His for a year. - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

“What?” I asked, pretending not to know.
“Don’t feign ignorance,” he said, every word measured and clipped. “He called your mother by her first name, not anyone should know that. Tell me the truth.”
I stared at him, the burn of shame crawling up my neck. “He’s my brother,” I said finally, my voice barely a whisper.
Zade’s expression didn’t shift. He just stood there, perfectly still, like a statue made of fury.
“My older brother. But he’s not—he’s not really part of our family anymore,” I stammered. “He left. Renounced us. He hasn’t been in our lives for years even though he was present, then he suddenly disappeared for months. He reappeared 2 weeks ago.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me this before we signed a contract? Before you walked into my family, into my life?” His voice was dangerously low now, sharp. “We asked you about this Olive.”
“I didn’t think it mattered! He hates me—he hates my mom. I thought he was gone for good. He just showed up out of nowhere.” My eyes burned. “I didn’t want to ruin things.”
Zade scoffed and took a step back, shaking his head.
"Who wouldn't come back now that your life looks polished?" His eyes looked at me like I was the most foolish person he'd ever come across.
Behind him, I noticed movement—Anna. She stood in the hallway like a shadow, arms crossed and tablet pressed tight to her chest. She glanced at the guards and gave them a silent nod. They left without a word.
Zade didn’t even see her. He turned away from me, running a hand through his hair.
“This is exactly what I meant, Olive,” he muttered. “You keep secrets. Then you act surprised when the consequences come knocking.”
“I’m not keeping secrets,” I whispered.
He didn’t answer.
“Just don't cause any more damage to me or my company. You've literally been in my life for just a day!” He growled.
Then he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Anna stepped in, her heels clicking softly against the tile.
She didn’t say anything at first. Just looked me up and down, like she was memorizing how broken I looked.
Then she smiled.
“I warned you,” she said, her voice laced with venom. “Told you it wouldn’t be easy. You thought you could just walk in and enjoy what I have worked for? Sweetheart... I’ve been doing this longer than you’ve been alive.”
I clenched my jaw and looked away.
She leaned in a little closer. “I’ll make sure you suffer. And when he finally throws you out, I’ll be the one holding the door open.”
She walked out just as quietly as she came in.
I didn’t cry. I just stood there, cold and hollow, replaying everything.
—
The house fell into sudden quietness that night. Zade didn’t return, not to my room at least. And I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t.
I was heading down to the kitchen for water when I heard Anna’s voice drifting through the hallway.
“No. It has to be done quickly. He’s already suspicious. You have two days, max. If she figures it out before then, it’ll blow everything.”
A pause.
“No, he doesn’t know. Not yet.”
Another pause. Then—footsteps. I ducked behind a column, heart in my throat.
Anna ended the call and looked around, her eyes scanning like a predator checking for danger. Then she tucked her phone into her coat and made her way up the stairs.
I followed. Quietly. Carefully.
She went toward Zade’s wing—he wasn’t home, I was sure of it.
She slipped into his office. I waited ten long seconds before creeping close enough to peek through the barely ajar door.
She was at his desk, flipping through a folder of documents. Then, carefully, she slid a small USB drive between a stack of files—deliberate, practiced.
I took a step back.
My phone buzzed.
I flinched, quickly silencing it and checking the screen.
It was a text from an unknown number.
'If you don’t do exactly what I say, I’ll ruin you. You, your mother—everything you care about.'
I backed away from the door, my chest tightening. My world was starting to collapse again—bit by bit.
This sounds like David. It had to be. No one else can threaten me like this.
How did David get this phone number?
—
The next morning, I sat at the kitchen's counter, staring at the food placed neatly on the dining table. I had no appetite and definitely wouldn't be here if not for the housekeeper that woke me up for breakfast.
Zade showed up without warning.
“We’re eating. Now,” he said.
I didn’t argue. I just followed him to the dining room.
Silence stretched between us like an invisible blanket.
He cut into a piece of grilled chicken. I picked at my rice.
“You should’ve told me,” he said, eyes on his plate.
“I know,” I murmured.
“I don’t like being lied to.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“Don’t play that game with me, Olive,” he snapped. “You knew this was vital information .”
I swallowed. “I didn’t know he’d come back.”
He looked up at me, fork in hand. “What does he want?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying again.”
“I swear, Zade. I don’t know. He said… he said he’d ruin me, but he didn’t say how.”
His jaw clenched. He looked like he wanted to throw the entire table.
