Chapter 116 I love you like a brother
Fabian opened the car door and stepped out. Heaven hugged him immediately.
“I thought you wouldn’t talk to me again,” she said, holding him tightly.
“I didn’t mean any of what I said…”
“Then love me,” he cut in.
She pulled back, startled. “What?” She thought she had heard him wrong.
“If you didn’t mean it,” he raised his strained voice so she could hear him better, “then love me..not as a brother, but the way a woman loves a man.”
He pulled her into his chest, holding her tightly, like he’d been waiting years for this moment like he couldn’t contain it anymore.
Heaven’s gaze shifted inside his car. She saw a bottle of liquor sitting on the passenger seat.
“How much did you drink?” she asked softly before pushing him away gently.
“I’ll get my phone and call Rayan to come pick you up…” she turned.
“I’m not drunk, Vera,” Fabian said quickly. “Rayan left that there.”
He stepped closer again and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I have loved you for so damn long.”
Heaven froze, her heart slammed against her ribcage.
For seven years, she had never seen him as anything but family. Why did he choose to say this now? And last night, she had accepted something real with Maverick.
She stood still for a moment, then carefully reached up and loosened his grip.
“Fabian…” Her voice was soft, cautious, like she was afraid of breaking something fragile. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“I am,” he said immediately. “For once, I am. I held back when you were pregnant. When Liam was born. When you decided to study. When you came back to Ivory City. I didn’t say anything because I was scared, I thought I was okay with you depending on me and I didn’t want to ruin what we had.” His voice cracked. “But now… I don’t want to lose you.”
She turned to face him.
His eyes were glassy, hopeful, desperate.
“I love you,” she said slowly. “But not like that.”
Her words were quiet, but to him it was a bomb.
Fabian felt like he was stabbed multiple times . “You’re saying you can’t love me ?”
“I’m saying I don’t feel the same way as you do,” she replied calmly, honestly. “It wouldn’t be fair to lie just because I don’t want to hurt you.”
Silence stretched between them.
“I’ve only ever seen you as my family,” she continued. “Someone safe. Someone I trust with my life and Liam’s.” Her voice trembled despite her control. “I don’t want to lose that.”
His jaw tightened. He nodded once and looked away.
“So that’s it,” he murmured.
“It has to be,” Heaven said. “You deserve to be loved fully.. not by someone forcing herself into it.”
She reached for his hand, squeezed it gently.
“You are my big brother, Fabian.”
His eyes lifted to the white car parked in front of her house, his jaw tightened.
“You’re choosing someone you barely know over me, Vera,” he said, his voice tight with pain.
She didn’t understand it either but her heart had already chosen Maverick, with him it was different.
She couldn’t explain it. It terrified her.
Fabian turned, opened his car door, slammed it shut, and drove off.
Heaven wanted to stop him.
But she couldn’t give him what he wanted and she didn’t want to be selfish to keep him as the emotional shield.
She sank down and broke into tears.
He had taken care of her. Fed her. Clothed her. Helped her become who she was.He had been her savior, the one who never let her or Liam feel alone in a world where she had no one.
And now, she knew things would never be the same again, she had just lost him.
\~~~~~~~~~~~
Rayan stayed seated in the VVIP booth long after Samantha stormed out.
He hadn’t taken her because he didn’t want to drag her into that kind of danger. He had nearly died more than once. He made his choice then to keep her safe by staying away.
As much as he felt guilty tonight, he was making a different choice which was getting her back. And this time, he wasn’t letting her go.
Something was wrong. She was hiding things, why was he dancing her with a mask over his face.He was going to find out why.
He stood, jaw tight, and strode out after her.
The moment he opened the heavy door, his eyes dropped to the floor.
A black lace mask lay crumbled.
He bent down slowly and picked it up, he opened the delicate fabric.
His brows furrowed.
She wore it because she didn’t eat anyone seeing her face.So why did she take it off here? Why leave it behind?
“You know why they dragged her out like that?” two barely-dressed dancers whispered as they passed him.
“I heard she stole their money…”
“Tsk. She’s a thief? No wonder she never lets clients see her face.”
Rayan’s blood turned to ice.
He knew exactly who they were talking about.
He lunged, grabbing one of the girls by the arm. The cords in his neck bulged.
“Where is she?”
The girl flinched, eyes wide with fear. “W-who… please?”
He held up the mask.
She swallowed hard and pointed down the hallway toward the staff exit. “That way…”
Rayan was already moving fast.
Outside the club, in the shadowed alley, Samantha screamed.
“Let me go, you fucking useless prick!”
A man with a rasp voice yanked her toward a waiting black SUV. His grip was tight and bruising.
“So you can keep letting men shove money into your loose pussy? Offering yourself up like some cheap slut? No fucking way, Samantha. You really thought you could hide this from me?”
“They can shove it anywhere they want,” she spat, “as long as I never have to look at your disgusting face for the rest of my life!”
Seeing he was distracted she drove her knee hard into his groin.
“Fuck” he hissed.
Samantha bolted.
“Get her!” he roared, clutching himself in agony.
The men in black suits surged forward.
She didn’t make it far.
Passersby didn’t dare interfere, they brought heads down. They didn’t want trouble. Everyone recognized Don Nicholas.
“Let me go!” Samantha thrashed, clawing and slamming her fists into their faces. They didn’t dare strike back.
They dragged her back to him.
Nicholas backhanded her with brutal force.
Samantha crashed to the ground, blood trickling from her split lip and nose.
“Samantha,” he snarled, looming over her, “I’m done with your excuses and bullshit. Tonight, we’re getting married. Right now.”
He turned to one of his men. “Go get a priest. Now.”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’d rather die than marry you!” Samantha spat blood onto his face.
“You motherfucking bitch…”
His hand rose again, ready to deliver another slap
BANG!!!