Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Jonathan couldn't take it anymore. The music, the dancing, the sight of Laura in Nathaniel's arms—it was all too much. His heart clenched painfully, but his mind refused to admit what he had long buried. Instead, anger flared up, raw and unfiltered. He cursed under his breath, furiously wiping away the tears that betrayed him.

"What the hell? They think I'm jealous? Fuck them," he muttered, trying to convince himself that this wasn't about jealousy.

It couldn't be.

He stormed out of the hall, yanking off his coat and tossing it aside as he pulled out his car keys. Without a second thought, he slid into the driver's seat, slamming the door shut behind him. The engine roared to life, matching the turmoil swirling inside him.

Jonathan sped through the city streets as the hum of the engine did little to drown out the chaos in his mind. Before he knew it, he was parked outside the club he frequented. The neon lights flickered above the entrance like a beacon calling him to escape. He slammed the car door shut, walking briskly inside.

The pounding music hit him instantly, almost soothing in its loudness. Without hesitation, he made his way to the bar and ordered a strong drink. Glass after glass, the burn of the alcohol became a welcome distraction, numbing the ache in his chest. He let the liquor wash away the night's events, letting the haze take over.

Soon, he found himself surrounded by women, their laughter blending with the music. They leaned in closer, touching his arm, laughing at his forced charm. He danced with them as the flashing lights and bodies moved around him creating a blur. But no matter how hard he tried to lose himself in the moment, Jonathan couldn't shake the image of Laura and Nathaniel. It clung to him, haunting him with every sip, every smile, every beat of the music.

Still, he danced harder, drank more, hoping the night would swallow him whole. But deep down, no amount of alcohol or women could fill the void left by the one woman he couldn't admit he loved.

~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Jonathan stumbled out of his room with a pounding head. His vision was still blurry from the night before. The house was eerily quiet, but as soon as he stepped into the hallway, he came face to face with Nathaniel, standing at the top of the stairs with arms crossed tightly over his chest. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes burned with anger.

"Where the hell were you last night?" Nathaniel's voice was sharp, cutting through the dull throb in Jonathan's head.

Jonathan groaned, rubbing his temple. "Fuck. Get out of my way," he muttered, trying to shove past Nathaniel, but Nathaniel didn't budge.

"You disappeared without a word, and you missed the rest of the event." Nathaniel's voice hardened, frustration clear in his tone.

"Who cares?" Jonathan snapped, pushing him aside. "Just stay out of my business."

Nathaniel grabbed his arm, halting him on the stairs. "This isn't just your business. You embarrassed the family, storming out like that."

Jonathan yanked his arm free and shot him a cold glare. "You don't get to lecture me about family. Just... back off."

Without waiting for a response, Jonathan descended the stairs, leaving Nathaniel standing there in frustrated silence. He headed straight to the kitchen, desperate for something to take the edge off his pounding headache. The kitchen was bright as the sunlight streamed in through the windows.

He grabbed a mug from the cupboard, fumbling as he reached for the coffee pot, and poured himself a cup. The bitter scent filled the air, grounding him slightly, but his mind was still a mess, replaying the night before. Jonathan took a sip as the hot liquid lightly burned his throat, but it was a welcome distraction from the gnawing thoughts at the back of his mind.

His hand trembled slightly as he set the mug down on the counter, leaning against it with a sigh. But Nathaniel wasn't done with him yet.

"Jonathan," Nathaniel's voice came from the kitchen doorway, firm but laced with concern. Jonathan didn't bother turning around, his grip tightening around the mug as he stared blankly at the dark liquid.

"I asked you a question," Nathaniel pressed, stepping into the room. "Where were you last night?"

Jonathan clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to lash out. He could feel Nathaniel's eyes burning into the back of his head. With a frustrated groan, he straightened up and turned, his expression hardened.

"Out," Jonathan muttered, crossing his arms defensively. "What, are you keeping tabs on me now?"

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "You vanished in the middle of the celebration. No one knew where you were, and then you show up looking like this. What the hell is going on with you?"

Jonathan scoffed, rolling his eyes as if brushing off the weight of Nathaniel's words. "Nothing's going on. You've got your perfect fiancée, your perfect life, so stop acting like you care about what I do."

"Stop it," Nathaniel's tone sharpened. "This isn't about me. You're spiraling, and you know it."

Jonathan's temper flared at the accusation. "Spiraling? Because I went out for a drink? You're blowing this way out of proportion."

"One drink?" Nathaniel asked, his brows rising in disbelief. "I don't think so. You've been off ever since I came home. What's going on with you?"

Jonathan's eyes darkened, his shoulders tensing. He was sick of the questions, sick of everything. But before he could say something he'd regret, he bit his tongue, pushing past Nathaniel without another word.

"Jonathan!" Nathaniel called after him, but before the tension could escalate any further, a knock on the door interrupted them. Both brothers paused, the sharpness of their argument hanging in the air.

Nathaniel sighed, using the moment to calm himself down before answering the door. When he opened it, his expression immediately softened at the sight of Laura, standing there with her radiant smile, holding a tub of food.

"Good morning," she chirped, oblivious to the undercurrents between the brothers. "Mom wanted you to have this for later." She handed Nathaniel the container, and his face lit up in response.

"Thank you, honey," Nathaniel said warmly, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips. The affectionate gesture was a knife to Jonathan's chest. His anger, barely held in check, bubbled up as he clenched his fists.

He stood there, watching, as his brother basked in the glow of the woman he had once been closest to.

"Come in," Nathaniel invited her with a smile, pulling her gently by the hand as they stepped inside.

"Hi, Jonathan," Laura greeted him plainly, her voice lacking the familiarity and warmth it once held for him. Jonathan flinched at the sound. It used to be that when Laura came over, he was the one she sought out first, always calling for him the moment she entered the house. Now, her attention was entirely on Nathaniel, and it stung in a way he hadn't anticipated.

He stood frozen, watching her ease into conversation with his brother like it was the most natural thing in the world. The shift in her priorities had come so fast, it almost didn't seem real. The person who had once been his constant was now entirely his brother's, and the bitterness of that reality was impossible to swallow.

He didn't say a word and just kept watching their exchange.