Forbidden: My Husband's Brother

Alone

Reyna’s POV

The night dragged on longer than I thought possible. Sleep came in pieces, broken by restless turns and thoughts that would not quiet. Nicholas’s face, his words, his apology, if it could even be called that, looped in my head.

I wanted to believe him when he said he trusted me now. But deep inside, a whisper kept pulling me down. What if it was only for tonight? What if tomorrow, he changes his mind again?

When I finally closed my eyes, it was not peace that found me, but exhaustion.

By morning, the first light broke through the heavy curtains. I pushed myself up slowly, my body still heavy, and the first thing I did was glance at the empty armchair by the window. Nicholas had been there last night, standing so close I could almost feel his warmth.

Now there was nothing but silence.

I pressed my lips together, pushing the blanket aside. My steps were soft against the floor as I made my way to the bathroom. Cold water on my face did little to wash away the weight pressing down on me.

When I came out of the bedroom, the house was already alive with faint sounds: maids shuffling, dishes clinking in the distance. The Hall mansion always felt too big for me, its tall walls stretching like reminders that I did not belong here.

I placed a hand on my belly instinctively. Still flat. Still a secret. Only Nicholas knew the truth.

And the truth was both my shield and my curse.

I made my way down the long staircase, holding onto the rail even though I didn’t need to. I had learned to move quietly here, as if even my steps might anger someone.

The faint smell of coffee drifted through the air when I entered the dining room. Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, painting the room in soft gold.

At the head of the table sat Mrs. Hall, my mother-in-law. Her eyes were sharp, her lips pursed as though she had been waiting for me.

“Good morning,” I said softly, my voice carrying more hesitation than I liked.

Her gaze flicked up at me, cold and heavy. “You’re late. Breakfast was served thirty minutes ago.”

I glanced at the table. Two plates had already been cleared. Only one remained, untouched, sitting at my end.

I hesitated. “Where is Nicholas?”

Her fork clinked against the porcelain dish as she set it down with a controlled hand. “Nicholas has already left for work. He didn’t think it was necessary to wait.”

My stomach dipped. He left without saying a word?

I lowered myself into the chair, fingers brushing against the edge of the table. My appetite was gone, but I forced myself to take a small bite, the silence pressing in around me.

Mrs. Hall’s eyes never strayed far from me. I could feel them cutting into my skin, peeling me back layer by layer.

“You must be proud,” she said finally, her tone sharp as glass. “To tie down one son, and when he dies, cling to the next.”

I froze mid-bite, my fork trembling in my hand. “That’s not true,” I whispered.

Her lips curled, but the smile did not touch her eyes. “Isn’t it? First Jeremy, now Nicholas. How convenient that you always land where the money is.”

Heat rose to my face, not from guilt but from the shame of being accused of it again. I set my fork down carefully, though my hands shook.

“I didn’t ask for this marriage,” I said, my voice unsteady but firm. “It wasn’t my choice.”

Her brow arched, elegant and cruel. “And yet, here you are. Living under this roof, wearing the Hall name. Don’t act as if you are the victim, Reyna. You knew exactly what you were doing when you walked into this family.”

I clutched my hands in my lap, my nails digging into my palms. I wanted to tell her everything. About the child. About the threats. About how Nicholas himself had offered me protection. But I couldn’t.

If she knew about the baby, she would turn the entire family against me in a heartbeat.

So I swallowed the words, letting them burn my throat.

“Do not mistake Nicholas’s silence for loyalty,” she continued, sipping her coffee as if she were speaking about the weather. “He may defend you now, but his patience will run thin. And when it does, you will find yourself with nowhere to go.”

Her words cut deeper than the photographs Nicholas had thrown at me last night. Because part of me feared she was right.

I lifted my gaze, forcing myself to meet her cold eyes. “I am not your enemy,” I said quietly. “I never wanted to take anything from this family.”

Her laugh was dry, sharp. “And yet, everything you touch falls apart. Jeremy is dead. Nicholas is distracted. This family’s name is on every tongue in the city, whispered like gossip in the streets. Do you call that nothing?”

My breath caught. My chest tightened. The air in the room felt too thin to breathe.

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “If you truly cared for this family, Reyna, you would leave. Spare us the shame. Spare Nicholas the burden.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came. My hands trembled against the fabric of my dress.

It was then that one of the maids entered, carrying a tray of fresh fruit. She glanced at me quickly, her eyes darting away just as fast.

The silence returned, heavy and suffocating.

I forced myself to lift my fork again, though each bite tasted like ash.

Nicholas’s absence sat beside me like a shadow. His words from last night, 'Now I believe you, echoed in my mind, but this morning they felt fragile. Temporary.

What if he had already started to doubt again? What if Mrs. Hall’s words planted seeds he could not ignore?

I pressed a hand to my stomach under the table, my fingers trembling.

What will happen to us if he stops believing me?

The thought was louder than any insult Mrs. Hall could throw at me.

When I finally pushed my plate away, my appetite long gone, I stood with quiet care. “Thank you for breakfast,” I murmured, even though the words tasted bitter.

Mrs. Hall only hummed, her eyes sliding away from me like I was no more than a passing shadow.

I walked out of the dining room, my steps steady though my insides shook.

In the hallway, where no one could see, I pressed my back against the wall and closed my eyes. My heart pounded hard, not from her words alone but from the heavy truth pressing on me.

I was alone.

Nicholas was gone. And if his apology had only been for last night, then I had no shield left.

My lips trembled as I whispered to the child inside me. “I’ll protect you. Even if no one else will.”

But deep inside, a hollow ache spread through me, the fear that maybe, just maybe, I couldn’t do it alone.