In love with my Husband's Brother

or, and my heart sinks. I feel like I'm about to make a mistake, like I'm betraying my true feelings. My movements are mechanical as I get ready, my eyes lacking their

re to witness my union with Atlas. My heart races as I approach Atlas, who's smiling at me with excitement and love. But my eyes keep darting towards the back of the

standing in the back, his gaze fixed on me with a mix of sadness and longing. My hear

ghts of Nick and the life we could've had swirl in my head, m

the judge says, his voice

plastered on my face. "I, Maureen,

e at Atlas, who's beaming with happiness, and then my eyes flic

day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in

vince myself that I'm making the right choice. The courtroom fades into the background as I utter the words, my heart

"I promise to love and cherish you, to provide for you, and to make you happy. I'll be your rock, your partner,

rely on, the one you turn to in times of need. And I promise to alwa

omfort, sensing that he's more in love with the idea of being in love than with me as a person. Nick's eyes are still on me, and I can sense

nd says, "You may

ile onto my face, trying to hide my reluctance. As his lips touch mine, I feel a sens

ated by his embrace. My eyes dart to Nick, who's watching us with a mix of sadness a

e, but I feel like I'm dying inside. I glance at Nick once more, and for a moment, our eyes lock in a silent

parades me around the room, introducing me to his friends, family, a

s voice dripping with pride. "We're going to change the world

gaze lingering on my face, my body. I

, his voice dripping with insincerity. "We'r

to my discomfort. I realize that he didn't even try to hide the fact that he marri

k and fake smiles. Nick's eyes are still on me, and I know he sees the t

brilliant" business moves. I needed air. I excused myself and stepped out onto the ba

. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to face him. He was on his phone, h

ks. I had some loose ends to t

would be gone, and I would be stuck in this lo

d at each other, the tension between us palpable. Then, he nodded and turne

, frozen in despair, as the music and laughter from the reception faded into the background, all of a sudden I

h the moment I got to the position he was standing

deep sincerity. "Maureen, I came here for business, I

th emotion. "But I'm glad it did. I'm glad

this way, Nick. We were never meant to cross paths. I'm gettin

I know you're right. But I can't help how I feel, Maure

We'll always have that night, Nick. But let'

anding alone in the lobby, his eyes fixed

m, my eyes locking onto Atlas, who was smiling and chatting with our guests. I felt a pang of guilt

side, forcing a smile onto my face. "Hey, husband,"

yes shining with pride. "

man I would never see again.The rest of the evening was a blur of champagne toasts, wedding cake, and pretend smiles. I went through the motions, playing the role of the

sband and wife. I felt like I was floating on autopilot, my bo

powder my nose and escaped to the ladies' room. I locked myself in a

ped? Why did I feel li

d made a mistake. A big one.As I emerged from the ladies' room, I was met with a chorus of cheers and applause. Atlas was beaming with pride, his arm around my

y. Greece? Two weeks? I felt like I was suffocating at

kisses. I couldn't wait to get out of there, to esca

pretending to be the happy bride. But inside, I was dying. I was dying to

i

to shake the feeling that I was living a lie, that I was trapped in a life that wasn't mine.As the night finally came to a close, Atlas and I made our way back to our suite, exh

talk," he said, his v

own my spine as I rea

y. "It was all just a show for the guests. Our m

gut. I knew it, of course, but heari

to Greece?" I asked, tryi

n. We're not going anywhere. We have w

ters worse, I had just fallen for someone else. Someone I could never have.I felt like I was living in a nightmare. Trapped in a marriag

ing to keep my voice from shaking. "What abo

aureen. This marriage is about power,

ew I had to get out of there. I couldn't b

ir," I said, t

shrugged and turned back to his phone

ike I was suffocating. I had never felt so trapped, so alone,