Magus Cooper was my childhood best friend, a rock against all the storms in my life. But, I had cut all the ties with him once I got married to Julian.
Reason– Julian did not approve me meeting my male friends and I took all his wishes as a command, a fool in love. Meanwhile, he continued meeting his childhood sweetheart in the name of family gatherings.
Five years, no contacts. Still, he assured me he would help my brother. Once the words escaped through his lips, I knew even if the world collapsed, he would fulfill his promise.
I finally took a sigh of relief as I hung up the call and came back home. I peeked through the door. Julian was sleeping soundly, embracing the red muffler through his heart– a gift from Lesley.
My heart ached seeing how much he longed for his beloved despite sleeping by my side.
However, I did not mourn for my failed marriage this time. I simply closed the door and walked up to his study room.
Hurriedly, I typed my birthdate to open his computer. But, red mark popping on the screen mocked me, showing mirror to my husband's betrayal. But, there was no time for self-pity.
I grabbed my phone, scanned Lesley's information from her social media account. Then, I typed her pet name as passcode.
It worked!
Even her pet had great value in Julian's heart than me!
It wasn't the only shock waiting for me.
Once I opened his private file, I was stunned.
He had transferred his all property in Lesley's name, even those we had bought with my parents' funds.
I clutched the mouse in my hands tightly and immediately copied all the necessary information about his company, along with the evidence of his illegal transfer of my property to Lesley.
I was going take every penny back from Julian after divorcing him. That's the last thing I need to do after securing my brother's innocence. I won't let him enjoy the fortune with his mistress that my parents had left.
With that, I shut the computer off and came out.
***
The next day, Julian insist on taking me to meet Lesley– to apologise on my brother's behalf.
"You want me to apologise those people who have framed my brother?" I yelled. "On your dreams, Julian!"
"My brother is innocent. I will never apologize for something he hasn't done. Instead, I'll reopen the case. I will not stop until I see Deccan behind the cell."
Julian's face hardened. "We talked about this yesterday, didn't we?"
"I never agreed to you." I replied.
"If you don't apologize on your brother's behalf, then watch him get raped by these men! He loves men so much anyway!" As he spoke, he pulled up a video on his phone and shoved it towards me.
It showed my brother naked, surrounded by a group of burly men, with unopened condoms by the bed.
The video he shoved into my face, the raw, undeniable visual of my younger brother's terror, ripped the breath from my lungs.
I didn't scream. I didn't even cry. I simply froze, a block of ice where my heart used to be.
Liam, my baby brother, was being molested just because he had protected me the other day. My heart was ripping apart watching the video played before my eyes.
"Wh-Why are you doing this to me, Julian?" I asked, my voice trembling with rage and hurt.
His voice quickly softened as he pulled me into his arms.
"Are you mad, darling? Why would I do that to you? It's Deccan."
"That's why I'm telling you to come with me to meet Lesley and Deccan. Let's make up everything and solve the matter, alright?"
I looked up to meet his gaze, my sight blurred with tears as I asked, "What if I still don't come with you, Julian? What if I don't obey? What will happen to my brother then?"
My heart was trembling in my chest as if waiting to hear something terrific, and as expected, Julian's face immediately turned cold. He said.
"These men you just saw, have been in cells for years for being charged of rape and molestation. They have things for young guys, Laura. You won't be liking them to share bed with Liam every night, do you?"
My eyes were bloodshot, my heart filled with sorrow, and my nails dug deep into my skirt.
This was the man I had foolishly loved for five years, turning a deaf ear to the bad words my brother and Mags had said.
I had asked my brother to sell the house to help Julian, and told him I would help him when he succeeded.
Now, this was Julian repaying my brother. At that moment, I realized how foolish I had been. I fought the urge to slap him hard, controlled my trembling body, and said through gritted teeth,
"Okay! I'll go with you... apologize to Leslie and Deken. Don't bother my brother anymore."
"Come with me to meet the Kinley brothers and sisters. Once they see your sincerity, they'll make your brother's life in prison easier." He replied with a smile, a mask covering his cruel face.
In that moment, the man before me felt incredibly unfamiliar. But for my brother's sake, I had no choice but to endure it for now.
Two weeks. Just two weeks. Once I have evidence to prove my brother's innocence, I can completely get rid of this demon!
