Goodbye My Arrogant Ex (Marguerite and Leonard) novel Chapter 334

But as her older brother, there was only so much Hogan could say. Most of the time, all he could do was quietly help out with the family business from behind the scenes. Beyond that, he had no right to meddle in their personal lives, so he simply watched over them in silence.

“Of course I know,” Marguerite said softly. “And I know everything you’ve done has been for me. With everything that’s happened at home lately, you’ve stepped in and helped more than I could ever put into words. I may not say it out loud, but I feel it—I really do. It means a lot to me.”

“Alright, enough with the gratitude,” Hogan replied, trying to lighten the mood. “We’re family. That’s just what we do for each other. No need for thanks.”

After hearing her speak so sincerely, Hogan couldn’t help but smile. The truth was, neither of them were the type to talk about their feelings, let alone say them out loud. But this time, it felt different—as if, for once, they were truly letting each other in.

Their little get-together turned out to be a rare bright spot. Everyone was relaxed, laughter came easily, and Marguerite realized it had been far too long since she’d felt so at ease. Most of all, seeing Hogan happy and settled brought her a sense of comfort she hadn’t felt in ages.

After dinner, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

There was a heaviness in Hogan’s voice, the helplessness of watching someone he loved struggle and knowing he couldn't fix it. Sometimes he felt like a failure as a brother for not being able to shield her from hardship, and the guilt gnawed at him.

“But you know,” he added after a moment, “Leonard really does love her—genuinely. As long as they’re happy together, that’s enough for me. The rest will work itself out eventually. Family drama can’t touch what they have. That’s what matters most.”