In His Brother's Arms

Aria's POV

I walked down the hallway, then the stairs to the main living room. I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and shame welling up in my chest. Aaron had kind of warned me several times about Justin. Helena didn't like the idea of getting married that early, especially not to Justin. She liked him as a friend only because he was my friend. Aside from that, she couldn't stand Justin or the thought of him.

My parents, the Browns, will obviously see this as a disgrace and tarnish their image and the name they have taken forever in building.

I didn't know if I was sure I'd want to make such a move. Do I really need to go on with this divorce? I mean... as much as this sounds stupid, I still love Justin. He's still my first love, my dream man.

"Good morning Ma'am," a familiar voice called out as I got to the last step of the stairs.

 "Hi, Cathy." I smiled. "Sorry about yesterday night, I hope I didn't hurt you?" I asked as soon as I remembered that I ran into her last night.

 "No ma'am, you didn't," she shook her head and hands aggressively as if admitting to it would mean her death sentence.

 "Well, I'm glad. You look extremely pretty today by the way," I grinned. She's been the cutest and most honest to me since I arrived at this house, I love her.

 "Thanks," she blushed and continued dusting the railing.

My phone rang as soon as I sat on a cushion in the living room, it was the divorce attorney.

 "Hello?"

"Good morning Mrs Aria, I'm at the gate to the family house, I need access."

"Hand the phone to the security" I instructed.

 After a second, I spoke; "Let him in." Then I hung up. I guess I'm really doing this.

Justin came down the stairs with his mother, Mrs Margaret, a character in the family who pretends to like me. I watched them both stroll lazily down the stairs and into the living room. Old me would have stood to greet her, but this new me refused to stand or say a word. I felt their eyes piercing through my soul but that's not my concern now.

 It's a tradition in the D'Cruz family house; everyone must have breakfast together before stepping out, except it was a matter of life and death.

 Soon, Aaron came downstairs, stealing glances at me. Maybe he was as nervous as I was, or he was eager to watch the drama unfold. We all sat waiting for Mr D'Cruz to come downstairs when the lawyer came in.

"You must be attorney Michael," I said, stretching my hand for a handshake, then I gestured toward a seat he could use. Luckily, every other D'Cruz wasn't around except for Justin's immediate family; Aaron and his parents, so this would be easy.

"I have something to say," I cleared my throat. "I'm divorcing Justin."

 Everywhere was silent. I swear you could hear a pin drop. I get that it's strange information, but someone should say something... anything. Justin and his mother watched me like I was reading a monologue from a show they hated. Aaron's eyes, steady and calm, lingered on me-as if he thought he could anchor me with just his gaze.

The attorney pulled documents from his leather bag and placed them on the center table. My legs carried me forward on instinct, my fingers trembling only slightly as I flipped through a few pages. Then, without hesitation, I signed where I was supposed to.

"Your turn, Justin."

 Justin let out a small laugh, a strained, broken sound. "Aria, what is this? A prank?" His lips stretched into a smile, but it didn't touch his eyes. He was bluffing, and I knew it.

 "This should be easy. We have no kids, and I'm not interested in a quarter of your property-not that you personally own any-so just sign and continue your life with Summer." My voice didn't break. I was proud of myself. For once, I sounded stronger than I felt.

 "Aria..." Justin closed the distance between us, his hands twitching like he wanted to reach for mine. I shifted back, denying him the chance. "Aria, is this about last night? I said I was sorry-it was a misunderstanding."

"First of all, you didn't apologize." My words sliced through the air like knives. "Secondly, you call nibbling on your secretary's breasts in the kitchen a misunderstanding?" His mouth opened, but before he could form another lie, his mother sighed loudly. "It's a shame you can't settle little misunderstandings within the locked doors of your room," Mrs. Margaret muttered, her face contorted in a look of disgust and disappointment.

 Little misunderstandings? My mouth parted, ready to ask her what kind of woman would reduce betrayal to something so trivial, but Aaron's voice cut in-cool, deliberate.

"Mother, we should stay out of this. It's a couple's matter." He rose to his feet, a subtle warning wrapped in respect.

Mrs. Margaret's eyes flicked to me, raking over my outfit as if she had been waiting for the chance to strike. "No wonder she put so much effort into her look today," she sneered. Then, with a deep breath, she turned to Justin. "I told you this would happen." She stood and swept off toward the dining room, dismissing me like I was a stain on her expensive rug.

I ignored her. "Justin, please. Just sign the papers."

 "No, Aria. Let's talk about this-"

 "No, Justin." My voice cracked, the tears pressing against the back of my throat like a tide I was barely holding back. "Be honest with me. Did you ever love me?"

 His face twisted, and for a heartbeat, I thought he might tell the truth. Instead, he forced the words out like they were bullets he'd been ordered to fire. "What!? Of course I do. I love you, Aria."

 I let out a laugh that sounded more like a choke. His face didn't match his voice. His eyes didn't carry love, only anger at being cornered. He looks like a man held at gunpoint.

"Wow," I whispered, shaking my head. "Just sign the documents, Justin. I'm done."

I turned to walk away, but before I could take a single step, his hand clamped around my arm. Hard. Firm. Hurting.

"You can't dump me like a fucking trash, Aria," he spat, his grip digging into my skin like claws. I tried to pull away, but he only squeezed harder. My pulse quickened, pounding in my ears. This wasn't Justin-this was someone else. Someone darker.

 "You're not going to embarrass me like this." His smile spread again, but it was cracked, manic-like a frustrated psychopath holding on by threads. "We'll go upstairs, into our fucking room, and have a fucking discussion about this madness, okay?"

 My heart slammed against my ribs. I had never heard him curse at me before. Each word dripped venom, each tug of his hand dragged me closer to the stairs, closer to something I didn't want to find out.

Panic clawed at my throat. If he got me into that room...

 "Justin, let me go!" I yanked against his grip, but his fingers only sank deeper, biting into my skin. My heart hammered so hard I could barely breathe.

Then a shadow moved. A chair scraped sharply against the marble floor.

"Aaron," Justin snapped without even turning, "stay out of this."

But Aaron was already on his feet, his voice calm but threaded with steel. "Let her go."

 The way he said it-it wasn't a request. It was an order.

Justin turned, his face twisted with a smile that didn't belong to him. "This is between me and my wife-"

"She's not your wife if she's signing those papers," Aaron cut him off, his tone sharper now. "And you don't put your hands on her like that. Ever."

For a second, the room went still again. Justin's jaw clenched, his grip tightening on my arm as if daring his brother to try him. Pain shot through me, and I sucked in a breath.

Aaron's eyes flicked to my arm, then back to Justin's face. He stepped forward, steady, unshaken, every move radiating quiet authority. "I said let her go. Don't make me repeat myself."

 Something shifted in Justin's eyes-a flicker of doubt, maybe fear-but his pride fought it down. "She's my wife," he hissed through clenched teeth.

 "No," Aaron's voice dropped lower, colder, "she's a woman. One you've already broken enough. If you won't let go because I'm telling you to, let go because I won't stand here and watch you hurt a woman."

My breath caught. The weight of his words pressed against me, heavier than Justin's grip. I felt like I wasn't standing alone.

Justin's fingers trembled against my arm before he shoved me away, his glare swinging between us. "You think you're some kind of hero, Aaron?" His voice cracked with bitterness. "Don't fool yourself."

 I stumbled back, clutching my arm, my skin burning where his hand had been. Aaron's body shifted in front of mine, a shield I didn't ask for but desperately needed.

 "Get out, Justin," Aaron said, his voice steady, final.