My Fiancé Chose My Brother, So I Chose My Brother's Best Friend novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Her Own Handwriting

Rhys's POV

Hugh's office was on the forty-first floor, and the door was open.

He sat behind his father's desk with his jacket off, a decanter at his elbow and two glasses laid out.

His eyes were red from lack of sleep.

"Merc."

"Hugh."

"Sit. Please."

I stayed standing.

"You said you had the real figures."

"I do."

He pushed a folder across the desk.

I did not touch it.

"Before you read it," he said, "I want to say something."

"Say it."

"I'm sorry about Estelle."

I waited.

"I'm not sorry I did it. I'd do it again. But I'm sorry it landed on you." He rubbed his eyes. "You were the one person I never meant to hurt."

"You told me she wanted no contact."

"I did."

"I called your house three times."

"I know. I heard every ring."

His voice was perfectly even.

That was what made my skin cold.

"Why?" I said.

"Because you'd have found her, and she'd have told you, and you'd have walked into the Lyle signing with your fists up." He shrugged. "I needed Friday to happen."

"And now?"

"Now I need to know whether I still have a friend."

I looked at the decanter.

Fourteen years ago he had poured me a measure of cheap whisky in a flat in Bristol and said my father would be fine.

My father had died nine months later.

Hugh could not have known that when he promised, and I had loved him for promising anyway.

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