“I can handle David,” he said, after a moment. “But if you keep making choices without me, I won’t protect you next time.”
I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of that threat.
Just sat there like a stranger I used to know.
Zade sat across from me like a statue—back straight, jaw clenched, eyes fixed somewhere near my collarbone like he was thinking about a hundred different things at once. None of which involved me.
I cleared my throat. He didn’t flinch.
My fingers itched to reach for my glass of water, just to do something with my hands, but even that felt like it would be too loud—too noticeable in this space filled with unsaid things.
He finally spoke. “You haven’t touched your food.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said, my voice almost in a whisper.
I stared back down at my food, pushing a piece of asparagus across my plate like it personally offended me. The tension between us was like a third person at the table, sitting right between our plates, smirking at us both.
Just then, the door flew open.
A deep voice filled the space, rich and teasing. “I’ve been gone for just a few months and what am I hearing? The mighty Zade got himself married?”
I turned instinctively toward the voice.
And paused.
He was tall—at least as tall as Zade, maybe even taller—with broad shoulders that made his brown coat look tailored to perfection. His skin was smooth and rich like polished mahogany. He wore a smile, was lazy, and confident. His beard was trimmed sharp. His voice? Deep enough to echo in my chest.
Zade’s eyes snapped to the doorway and in the blink of an eye, his entire posture changed.
“Leo?” Zade stood, his face lighting up for the first time in hours. “What the hell?” He exclaimed.
They met halfway in the room, pulling each other into a firm hug that lasted longer than the usual guy-pat-on-the-back thing. Zade even smiled. Genuinely. It made something ache in my chest.
“I wasn’t supposed to land until tomorrow,” Leo said, releasing him and stepping back. “But I heard rumors and had to see for myself. Marriage, Zade? Really? What kind of cult did she lure you into?”
Zade laughed—a deep, real one—and motioned toward me. “Come meet her.”
Oh God.
I stood, awkwardly adjusting my robe and stepping around the table. My legs suddenly felt too long and too short at the same time.
Zade placed a hand at the small of my back like it was nothing. “Leo, this is my wife. Olive.” His voice so thick and confident, like he was really proud of what he was presenting.
Leo looked at me. Really looked at me, his smile widening.
“Well damn,” he said, nodding slowly. “You did good. She’s stunning.”
I flushed, not sure what to say, but Zade beat me to it.
“I know,” he said, and for a second his voice softened—like he meant it.
Leo extended a hand, and I shook it. His grip was warm and firm.
“It’s a pleasure, Olive,” he said, his tone dipped just enough to make me blush harder.
Zade’s hand stayed on my back.
Leo looked back at him with a raised brow. “You’ve got a lot to tell me.”
Zade smirked. “Trust me. You’ll need a drink.”
I watched them chatter, their laughter echoing across the dining room.
Zade leaned in, his voice dropping to a teasing murmur, and Leo clapped him on the back, laughing so loud I jumped a little. Zade laughed too. His eyes crinkled, his teeth flashing.He looked so cute wearing a gummy smile.
I’d never seen him like that, not even once.
Not at the wedding. Not at the company. Not in my company. With me, he was a stone and shadow. With Leo, he was… light. Familiar. Human.
“I’ll give you two a minute,” I said quietly, already turning before they could respond.
Zade didn’t stop me. Not that I expected him to.
Upstairs, the sound of their voices still carried—low, rich, vibrant laughters.
I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out my phone. My fingers hovered for a second before I typed:
Leo Parker.
And then search results lit up like a fireworks show. Red carpet photos. Glamorous film premieres and front covers.
I blinked.
He was famous? Like… Hollywood famous? I had expected him to be like a wealthy businessman like Zade but this is even better.
I scrolled, stunned. There were photos of him on yachts, at awards shows, shirtless on the beach. I bit back a noise. And then, nestled between articles, a quote from one of his old interviews:
“There are only two people who really know me, and one of them is Zade Avner.”
I stared at the screen, a weird feeling crawling into my chest.
Zade wasn’t just laughing with a friend—he was laughing with the Leo Parker. Someone who was, quite literally, a world away from everything I knew.
Their laughter echoed again from below.
And for the first time since I entered this house, I felt like I was on the outside looking in.
At nightfall, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone, David’s message still burning in my mind.
What did he want from me? How do I reply?
Why now?
A soft knock sounded at the door.
I stood up slowly, crossing the room.
When I opened it, I wasn’t prepared.
Zade stood there, wearing a smile.