The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 176

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

Chapter 176

Sienna

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The waiting–room chair was cold steel and it bit through the thin fabric of my summer dress that still carried the scent of Connor’s blood.

Most of it had dried on the dress that I didn’t bother to change.

I sat rigid on the edge of the cold chair, arms wrapped around myself, and watched the same three seconds of memory play on an endless, merciless loop behind my eyes.

If this steel chair was cold then the stone chair back in the arena was made of ice, just like Johanson’s heart because who in their right mind would pretend to be an elder and treat their child like this?

Visceral images of Connor in pain, grunting and fighting the draught’s effect over and over again, forcing the claws and teeth back inside relentlessly flashed in my mind.

Every time the image restarted, my lungs forgot how to work for a second.

Aaron said something beside me but I was barely paying him any attention. He had pushed Sandra away when I cried out for help, he was still here yet my mind was on his half brother in the surgery room.

I only registered the slight nudge against my shoulder and then the warm weight of something being draped

over me.

“Here. Wear this.”

I shook my head automatically. “I’m fine.”

He ignored me the way he used to when we were kids and I insisted I wasn’t cold even while my teeth chattered.

“You’re not clearly”

He stood, stepped in front of me, and threw his coat around my shoulders before forcing my hands through the sleeves like he used to force me into rain jackets because I would love to get wet in rain even if I went down with a cold and fever the next morning.

The sleeves of his jacket were too long and the collar still smelled faintly of his cologne and the cold night air outside.

He buttoned the front with careful fingers, like I might bolt if he moved too fast.

“You’re shivering,” he observed. “There. That’s much better.”

A small, tired smile flickered across his mouth.

It looked strange on him after everything that had happened tonight. This version of him was softer than the Aaron who had almost let Sandra drag him away, and the Aaron who had stood silent while the collar bit into

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The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

his brother’s throat.

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Connor and Aaron weren’t truly brothers nor were they great friends but Connor still thought of him like family. And I knew the lengths he could go to for those he loved aka his mother.

So the fact that Aaron just sat there and watched didn’t sit well with me.

“Do you need a blanket? Or… they probably have a spare bed somewhere if you want to lie down for a bit.”

I shook my head again. Now was not the time to fight with him. I just felt incredibly tired…and lost.

My face felt crumpled like wet paper that had been crushed and smoothed out too many times.

Aaron noticed my expression and sat back down beside me wordlessly. After a moment his hand settled between my shoulder blades and began rubbing slow, careful circles. The gesture was so familiar it almost hurt.

“Don’t worry,” he murmured. “He’ll be fine.”

I turned my head to look at him as fresh tears I hadn’t realized were waiting slipped free and tracked hot paths down my cheeks.

“Will he?” My voice came out small and fearful. “Do you actually want…I mean… believe that?”

Aaron’s expression softened in a way that made my chest ache. He held my gaze without flinching.

“He’s much stronger than me,” he replied softly. “So yeah. I believe it.”

Aaron and Connor had always competed with each other so I didn’t remember either speaking fondly of the other. Except for today with Connor…

And now Aaron accepted Connor was stronger than him. I could only imagine what it must have taken him to say that.

Something in me gave way. I leaned sideways until my temple rested against his shoulder. The coat was warm and I felt his head lean on mine slightly as well. For a few seconds I just breathed and tried not to fall apart completely.

“This happened because of me,” I whispered into the quiet. “If I hadn’t angered Johanson, none of this would

have occured”

“Don’t blame yourself, Sia…”

“No, listen. If I hadn’t gotten involved with Connor, if I hadn’t stood up to Johanson, if I hadn’t…”

“Sienna.” Aaron’s voice was firmer now. “Connor chose every single one of those actions by his own free will. You didn’t force him to do anything. Neither the collar nor that draught was your fault.”

I made a broken sound that might have been a laugh or a sob. “But it feels like Connor was punished because

of me.”

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The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

“Just try to rest a little” Aaron murmured as he kept rubbing my back, stifling a yawn.

It was way past midnight already.

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The silence that followed was heavy but not empty. After a while he disappeared down the hallway, and came back with two paper cups of hospital coffee that smelled burnt and overly sweet.

He pressed one into my free hand.

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