Chapter 39 39

Chapter 39 39
Chapter 39
The Question That Could Ruin Everything
My brother, since he came back, hasn’t rested. Why is he so inquisitive? That’s always him, Jonathan, the one who loves endless talk, who always pokes and digs until he uncovers something. That is my brother.
And one thing about him, he absolutely hates it when someone goes for a younger girl, someone not mature enough, because he says it’s like taking advantage of innocence.
He’s repeated that so many times in the past that it echoes like a sermon in my head.
If only he knew that right beside him, his very own best friend Damien—his so-called brother from another mother—was actually dating me, touching me, kissing me, and last night… fucking me like I belonged to him.
If Jonathan ever discovered this, I swear he would lose his mind.
The words he had just asked at the table still echoed through me, choking me more than the food I was chewing. Girls with a good shape, with tits, with something tempting…that was his exact phrase.
The nerve of him! He had no idea he was describing me in front of Damien. Every single trait he listed was everything Damien had already praised me for in moments when we were tangled in each other’s bodies, when his voice broke with need, and when he whispered things against my skin that I could never repeat.
And now Jonathan had brought it up, completely unaware of the chaos he was stirring.
Damien’s face stiffened. He said, “No, I just… you know…” His words trailed off as if caught in his throat.
I could see his jaw tightening, his eyes refusing to meet Jonathan’s, and then my brother leaned closer with that suspicious grin of his and said, “Don’t tell me, man… Don’t tell me that you’re into that.”
I felt my stomach twist. My fork froze halfway to my lips. My chest throbbed so hard I thought I would choke again. And then Damien rushed, almost stumbling over his words.
“No, no, never,” he said quickly. His voice cracked, but he forced out a laugh that sounded so dry, so empty of life. “You should know me. I’m never going to do any girl again. Not after Sophia. Not after everything she did, at least not yet.”
The name hit me like a cold slap. Sophia. The girl he never talks about, the girl he once loved who shattered him to pieces, was the same person who tried to humiliate me in the library.
His voice turned low, broken. “After the heartbreak, the lies, the cheating… finding her with another man in bed…” He exhaled sharply. “That’s enough reason for me never to trust women again. Never again.”
I focused on my plate. My fork scraped loudly against the plate as if to drown his words, but it didn’t help. He had said it; he would never trust women again. That means…me too!
My chest tightened with the heat of his words…was he only playing with my feelings all this while?
He trusted me last night. He whispered my name. He kissed me like I was the only thing that made sense to him. Was all of that a lie? Or was this just him protecting himself in front of my brother?
Jonathan let out a low whistle. “Always Mr. Perfect,” he said, shaking his head and smiling faintly. Then he turned to me, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Right, Clarissa? Don’t you think so?”
I swallowed hard. My lips curved into a smile I didn’t feel. “Yeah,” I said softly. “I think so. He is perfect.”
Jonathan leaned back, satisfied with my answer, and then turned to Damien again, his tone more serious.
“Listen, man, you mean the world to me. You know that, right? You’ve been there for me, through everything. And now… knowing that you and Clarissa are crashing together, getting along in the same house, it means more to me than I can say. I feel so much better knowing someone like you is watching out for her. Protecting her. Keeping the wrong guys away from her. It gives me peace.”
My throat tightened. The irony of it. If only Jonathan knew that the very man he was thanking was the one sneaking into my bed at night, the one who already had his hands all over me.
Damien nodded quickly. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed again. “Yes, you’re right,” he said. “She’s a good girl. Very good. She’s been helpful to me as well. You should know I owe your family so much for their support.”
Jonathan smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. “That’s good to hear. And I hope you’d help me end anyone who ever tries to hurt her. You get me, right?”
Damien forced a smile. “Of course. Always. Anyone who tries to take advantage of her…” His voice lowered, firm, almost dangerous. “I’ll end them.”
I shivered at his tone. It wasn’t just words. He meant it.
I cleared my throat. “Bro, I can protect myself, you know. You don’t have to say all of this.”
Damien nodded quickly, adding, “Yeah, that’s right. She’s an adult. A grown woman now. She can take care of herself. You’re acting like she’s still a child.”
But suddenly Jonathan’s gaze sharpened. His eyes cut between us, back and forth, studying, reading, as if peeling away layers we had carefully built.
“Damien,” he said slowly, his voice heavier. “I feel like you’re hiding something from me.”
The air froze. What the heck is he going to say again!?
Damien stiffened. His fork clinked against his plate. “What? No, man, what do you mean?”
Jonathan leaned forward. “Don’t play with me. I’ve known you too long. Something’s off. You haven’t felt comfortable since I came back. You avoid eye contact. You laugh nervously. You keep shifting. What are you not telling me? I’m your brother, man. Your best friend. You can tell me anything. What’s bothering you? Is it me coming back? Or… is it something else?”
My palms grew clammy under the table. My heart pounded against my ribs so loud I was sure both of them could hear it.
Damien opened his mouth. His lips parted, but no words came out. He rubbed his neck, looked away, then back at Jonathan. “I… I…”
Jonathan’s tone softened, coaxing. “Come on, man. Talk to me. I’m always here for you. We’re in this together. You don’t have to hide.”
I felt my breath catch. Every part of me screamed at him to stop, to shut up, to say nothing.
“Damien, don’t!”