Help! I Love My Brother’s Fiancée

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[Help. I think Im in love with my brothers fiance.]

I was scrolling through a local forum when the thread title hit me like a truck.

[My family originally wanted to set her up with me. But I thought the age gap was too big. I was worried we wouldn't have anything to talk about. Plus, I hate the idea of a business marriage. So I rejected it.]

[I saw her today. Big mistake. She is literally my dream girl. Every single box checked.]

[How do I get my brother to switch back?]

Chapter 1

I paused. My thumb hovered over the screen. There was no way this was a coincidence.

My dad, Bernard, had originally arranged for me to marry the eldest Thorne son, Harrison. The CEO. The heir. But Harrison turned me down. Apparently, I was too young for him. So, the engagement fell to his younger brother, Brooks. We just finished the engagement party today.

My curiosity spiked. I tapped into the thread.

[She was supposed to be mine. But Ive been working for years and shes still in college. I thought thered be a generational disconnect. I passed. The family moved on to my brother. I saw her at the party today and my heart raced. Shes quiet. Beautiful. Adorable. My brother isnt as smart as me. He isnt stable. Im still cleaning up his messes. He doesnt deserve her.]

I read the words, and an image of Harrison from the party earlier that night flooded my mind.

He was wearing a charcoal gray bespoke suit. The fabric was so expensive it didn't dare wrinkle. His white shirt was buttoned all the way up, tight against his throat, right below his Adam's apple. Rigid. Repressed.

Gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, giving him that cold, untouchable aura of old money authority.

If the Harrison who looked like a stoic statue in real life was actually this unhinged and feral online...

That was kind of hot.

I kept scrolling. The internet, as usual, was being helpful.

[Bro, you're the heir. Inherit the empire. Inherit the assets. Inherit the brother. Inherit the wife.]

[If you want her, take her. Choke her. Force a kiss. Pin her against the wall.]

[User: Drop to your knees. Pound the ground. Scream at the sky: 'Is it wrong to want to be with you forever?!']

[Is this Wattpad? Are we really doing the 'possessive alpha' thing in 2025? Let the brother have his turn. You had your chance, grandpa.]

I let out a small laugh. The internet remains undefeated.

[OP Reply: Correction. They are only engaged. Not married. She is not my sister-in-law. Its a business arrangement. There are no feelings involved. She will never be my sister-in-law.]

[OP Reply: I just think shed be happier with me. Older men know how to take care of people. Im financially independent. I can buy her whatever she wants. My brothers allowance comes from my bank account. Its barely enough to cover his own expenses. I can cook. I know how to take care of a home. My brother gave himself salmonella trying to make chicken alfredo. He was in the hospital for three days.]

[OP Reply: Im not badmouthing him. Just stating facts.]

I couldn't help but click my tongue. Wow. The pick-me energy was off the charts.

I wouldn't have pegged Harrison for the jealous, petty type. He always looked so indifferent. But the evidence was right here.

[User1: 'I'm not badmouthing him.' Sure, Jan.]

[User2: OP, I can smell the fake nice guy act through the screen. Youre trying so hard.]

The comments roasted him for a few hundred replies until someone finally offered actual advice.

[User3: Look, you obviously have advantages over the little brother. You need to flex them. If you have money, transfer it to her. Buy her things she likes. If you can cook, feed her. Win her stomach. What if shes a foodie?]

[User4: And not just cooking. You said youre older. You need to prove that your... physical stamina isnt an issue. Make sure she knows you can keep up.]

[User5: True. Men over 26 are basically dust.]

A few minutes later, the OP replied.

[OP Reply: Thanks, guys. Im going to try it. If it works, Im CashApping everyone.]

I didn't have to wait long for the update. My phone buzzed.

Chapter 2

Ping.

A notification banner slid down my screen. It wasn't a text. It was an alert from my banking app. Harrison Thorne has initiated a wire transfer of $50,000.00.

I stared at the zeros. Before I could process it, a message popped up from the man himself.

[Harrison]: I saw you at the engagement party. You were impressive. This is for you. Think of it as pocket money. If its not enough, just ask.

It was followed by three emojis.

?? ?? ??

The default smiles. The kind serial killers or boomers use.

I blinked. Huh? Was this some kind of "Welcome to the Family" bonus? But I already received the official gifts during the ceremony. A diamond set. A car key. Is this extra? Did I play the role of the "dutiful, quiet fiance" so well that he felt the need to tip me?

I wasn't going to question it. I wasn't crazy. I tapped Accept. I honestly had to admit... this guy was actually pretty great.

I typed out a reply, aiming for maximum sweetness.

[Ainsley]: Youre the best, Harrison! Thank you so much!

I added a sticker. A cartoon kitten rubbing its cheek against the screen, hearts floating around its head. Cute. Harmless. Grateful.

I had barely locked my phone when another notification chimed. This time, it was the forum app.

[Thread Update]

My curiosity got the better of me. I tapped it open. The OPHarrisonhad posted an update.

