Chapter 4After He Graduated, His Brother Took Over

"Bro, what are you and Aria doing? Why did she just message me from your phone?"

Out in the hallway, Rhys listened to Declan’s suspicious tone, his own voice perfectly calm. "My clothes were dirty, so I was taking a shower."

Declan audibly relaxed. "Oh, is that it? Good. I was thinking of cutting the trip short anyway. I'll be back tomorrow."

Rhys didn't say anything.

Declan suddenly sounded anxious. "Bro, I think I'm done playing around. Being out here made me realize how good Aria is. You'd be okay with me marrying her, right?" The question was laced with a desperate, thinly veiled attempt to gauge Rhys's feelings.

"Of course. If that's what you both want."

Declan let out a huge sigh of relief. What was he thinking? Rhys had seen all kinds of women; why would he ever be interested in a woman his own brother had slept with? He felt foolish for even suspecting him. After a few more pleasantries, Declan made an excuse and hung up.

When Rhys came back, I found an opportunity to retrieve the bug.

"Declan, what happened?" I asked, my face a mask of innocence. "You look so preoccupied."

Rhys cupped my face, his voice low. "Aria, will you stay with me forever?"

"Of course I will."

"And do you like me now, or the way I was before?" he pressed, even though he'd asked the same question just three hours ago.

My lips curved into a small smile. "I like them both."

I wasn't about to give him a straight answer. If Rhys decided this game was over, I could still go back to Declan. But if he wanted to keep playing, the pressure was all on him.

Just as I predicted, my answer left him looking lost. He pulled me into a tight hug, as if clutching something he was about to lose. The moment was charged with a desperate longing, and soon we were kissing again, a tangle of limbs and soft murmurs. He unzipped my dress, his body pressing me down onto the bed.

But the next second, the doorbell rang.

The carefully constructed atmosphere shattered.

This apartment was a gift from Declan. No one else would just show up unannounced. There was only one possibility.

Declan was back. Ahead of schedule.

And the room, littered with the evidence of our afternoon, was not fit for company.

I looked up at Rhys. He swallowed hard. "I'll get it."

Sooner or later, this had to happen.

He opened the door. Declan stood there, still in his hiking gear. The smile on his face vanished the moment he saw the rose petals scattered across the floor.

I looked straight at him. "Oh, you must be Declan's brother," I said sweetly. "Can I help you?"

I knew Declan had a twin.

A pained, forced smile stretched across Declan's face, but his eyes burned with rage. Aria hadn't even recognized him. Did he mean anything to her at all?

"I'm here to see him," Declan ground out, his gaze fixed on Rhys. "We need to talk. Outside." His fists were clenched at his sides.

I smiled, adding more fuel to the fire. I wrapped my arms around Rhys's arm and kissed his cheek. "Honey, come back soon. I'll be waiting for you."

In less than a second, Rhys shoved me away.

Declan's fist connected with his face.

I let out a theatrical shriek. "What are you doing? Don't hit my boyfriend!"