Dared to Kiss His Brother, Now I'm Addicted

Chapter 7

I buried myself in work, hoping to drown out the pain. Every day, I left early and came home late, too busy to even eat properly. But somehow, Victor always showed up at the right moment, with takeout, snacks, or just a warm cup of coffee.

"Ashley, you've gotta slow down a little. Your health matters too," he said one evening, handing me the coffee. His eyes were full of quiet concern.

I took it, the warmth from the cup spreading through my frozen chest.

"Thanks, Victor," I murmured. "Right now, I just... need to focus on work."

He didn't press. Just smiled and stayed by my side.

Days turned into weeks, and slowly, I got used to his presence. He was always there when I hit my lowest, bringing lighthearted jokes and quiet support. I started looking forward to seeing him, even if I told myself not to.

We're just friends, I kept reminding myself.

Victor seemed to understand my hesitation. He stopped bringing up his feelings and instead, just stayed close, never crossing a line, never pushing. There was something both comforting and confusing about the way we were: close, but not quite close enough.

Then one day, out of the blue, he asked, "Ashley... have you ever thought about starting over?"

I froze. My mind raced for an answer, but before I could respond, my phone rang. An unknown number. I hesitated, then picked up.

"Hello, is this Ashley?"

The voice was all too familiar. My heart dropped. James.

I hung up immediately, my pulse pounding.

Victor noticed right away. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Who was that?"

I forced a breath and kept my tone even. "It was James."

Victor's jaw tightened, a flicker of anger in his eyes. "What does he want?"

"Said I left a few things at his place. Asked me to stop by sometime."

He was quiet for a beat, then reached for my hand. His grip was warm, gentle.

"Ashley... I know you haven't fully let go yet," he said softly. "But I just want you to know, I'm here. No matter what."

His sincerity was overwhelming. I felt a tug in my chest but instinctively pulled my hand back. He noticed, and let go without a word.

"I'm not trying to rush you," he said with a faint smile. "Take all the time and space you need."

He stood up to leave. "I'll get going now. But if you ever need anything... just call me."

Victor was a good man. Thoughtful. Kind. But I wasn't ready, not yet. And deep down, I couldn't help but wonder... would someone like me, with no status or connections, ever be accepted by someone like him?

I walked alone through the quiet streets, memories of James clawing at the back of my mind. The once-sweet moments had all turned bitter.

In contrast, Victor's kindness felt like a warm light in the dark. Always showing up just when I needed it, without asking for anything in return.

I pulled my coat tighter against the wind, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. My heart was a mess.

How do I even begin to face what I'm feeling?

By the time I reached my apartment, my phone buzzed again. A new text. Unknown number.

[Ashley, this is Victor's mother. Can we meet tomorrow?]

I stared at the message, caught off guard. After a long pause, I replied:

[Sure. You pick the time and place.]

The next day, I arrived at the café she'd chosen. She was already there, elegant, poised, and smiling in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Without a word, she slid an envelope across the table.

"Ashley," she said coolly. "Walk away from my son, and this money is yours."

I looked down at the check. The amount made my stomach twist.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed it back toward her. "I'm sorry. I can't accept this."

Her expression didn't change.

"I won't lie to you, I care about Victor. But I'm not in love with him. Not yet, anyway."

I spoke with quiet honesty, unsure whether that made things better or worse, but it was the truth.