Rafael stared. Waiting for a smirk. A sign this was another one of Kaelith’s twisted games.
But there was nothing.
Only certainty.
Only intent. “Father will—”
“Fuck father.” Kaelith’s voice exploded through the room. He finally let Rafael go, only to pace away like a predator caged too long. “I don’t give two flying fucks what he thinks.” He turned sharply. Eyes burning. “If you want me to keep her safe, you divorce her.”
The words hit harder than the table ever did.
Rafael went still.
His mind spiraled.
A thousand thoughts.
A thousand consequences.
A thousand reasons to sayno.
And yet, only one face kept appearing in his mind.
Amara.
Smiling at him even when he never deserved it.
His jaw tightened. “Fine.”
Kaelith stopped moving. One brow lifted. Rafael wasn’t one of those to let his pride go that easily. There was a time when Kaelith had to give up on his toy car because Rafael wanted that. And when Rafael agreed to give Amara to Kaelith, he knew his brother was up to something.
“But I have one condition.”
Kaelith smiled. “Oh?”
Rafael already hated himself for what he was about to say.
Hated the arrogance.
Hated the gamble.
Hated the fact that some part of him still believed she would choose him.
Every time. “I’ll divorce her…” His voice came colder now. “But only if she falls for you.”
Even Kaelith seemed caught off guard. Rafael pushed himself off the table, adjusting his ruined collar. His gaze sharpened. “Five months.” He looked his brother straight in the eye. “If Amara falls in love with you within five months…” His throat tightened slightly. “…she’s yours.”
“But if she doesn’t…” Rafael stepped closer. His voice dropped. “You forget this fantasy.”
A grin spread across Kaelith’s face. He looked terrifyingly amused.
“Now…” He murmured. “That sounds tempting.”
Rafael dusted off the front of his shirt, though his pulse still thundered.
“And one more thing.” Kaelith tilted his head. Rafael’s eyes turned lethal. “If you so much as lay a finger on her, the deal’s off.”
???