[OP Update: I tried it. It worked immediately. She said Im the best. She thanked me. She even sent a sticker of a cat acting affectionate. Does this mean she isnt angry that I rejected the marriage arrangement initially? Does she actually have feelings for me?]

The comment section was losing its mind.

[User6]: Bro? Its been ten minutes. How do you move that fast?

[User7]: Details! What did you do?

[User3]: HOLY SHIT. OP is a legend. He just CashApped me 0-0,000 as a "thank you" fee. Receipt attached.

A screenshot of the transfer is pinned. The forum exploded. Everyone wanted a piece of this guy.

[OP Reply: I transferred her $50,000. I told her it was pocket money. I told her to come to me if she runs out.]

I froze.

I looked at the forum post. Then I looked at my text thread with Harrison. The kitten sticker was still looping on the screen.

First meeting. He didnt want the marriage. He swapped with his brother. Now he regrets it. He just sent me fifty grand.

My brain connected the dots with a satisfying click.

The OP... the desperate, lovesick, slightly unhinged guy on the internet...

Was Harrison Thorne.

The Harrison Thorne. The cold, abstinent, untouchable CEO who looked at me like I was a spreadsheet error at the party.

He rejected me without even meeting me. And now that hes seen me, hes panicking. He was trying to win me back from his own brother.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across my face.

If he wanted to play, we could play. But I wasn't going to make it easy for him. Where was the fun in that?

I thought about the man I saw earlier. The buttoned-up shirt. The glasses. The repression rolling off him in waves. Imagine that manthat icy, controlled creaturetaking seduction advice from random internet trolls.

Imagine him trying to use those clumsy, raw techniques on me. Imagine him blushing, hating himself for being so undignified, but doing it anyway because hes desperate for my attention.

It was delicious.

I was going to tame him. And I was going to enjoy every single second of it.

I switched to my burner account. I found the comment box.

[Anon]: Youve flexed the wallet. Now you need to flex the physical assets. It doesn't matter how cold a woman is... she smiles when she sees muscles.

I hit send. I waited.

It took a few minutes. He was probably overthinking it.

[OP Reply: Is that appropriate? I need to look into this.]

I bit my lip to keep from laughing out loud. I liked the post. I bookmarked the thread. Then I tossed my phone on the bed and headed to the shower.

I was humming a happy little tune. I really, really couldn't wait to see what Harrison Thorne did next.

Chapter 3

The next day was Saturday. As agreed, I went to the Thorne estate for dinner. Brooks answered the door. He was wearing an oversized hoodie, his hair a messy bird's nest.

As soon as he saw me, he flashed a blinding grin and started rambling. "Ainsley! You made it! Come in, come in. You have no idea how lucky you are. Harrison is cooking today."

"My brother's food is actually insane. But ever since he took over the company, hes been working non-stop. I haven't eaten his cooking in like, two years. You picked the perfect day. Hes actually taking a break."

I remembered the forum post. I knew exactly why he was cooking.

I walked into the dining room.

And there he was.

Harrison stood at the island in the open-concept kitchen. He was wearing a pink apron with a cartoon kitten on it. It clashed violently with his vibe.

Underneath the ridiculous apron, he was still wearing that pristine, ironed dress shirt. But the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. The muscles in his forearms shifted and flexed as he worked. The veins stood out against his skin.

He heard me approach. He turned around. His gaze, magnified slightly by his gold-rimmed glasses, landed on me.

He paused. Just for a second.

Then he forced his voice to be steady. "You're here."

"You're working hard, Harrison." I smiled. Pure sugar. Harmless.

I walked over to the island and leaned my elbows on the counter, resting my chin in my hands. I looked up at him like a curious child. "What are you making? It smells amazing."

"Pan-seared cod." He kept his answer short. He turned back to the stove, trying to look busy, trying to look composed.

But I saw it.

His Adams apple bobbed. A sharp, nervous swallow.

I looked at the dishes already plated on the counter. "Harrison, you can make so many things. This looks delicious."

My voice dripped with sweetness. His back went rigid. He didn't turn around.

"Thank you. See what you like... I can make it again next"

He didn't get to finish.

Brooks waltzed into the kitchen holding a glass of water. "Bro, why are your ears so red? Is it hot in here?"

Brooks didn't wait for an answer. He didn't actually care. He turned his focus to me immediately. "It's too hot in the kitchen. Ainsley, let's go to the living room. I need to carry you in Ranked. I just hit National Rank on my assassin."

I thought about dog training.

They say if you want a dog to be obedient, to be dependent on its master... you don't feed it right away. You keep it hungry. A hungry dog listens. A hungry dog watches.

I glanced at Harrison, who was standing frozen by the stove. I didn't hesitate. I pulled out my phone and turned to Brooks. "Let's go!"

We left Harrison alone in the kitchen.

I have to admit, Brooks was actually good at the game. We played three rounds. He was MVP every time. He carried the whole team.

