secret. I love you. Riley x”

A couple of minutes pass before I receive a text back.

“wait your coming right now why you don’t usually come this early you like to wait until it’s a couple days before Christmas because of Liam and work”

I close my eyes for a moment as I read the last line, then I take in a deep breath and begin to write again.

“He isn’t coming this year”

I bite my lower lip as I look for an excuse I hate lying to him, but if he finds out, he will kill him, and I would rather have my brother not in jail.

Telling myself it’s just a little white lie until I get there, I said.

“He has work I have to, go but we will talk when I get to london ok, I love you”

With that, I put my phone in airplane mode, then place it in my pocket and lean my head back in that moment, I tell myself I refuse to let the betrail define my future; I am reclaiming my life, and this time, I will choose happiness on my terms.