Craving The Wrong Brother (Sloane and Knox) novel Chapter 183

Chapter 183

Chapter 183

–Ryan O’Brien–

Ryan O’Brien stares down at the stack of papers in his hands, the ones just handed to him by a server.

TO: RYAN O’BRIEN

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, which is brought to obtain a divorce, and to appear before the Ravenswood District Court of the State of New York, Greenwood County, within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons upon you.”

Complaint:

“PARTIES:

Plaintiff: JULIE JENKINS (currently known as JULIE O’BRIEN)

Defendant: RYAN O’BRIEN

GROUND FOR DIVORCE:

Adultery (Domestic Relations Law § 170(1))

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The world blurs for a second. A divorce Summon?

He reads it again, slower this time, each word grating against his mind, and his grip tightens on the paper. Somewhere in the background, he hears a faint hum. It’s Emily. She’s hovering beside him with her hand on the back of his chair.

“How did she manage that so quickly?” Emily asks. She doesn’t sound unhappy about it. In fact, Ryan could swear there’s a hint of amusement in her voice.

Ryan doesn’t answer. He can’t. He’s barely breathing, each word still sinking its sharp little claws into his brain. The room feels like it’s closing in on him; he forces himself to focus on the summons, but all he can see is the stark finality of Julie’s

name.

He hears a cough. The server, still waiting, his hand stretched out as he points to the line marked for Ryan’s signature. “Mr. O’Brien,” the server says. “You’ll need to sign here to acknowledge receipt.”

Ryan’s hands tremble as he scrawls his name in a jagged, barely legible line. The server thanks him with cool professionalism, nods once to Emily, and exits, leaving the two of them alone.

As the door clicks shut, Emily lets out a breath. Her fingers trace the back of Ryan’s chair as she leans closer. “Wow,” she says. “Adultery. Julie’s been busy. It’s not even been a day since she left the house. How in the world did she pull this off?”

Ryan forces himself to swallow, barely managing to control his breathing.

“Are you alright?” Emily asks.

“Excuse me,” Ryan mutters. “I need to be alone.”

Emily hesitates, confusion flashing across her face, but finally nods and steps back, letting him go. He waits until the door closes behind her. Then, like a reflex, he snatches his phone from his desk and dials Julie’s number.

Chapter

It rings once. Then twice. And again.

Nothing. Her voicemail clicks on.

He hangs up and calls again. His hands are shaking as he paces the room, his breaths shallow. Pick up. Just pick up. But there’s no answer. Only that infuriating beep that signals her voicemail.

A growl escapes his throat, and in a rage, he hurls the phone across the room. It collides with the wall, shattering, pieces clattering to the ground.

He stands there, breathless, staring at the remnants of his phone on the floor. The divorce summons sits on his desk, waiting, haunting him.

This can’t be. He won’t let this happen. He grabs his coat and storms out of the office. Emily looks up from her desk as she sees him approaching.

“Call and find out where they’re keeping Elaine Jenkins, Julie’s mother,” he says.

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