Chapter 3

"Darren, what are you doing here?"

Augusta's face went pale, and her hand slipped off Evan's without her thinking about it.

Once the shock passed, Evan gave me a look of mock reproach. "Darren, you came all this way and didn't even tell me? Do you still count me as a brother or not?"

If I'd told him, how would I ever have found out what the two of them had been doing behind my back these five years?

I stared at them, cold. "Am I not allowed to come? Or is it that you're afraid of what I might find out?"

Evan let out an exaggerated laugh. "How could that be? We couldn't be happier that you're here."

"Oh, right. Let me get my parents to the dining room first, and you two can talk."

Afraid they'd say something they shouldn't, Evan grabbed his mother and father, one in each hand, and forced them away from us.

Only then did Augusta let out a breath.

She pulled me into an empty corner, her voice put-upon. "Darren, how could you just show up without a word? And last night, when I messaged you, why didn't you tell me?"

I looked her straight in the eye, cold. "I'm spending my own money to take a trip. Is there a problem with that?"

She caught that something was off in my tone. She paused, then wrapped her arms around me and clung to me, sweet, the way she used to.

"Darren, that's not what I meant. It's just that you came without a word, and I didn't get anything ready. I was only worried I'd get caught up in work and not be able to look after you."

The moment she had her arms around me, the heavy perfume on her hit me and made me choke.

I remembered that scent. It was the cologne Evan always wore.

I pushed her off me, disgusted.

"Augusta, I'm a grown man. I can take care of myself."

"And how is it I never knew you'd gotten so close with Evan and his parents?"

Augusta's expression froze.

Then she said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. "He's your brother. Of course I'd look after them for you. I'm only doing it for your sake, so don't go getting jealous over nothing."

Evan, having settled his parents, came jogging back. He caught the last of it and offered an apologetic explanation. "Darren, don't take what my parents said to heart."

"You know how the old folks are. They wanted the trip but hated the idea of spending money, so I told them a little lie that Augusta was my girlfriend and could get them onto the cruise for free."

I wasn't looking at him. My eyes were fixed on the rings on his and Augusta's ring fingers.

Six months after we got together, I proposed to her.

But every time before she boarded, she'd take the ring off.

When I asked her why, not understanding, she'd get very solemn. "There are so many people on the ship. What if I lost it?"

Back then I even teased her for being silly. Only now did I understand that I was the fool, from start to finish.

My brother and my girlfriend had been together behind my back for five years, and I was the last one to know.

Feeling my gaze, Evan hurriedly pulled the ring off and shoved it into his pocket.

"Darren, don't get the wrong idea. This was a perk the company handed out to its top employees last year. Plenty of my coworkers have one."

Augusta rushed to change the subject too.

"All right, then."

"Since you're here, I'll take you somewhere good to eat tonight. I have to get to work now, so be good and wait for me in the room."