Twin Deception: A BWWM Billionaire Romance

by Izabella Brooks

Cold and self-conscious, Sadi grabbed a throw blanket and tucked it around herself. Her head was pounding. What had just happened? Connor had come over, hardly spoken a word, got drunk, and proceeded to make love to her. Why? Why would he do any of it when he was just going to leave?

  Sadi didn’t know anything anymore. She didn’t understand this thing that her life had become, shapeless and faceless. She knew she wanted Connor to come home. She knew that she still loved him. Had probably always known. With all her heart she wanted another chance. Sadi wanted to make a life with Connor, to trust him and love him and cherish him. All those things she promised when she married him. She just didn’t know how to get from where they were now to where she wanted to be: happy and in love again.

  ***

  Connor refused to speak with Sadi. He wouldn’t talk about what happened. He wouldn’t talk about anything. He remained grim. The only time Sadi saw him smile was when he was with the children.

  “Connor, we need to talk,” Sadi said urgently. It was a Wednesday night. Connor had been gone from the house for a little over two months. She was becoming desperate to salvage their relationship, especially with the new knowledge she had.

  Connor looked up from his spot on the nursery floor where he was building block towers almost as quickly as the two children could destroy them. He seemed to sense the urgency in Sadi’s voice so he nodded.

  They put the children to bed together, which was unusual. Often Connor ended up wishing them a goodnight and leaving, back to wherever it was he stayed.

  Sadi followed him down the hall and into the kitchen. Connor turned, arms crossed.

  “What is it?”

  Sadi hated that there was a bitterness to his voice that hadn’t been there before. Why wouldn’t he just speak with her? God, she wanted so badly to apologize and make things right. But he denied her at every turn. It was as if wanted to punish her like she had seemingly punished him.

  “I’m pregnant,” Sadi whispered. She felt hot tears choke her throat. She couldn’t believe it was possible. It had been one time. She had Connor hadn’t had sex in months so she had gone off her pills. She wasn’t a fan and didn’t see the point in taking them if there was no risk. She had been so drunk the night Connor had come over that she had forgotten all about them.

  “Damn it, Sadi,” Connor hissed. He uncrossed his arms and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “How could you let this happen? This is all I need…. Are you sure it’s mine?”

  Sadi stared at Connor in shock. Who was this man? Certainly not the kind, loving husband who had rejoiced over the creation of life and their children. Certainly not the man who loved her.

  “Connor… I… of course it’s yours!”

  Sadi was too shocked to be angry. What kind of question was that? Connor didn’t wait around for her to say anything else. Instead he grabbed his jacket off the kitchen chair and stormed out of the house, letting the door bang shut behind him.

  Sadi felt betrayed in the worst way. She had no idea what was going to happen to her and the children, especially now that they were to have another one. She felt lost and alone, confused and frightened. Her heart ached. She wanted Connor, needed him. She felt as though had walked out of her life for the last time and it broke her heart completely.

  Sadi was devastated. She had no one to turn to. No close friends, no parent, no sibling. She was alone most of the time, looking after two small children, all the while, a third life growing within her. Her life was completely shattered. She hadn’t heard from Connor in days.

  Finally Sadi called the only person she knew she could turn to. She called Christine.

  Christine came over without hesitation. Sadi thought it would be awkward, being as Christine was now Luke’s fiancé, but it wasn’t at all. Christine opened her arms to Sadi and Sadi told her everything. It was good to have a friend there to comfort her, to tell her that everything was going to be alright. It was so nice to have an extra set of hands with the children. Sadi was exhausted.

  “Let’s turn on the TV,” Christine suggested. “Maybe we can find a show they can watch to give us a half hour break.”

  Sadi smiled. Even though Christine was a teacher, it seemed that Connor and Katelyn could tire out even the most experienced.

  Sadi switched on the big screen TV. She thought it was way too huge but Connor had insisted on buying it. Sadi was shocked to see the images on the screen. Why had she left the news channel on? She hated watching it. She saw the images of Pearson and Pearson flash across. There had been a fire. Unknown damages.

