My Fake Fiance's Brother

Ghost of the past

#David's perspective#

My brother is an i***t.

"Finally settling down. Becoming responsible. I really thought I will sooner die than see his day." My mother almost sings her words in excitement as the news of her favorite son's engagement spread through the manor. No, not favorite. That would be unfair. My mother knows exactly what Alexander is and is terrified that father will cut him off for it and will end up homeless. Therefore, she developed an obsession to praise his every non-screw-up.

"Ha! Waltzing in, arm in arm with one of his playthings with a ring on her finger and the possibility to grab our money is him becoming responsible?" Father shakes his head, swirling the whiskey in his glass around.

"You said he should find a woman to settle down with. Now that he did, you decided she wasn't good enough before even meeting her. Ai, amor, I can't with you." She turns her head to me, expecting some help in fighting the i***t's cause, but I just pretend to be deeply focused on my own glass of whiskey. I almost never drink when I'm home, but with the storm on the horizon, I thought I might get a head start.

"I promised I will give her a chance and I will. What more can I do?" He asks, with a defeated sigh.

"Have faith in our son!"

"Yes, darling."

I take a look at the watch. As expected, it took less than five minutes for my mother to win. For a man feared in the business world as ruthless, it is always surprising how his entire persona melts at one look from his wife. Their dynamic made me believe in true love and showing me why I should never run after it. Is there a greater weakness than having something truly irreplaceable in your life?

Maybe that is why I didn't try harder to find her. After she sent that message, I forced myself to forget about her and yet here I am again, my mind slipping back to her amber eyes.

I shake my head. That was too long ago.

"How about you, David?" My mother high on the victory feeling, turns her attention to me. "You are almost thirty. I don't want to be an old and unglamorous grandma."

"We had a deal, ma. If I make time for the New Year celebration, you won't mention any of your friend's daughters. I am sure they are lovely and will find great matches without me."

"Make time? Make time?" She clutches her chest, leaning deeper into the sofa. I open my mouth to propose she returns to her acting career instead of using her talents on me, but a pleading look from my father and the promise from earlier that he would gift me his finest whiskey, make me just laugh.

Also a bad choice as she drops the melodrama and shoots me a murderous look.

Fortunately, we are saved by the butler, who announces the arrival of her beloved baby boy and all else is forgotten.

"Ma, this is Ava." I hear my brother's voice around the corner, a bit out of breath, as I assume he was surprised by our mother jumping from behind the corner to greet him.

I can't help but clutch the glass tighter as the name Ava reverberates in my head like an endless echo. He probably found it amusing to pick a girl named exactly like her...

Father raises his eyes to look at me, but I remain focused on my drink. He didn't say anything before getting up from his chair and walking out of the room to greet his son's new fiancee.

Once he is out... silence. Not one word from anyone, like they are frozen just outside the door.

"This is ridiculous!" I mumble to myself as I get up and brace myself to a meal with my brother.

"Ava... Moore?" Finally, my mother's voice, now almost shaking, breaks through the unnatural silence and I freeze. No f*****g way!

"No, Mrs. Rhodes, Ava Evans. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me."

As the woman lets out a small chuckle, I feel my body relax. For a split second I thought the i***t had a death wish. And by my parents' silence from earlier, they were fearing the same.

I walk to where they are and I have to grit my teeth when my eyes fall on the woman. Dark brown hair, falling down in soft curls over a round face with gentile features and... a pair of doll-like amber eyes. For a second, as she looks at me, I can see the same emotions that haunt me reflected in her eyes. Just for a second, because she then turns to look at Alexander.

"My brother, David." He introduces us with such a smug plastered on his face that it makes me terribly regret not downing the entire bottle of whiskey earlier. "Dear brother, this is my fiancée, Ava."

The elongated last word makes it obvious that he knew what he was doing bringing this woman here. Named Ava... she even looks like her. Or, better said, how she would have looked if she had stayed in my life.

It was my uncle's wish for us to spend time together and now that he is no longer here, I want to cease this farse.

"A pleasure." I grumble more to not give my brother the satisfaction of my surprise than to be polite.

"Let us head to the dining room. I have so many things to ask you two, dear." My mother breaks the tension and with one more look towards the woman, I turn around, decided not to throw her or my brother a second glance.

I helped that i***t through so many of his screw-up. Always behind to catch him like a good older brother. Always ready to take the blame and shield him because I actually loved him. And for what? For him to always turn around and stab me at every opportunity because of the imaginary chip on his shoulder. All because he is still convinced father loves him less. If only he knew about the damn will and how is is going to inherit everything. A will I signed as a witness!

I shake my head. One meal and then I don't have to see him until our mother's birthday.