Secretly in Love with the Brother Next Door

On my 23rd birthday, slightly tipsy, I knocked on the door of the neighbor I had long harbored feelings for.

He was like the moon to my diary.

“Nathan, I’m in love with you,” I heard my voice tremble as I confessed.

He looked at me, his gaze complex, silent for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice, “Lillian, I’m not a good person. Are you sure you want to be with me?”

I nodded, seeing his eyes darken.

The next second, an aggressive kiss landed on me.

I fell into his soft embrace.

It all felt like a dream.

I was finally with the man I loved.

Unfortunately, the happiness of stealing the moon didn’t last long.

I discovered that while he treated me well, he didn’t love me.

As joy overwhelmed us, I heard the name of another woman.

It turned out my moon also had his own moon.

A woman in love is particularly good at comforting herself, like me.

Three years should be enough to warm even a stone.

But the stone I was warming never got very warm.

Nathan Brooks matched most women’s fantasies about a partner.

Gentle, considerate, handsome, wealthy, and virtuous.

Apart from not loving me, he was perfect in every way.

But I often forgot this flaw. His gaze was tender, his kisses passionate.

Back then, I didn’t understand what he meant by not being a good person.

Until the day he caught a male colleague, who was on his way home, helping me – someone who had accidentally twisted her ankle – get home.

Nathan took me from him gently.

But once home, he threw me onto the bed.

“Lillian, don’t let other men touch you. It makes me sad,” he said.

His warm hands massaged medicine into my injury, his touch light, but I broke out in goosebumps.

From a distance, you wouldn’t know how sharp the crescent moon could be, enough to cause wound.

Nathan’s sharpness gradually became clear.

He began to check my phone, deleted colleagues who expressed affection towards me, cared whether I came straight home after work, and monitored where I went for parties.

I was terrified yet thrilled by all this.

Because provoking his attention was the first step to winning him over.

One day I came home very late and was startled by Nathan standing by the door, his expression dark, the corners of his eyes slightly red.

As his anger was about to burst, I switched to a pitiful expression and burst into tears.

“Nathan, I don’t want to go to work anymore. I’m so tired.”

I hugged him, feeling his body stiffen with confusion.

After a moment, he patted my back.

“Then don’t go. I’ll take care of you.”

After I quit my job, Nathan’s tense demeanor eased.

I discovered he greatly enjoyed hiding me away.

It didn’t cost him any effort to control me, not even hiding those handcuffs and shackles in his study.

My proactive submission restored his full-moon gentleness.

Except for exposing me to outsiders, he was always very affectionate towards me.

Whenever I found him calling that woman’s name, I would pretend to go to work, and he would try all the harder to keep me around.

He was like the fox in The Little Prince, being tamed by me.

But unlike the Little Prince, I loved him – not for a rose but for this sole moon.

Today was his birthday.

He cooked a splendid meal, and I watched him happily.

“Happy Birthday, Nathan. I love you forever.”

“You’re always so sweet,” he said.

He served the food, handing it to me.

“Nathan, will you always love me?”

“Yes, I will.”

I smiled even sweeter, satisfied with his answer.

The cream cake was all smeared on me, completely wasted.

Nathan held me as I took a warm bath.

I leaned into his arms and bit hard on his arm until I drew blood.

“Here’s an unforgettable birthday gift for you, Nathan.”

I smiled at him cheekily.

He wasn’t angry; instead, he came closer and kissed the blood from my lips.

We lived on, inseparably.

Though he was supporting me, I never let myself waste away.

A woman must always have a skill to turn to, able to say “go to hell” to things she despises.

I kept freelancing, submitting designs to a jewelry company, and the earnings were quite substantial.

When bored, I would study at home to improve myself.

Today, when he returned, his expression was a bit guilty.

The phone screen was turned down on the table, and I snuggled into his embrace, acting spoiled.

But I knew, Luna Gray was coming back.