Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 11

Trouble

Htone was firm and cold, but I folded my arms dramatically and stood my ground. “Thank you for driving me here, but I can get myself home from here,” I said.

He looked bored as he pulled one hand from his pocket and glanced at his watch. “I don’t have time for your dramatics Arabella.”

I scoffed in disbelief. “My dramatics? You’ve been insulting me every chance you get, and I’m the one being dramatic?”

He didn’t answer. He only checked his watch again and tapped his foot impatiently against the ground.

I was angry, but more than that, I was hurt. I didn’t like the way he was speaking to me, especially because I liked him. I had never stopped liking him, and I didn’t think I ever would. Not even when I found out he was engaged and would be getting/ married soon.

The thought alone filled me with bitterness. “I get that you’re still upset and that you hate me,” I snapped, “but please stop being so cruel.”

Alvise tilted his head, raised a brow, and narrowed his gaze. The look on his face made my stomach drop.

I immediately realized I’d messed up and a part of me wanted to take the words back, but I knew I couldn’t.

“You get that I’m still upset about what?” he asked quietly, his eyes daring me to say it. To speak aloud what we both knew I meant.

I stayed silent. I just watched him, really watched him, and that’s when I realized I was a coward. I was never going to bring up that night. I wasn’t brave enough to look him in the eye and talk about what happened. The realization seemed to pass between us, and I watched his eyes darken.

He shook his head once. And that was it. He walked past me, got into his car, and drove away.

A tear slipped down my cheek and before I could pull myself together, another followed. Then another. And suddenly, I was crying uncontrollably.

My chest felt unbearably heavy, and my hands trembled as I booked a ride and waited by the roadside with my bags. Physically, I was fine. But the ache in my heart was brutal. I hated myself more in that moment than I ever had before.

I liked him so much it hurt. No, that wasn’t even enough. I was obsessed with him. Everything about him.

And after finally getting close to him, close enough to realize I never wanted to be with anyone else, having to make the hardest decision of my life the very next day would always haunt me. It would forever be my worst nightmare. One I’d already lived through… One I was still living through.

A car suddenly pulled up in front of me, and I flinched. Quickly wiping away my tears, I looked up.

At first, I assumed it was my ride, but the vehicle looked far too expensive to be an Uber. Alarm shot through me, and I took

a cautious step back. I was about to turn and bolt when the door opened and a familiar face smiled at me.

Relief washed over me as I forced a smile and straightened immediately. “Mr. Horald?”

His brown eyes lit up as he stepped out of the car, shaking his head. “Nonsense. Leave the formalities for work.” He smiled warmly. “How are you?”

I stared at my boss, Christian Horald. The same man Sierra was convinced somehow liked me. As his gaze swept over my face, a frown tugged at his lips. Suddenly, I became painfully aware of how pathetic I must have looked with swollen eyes and puffy cheeks.

Christian stepped closer, towering over me. “What’s wrong?” His brows furrowed. “Were you crying?”

"no.” I quickly wiped at my face. “Something got into my eye.” I said, then I hurriedly changed the subject. “How did you see me?”

His look told me he wasn’t buying it, but thankfully, he didn’t press further. “I was driving by and thought I spotted your He nodded. “Looks like I was right.”

I forced out a laugh. “You sure were.”

Glancing around, I adjusted my grip on my bags. “You can carry on, though. Thanks for stopping by. My Uber should be here any minute.”

Christian threw his head back and laughed. “As if I’d leave you standing alone by the roadside.”

I was too emotionally exhausted to argue. So I climbed in, canceled my ride, and buckled my seatbelt. A moment later, he got in as well, and we pulled onto the road.

We sat down, ordered our meals, and eventually the food arrived. After finishing my dinner and two glasses of wine, I felt pleasantly full. When it came to wine, my limit was three glasses. Though I rarely made it past two unless I was out with Archie.

“Thank you so much,” I said after finishing the last sip in my glass. “This was nice.”

Christian nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I should be thanking you. I had a lovely evening.”

I smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond. Then he held my gaze and didn’t look away. Slowly, the atmosphere shifted and his stare became more intense.

Mstomach tightened uncomfortably and a blush crept onto my cheeks. I quickly looked away, unable to continue whatever silent game we were suddenly playing. But the moment I did, my eyes collided with a pair of fiery blue ones. My. breath caught.

Few tables away sat the same man who had occupied my thoughts all evening. Alvise.

His jaw tightened as his gaze swept over my face, lingering on the blush staining my cheeks. His eyes darkened, then hi attention shifted to the man seated across from me. To Christian.

Christian, completely oblivious to the sudden tension crackling through me, snapped his fingers lightly. Where did you go?”

I tore my gaze away and forced a smile. “Nowhere.”

He grinned. Then, in one smooth movement, he leaned across the table and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

My eyes immediately flicked back to where Alvise had been sitting, but his chair was empty.

My heart skipped and the air suddenly felt hot, because he wasn’t sitting anymore.

He was walking toward us.