Never Be Apart

CHAPTER 44

Anthony Oswyn's POV

"Are you really planning to ignore her for real?" Yunah asked after Yuki left. I knew I didn't handle that well, and I hated how I acted. It wasn't right to treat her like that, especially in front of other people, but I felt like I had no choice. The moment I saw the hurt in her eyes, I almost dropped the act. I rubbed my face in frustration.

"I have to. I don't want her feelings to get confused between me and my brother. I should've started acting this way from the beginning," I replied, sighing deeply. Yunah sighed too.

"You really do love your brother a lot," she said, shaking her head with a wry smile as she stepped closer. "But wait, donuts? I thought you weren't into sweets?" she added, teasing me with a knowing smile. I frowned, knowing she was enjoying this more than she let on.

Yunah and I had been good friends long before she met Aiden. We've known each other since high school since we were neighbors and our families were close. My brother Arthur used to always bully her, and she'd come complaining to me since I was older than both of them. But Arthur was only teasing her to get her attention—Yunah never knew that my brother actually had a secret crush on her.

Yunah and I agreed from the start not to tell Aiden that we knew each other before. Yunah was the only person I could trust when it came to Aiden. I've known since I was a child that I had a half-brother, but my mom never let me meet him when I was younger.

Flashback 7 years ago

"You need to win this case! This is your first big case, and if you win, you'll make a name for yourself and have tons of clients lined up," I overheard my dad shouting at Arthur. Arthur had just graduated as an attorney, topping the bar exams, and this was his first case. I stood behind the door, quietly listening.

"Dad, I can't! There's too much evidence against Mr. Santos, he's definitely going to prison—"

"I'll be the judge. I'll make sure you win this case," my father cut him off sharply.

"Dad, this is against the law," Arthur replied, his voice almost pleading. I could tell he didn't want this case, defending a man like that went against his morals and everything he believed in.

"What else are we supposed to do? Our lives are in danger because of that damn Mr. Santos! He threatened me!" I couldn't stay silent any longer, so I stepped into the room, surprising them both.