  The day of the bombing came back to Sadi in a rush. Her terrible fear that her finance was dead. The sickening worry that knifed through her as she drove to the hospital. The terrible loss and regret and helplessness that she felt.

  It all came rushing back now. Sadi saw Christine freeze.

  “We have to get there,” Christine said.

  “Go, Christine. I’ll stay with the kids,” Sadi said quickly. “I’ll try and call someone to come watch them so I can go to the hospital if I need to.”

  To Sadi’s surprise, Christine shook her head. “You go. I’ll watch the kids. I’ll call the hospital to see if they know anything. Phone and let me know that everything’s all right. I’ll see if I can find a sitter. I know a couple people.”

  Sadi’s mouth fell open. She knew what a sacrifice Christine was making for her. She somehow sensed that if something had happened to Connor, if Sadi didn’t get there in time and tell him she loved him, she was going to live her entire life in regret.

  “Thank you,” Sadi said. She quickly hugged Christine then grabbed her car keys and ran. She sprinted to the car, and peeled out of the driveway, tires squealing. She thought she would get pulled over for driving like a madwoman all the way to Pearson and Pearson, but she didn’t.

  She parked beside Pearson and Pearson. This time there was no panic. There were emergency vehicles, an ambulance and a fire truck on the scene, but nothing like last time. Sadi was relieved to see that the situation seemed to be under control. The media was there like last time, but this time they seemed to be calmly getting the story.

  Sadi walked up to one of the officers who was sorting everything out. She told him who she was, just like she had to that officer years before. This time, she was escorted inside the building. There, inside, were the two brothers, standing side by side, answering questions.

  Sadi took a step back. She pulled out her phone and texted Christine that Luke and Connor were both fine. They still hadn’t seen her yet. She couldn’t tell them apart. God, was she stupid? Even after all these years she still couldn’t tell which man was her husband.

  Then, as if drawn to her presence by a force that only years of shared intimacy could create, one of the men looked Sadi’s way. When he saw her, his eyes lit up.

  Sadi knew then which man was her husband. She just had to look into his face, look into those stormy eyes and she could see the love reflected back at her, even after everything that had happened, that had been said.

  “Connor,” Sadi whispered. She took a step forward and so did he. Then he was running. He gathered her up in his arms and surprised her by kissing her on the mouth.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have called you. It was just a small electrical fire in the basement of the building, but there was a lot of smoke and we made the news. I should have known you would worry, but both Luke and I have been dealing with this and trying to evacuate the building and make sure everyone was safe and then answer all these questions…”

  Sadi stared hard at Connor. This man who was her husband. This man who she had loved for years. He had lied to her and tricked her. He had been the wrong brother. None of what Connor had done changed the fact that Sadi loved him and that she would for the rest of her life.

  “I’m sorry Connor… I love you,” Sadi whispered. “You can’t imagine how much I love you.”

  Connor nodded. “I know, Sadi. I know. I’m sorry as well. All that time I saw Luke t
reat you unfairly… I was so angry that he wasted it with you. That he threw you away. And I almost made the same mistake. I’m sorry that I left you, Sadi. I’m sorry that it took me all this time to forgive you. I knew you were sorry. I knew you wanted me to come home. I’m sorry I was so stubborn. You will never know how deeply sorry I am for how I treated you or those things that I said about you.”

  Sadi took a step back when Connor rolled up one of his shirt sleeves. She had no idea what he was doing. She was shocked to see her name tattooed onto his forearm.

  “Sadi… I gave you every reason not to trust me. I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you the time you needed or the patience you needed to work things out. I’m sorry that I tricked you twice. It’s no wonder you felt like you couldn’t trust me. Now, I hope that you never have a reason not to trust me again.”

  Sadi threw her arms around Connor’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Connor, it’s always been you. Even before I had the sense to know it, I’m glad that you did. I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone but you, loving anyone except you. I know we can get through this, but please, please come home.”

  Connor nodded. “Just as soon as I’m done here Sadi. I swear it.”

  He gave Sadi a kiss that was deep and passionate and full of unwavering promise. Sadi watched him go back and join his brother. She watched the two of them for a couple minutes more, answering questions, directing people, dealing with police and the press.