I barely had to do anything. I just sat there and hyped him up. "Nice rotation, Brooks! That play was insane!"

Brooks was beaming. He was in the zone. We finished dinner. Brooks wasn't done. He pulled out his phone again. "Come on, one more. I'm getting you to that Rank tonight."

Harrison cleared his throat.

It was a sharp, authoritative sound. "It's Sunday tomorrow. Don't you have a thesis paper due on Monday?"

Brooks froze. "Oh, shit."

His face fell. "I totally forgot. Harrison... you keep Ainsley company for a bit? I need to go grind this out. I'll be back!"

Brooks vanished up the stairs before I could say a word.

Chapter 4

I watched Brooks disappear around the corner of the study.

As soon as he was gone, Harrison cleared his throat. "Ainsley. Don't take it personally. My brother... his personality is a bit unstable. He doesn't know how to take care of people. Leaving you alone the first time you visit? Its unacceptable. Ill have a word with him."

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep the corners of my mouth from lifting. Its true what they say. You dont hate the manipulative "nice guy" act when its being performed for your benefit.

I decided to twist the knife a little. "Its okay, Harrison. Brooks is just... simple. Pure. Its really easy to be around him. No pressure at all."

Harrison actually wilted.

The color drained from his face. If he had a tail, it would be tucked firmly between his legs right now. I pretended not to notice his devastation. I switched topics.

"By the way, Harrison. What do you do for fun? When you're not working?"

Harrison paused. He thought about it. He thought about it very seriously. "The company takes up most of my time. When Im free, I swim. I go to the gym. I read financial reports..."

He stopped. He seemed to realize mid-sentence that he sounded like a boring, middle-aged man. "Actually... I game too. Sometimes. Not much."

I held my breath to keep from laughing. "Wow. You're so disciplined, Harrison."

His expression went stiff. He reached into the drawer of the coffee table and pulled out a velvet box.

"I saw you post this on your feed. You seemed to like it. I had a friend secure the limited edition for me. Its for you. An apology." He placed the box on the table. His voice dropped, becoming heavy and sincere.

"When our families first discussed the engagement... I shouldn't have rejected it so hastily. It wasn't because of you. It was my own issue. I have a strong aversion to arranged marriages. You know about my parents..."

He trailed off, but he didn't need to finish. Everyone in our circle knew the story of Archibald and Beatrice. It was a merger, not a marriage. They produced an heir, then checked out. They both had lovers. They both had separate lives. Neither of them cared about the two boys left in the mansion.

Horatio, the grandfather, kept them in line for a while. But when his health failed, Harrison's parents stopped pretending. They moved into their own separate worlds and never looked back.

Harrison was five years older than Brooks. He stepped up. He became the parent. Brooks was only this carefree and innocent because Harrison had absorbed all the trauma for him. Harrison had built a wall of money and protection so his little brother could play race car driver.

Brooks was a spoiled brat because Harrison had spoiled him.

"If there is anything you want in the future, tell me directly." He paused, perhaps realizing that sounded a bit intense for a future brother-in-law to say. He quickly added a justification.

"Brooks isn't disciplined with money. I have to limit his allowance so he doesn't get into trouble. So... if you like something, if you want something... just tell me. I can get it."

The subtext was loud.

I control the money. I control the resources. He is a child on an allowance. I am the man who signs the checks.

I opened the box. The necklace was stunning. My eyes curved into a smile. A good dog who brings expensive gifts and bares his soul deserves a treat.

"Thank you, Harrison. You're so thoughtful. I love it." I looked up at him through my lashes. "Could you help me put it on?"

His gaze dropped. It landed heavily on the bare, pale skin of my neck.

"Okay."

Chapter 5

I suppressed a smile and turned my back to him.

I reached up, gathering my long hair and sweeping it to one side. I tilted my head forward just enough. It was a calculated angle. It exposed the pale, slender column of my neck. It highlighted the sharp curve of my collarbone.

I felt him step closer. His presence was a physical weight. The crisp, cool scent of himsoap and expensive starchenveloped me.

He fumbled with the clasp. His fingertips brushed against the sensitive skin of my nape. The contact was electric. It was barely a touch, accidental and fleeting, but it sent a shockwave down my spine.

I could hear him. His breathing had changed. It was heavier. Jagged. Every inhale sounded like he was struggling for oxygen.

The clasp clicked shut.

I spun around. I let my hair fall back into place, but I kept my expression wide-eyed and innocent. "Thanks, Harrison. How does it look?"

He looked like he was running a high fever.

The flush started at his collar and burned all the way up to his ears. Behind the gold-rimmed lenses, his eyes darted away, refusing to meet mine. His gaze skittered nervously over my neck.

His Adams apple bobbed. A hard, dry swallow.

"Good." His voice was wrecked. Husky. A little rough around the edges. "It looks... good."

That was enough. The reward had been delivered. I needed to stop while I was ahead. I pretended to check the time on my phone. "I should get going