Chapter 28
At that moment, upon hearing his brother’s name—Oliver—William’s smile faded instantly. His mood shifted like a quiet storm rolling in. His eyes darkened with something deeper, something he couldn’t explain out loud. Even though he and Oliver had grown up sharing everything—from toys to secrets, from fights to forgiveness—there was one thing William was not willing to share. Not even with his own brother.
Cora.
Cora wasn’t just any girl. She was the only woman that made William feel like he was more than just a wealthy heir. When she smiled at him, he forgot every pressure that came with the family name. When she looked into his eyes, he felt seen—not for his last name, not for the future his father had planned, but for who he truly was. And to William, that was a feeling worth fighting for.
So the idea of his brother—his own brother—being anywhere close to sharing that same connection with her stirred something violent in his heart. A war he never asked for, but one he was more than willing to fight.
"No," he thought silently, gripping the arm of the chair. "Cora must be mine. Mine and mine alone."
There were no two ways about it.
Not Oliver, not anyone.
And if it meant stepping over his brother to get to her, then so be it. William was done playing nice when it came to matters of the heart.
But just as quickly as the storm came, it passed.