  Two brothers, identical, well almost identical now. Sadi looked at the brother she was supposed to have married. Then she looked at the man who had brought her heart back to life, who had given her all of himself. Who had taught her what it meant to love with all her heart. She was so glad Connor had taken the chance. On her. On their life together. It had been a rough, crazy road full of bumps and lies and heartbreak, yet beyond everything, the years had been full of promise, of joys, intimacy, and love. Sadi was moved to tears. As she turned away to walk back to her car she was surprised to find that ultimately, she wouldn’t have had her life turn out any other way.

  chapter 16

  Sadi watched Christine and Luke swaying on the dance floor. Their wedding had been perfect. Christine had made the most beautiful bride and Sadi could see the love the couple shared shining on their faces as they exchanged their vows.

  It made Sadi very glad for everything that had happened. Somehow she had ended up with the right man. The lies that Connor had told had given Sadi a life she only could have imagined. It had given Christine and Luke a love and happiness that Sadi knew she never would have shared with Luke if she had been the one to marry him.

  The months leading up to the wedding had seemed to fly. So many things had changed. Connor had moved back into the house like he said he would. He and Sadi had spent the first night he was back talking. They had promised each other that they were going to try. That they loved each other and wanted to forgive each other. They had made love and it had been better than ever before.

  Sadi and Connor were now properly married, though Luke had had to sign for a divorce to make it happen. Sadi remembered the person who stamped the papers saying it was the strangest situation he had ever heard of.

  Saying their vows to each other over again, was a healing balm to both Sadi and Connor. They were reaffirming their promises to each other. They were sharing in a love and a truth that both of them knew would last a lifetime.

  Luke and Christine’s wedding had been beautiful. Sadi had doubted she was even going to make it, being that she was sure she was going to go into labour and have a baby first. Somehow, the baby had held out for an extra week. Sadi wasn’t sure she was glad, or whether she was too uncomfortable to be happy about it.

  She was about to get up from the table and ask Connor for a dance when she felt a warm trickle drip down her leg. It continued on, unabated, increasing in intensity.

  “Oh god, Connor,” Sadi said in mortification, glancing frantically at her husband. Of course it would have to happen now. Of course she would go into freaking labour during Luke and Christine’s wedding.

  Connor looked at her in alarm. “The baby?” Any other man might panic and enlist the help of all those sitting at their table, completely humiliating Sadi, but Connor just stood up, came around to her and draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.

  “Let’s go,” he whispered, his voice full of excitement. “I’m very excited to meet our new son.”

  Sadi smiled as well, despite her embarrassment and her slight feeling of trepidation over the pain she was very soon going to face.

  She watched as Connor went to Luke and Christine, saw their stunned faces turn to her, then they waved and smiled. She waved back.

  Connor was at her side once more, offering a reassuring hand on her back. He helped her into the car, made sure she was settled, and calmly proceeded to drive them to the hospital.

  “You know what, Sadi?” He asked, when they were halfway there.

  Sadi had started to sweat. Her first contractions were hitting and coming hard. It would be a miracle if they made it on time at the slow speed Connor was driving.

  “What?” She panted.

  “I love you,” Connor smiled, reaching over and placing a hand on her belly. “And I’m really glad that our son is going to be named after the correct brother this time.”

  Sadi offered up a small smile. “God, Connor, only you could make a joke like that right now.” She gritted her teeth as another contraction hit her. “But I love you. Very much.”

  Connor smiled back. Somehow, somewhere, fate had smiled on Sadi. She had been given a man who loved her more than he loved himself, who had provided her with three beautiful children. Who loved them as much as she did.

  Sadi would have never seen her life turning out as it did. Everything that had happened had been wild and crazy. There were times when Sadi thought she and Connor weren’t going to make it through, but they had. Somehow all her fears and worries and anger had turned into an even deeper abiding love. She had married Connor. She had given him her hand, her body, her heart and her soul. She was looking forward to the lifetime they had together, to the promise of the love that would see them through the years. She looked forward to growing old with him: the wrong brother who had turned out to be exactly what Sadi needed.

  THE END