Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 196

Summary for Chapter 196: Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter)

Read Arabella and Alvise novel Chapter 196

ARABELLA’S POV

I’d always suspected that Tatiana was close to being as deranged as Francesca, but I never imagined that she could be worse.

I didn’t think it could even get worse than Francesca.

But then, watching her own sister lie there tied up and begging for mercy while she watched like it was just another regular day made me question everything I thought I knew about her, fear coursing through me.

If she could do that to her own sister, she could do anything to me. And then it finally made sense. When Viktoriya had looked terrified of Tatiana, I’d assumed she was exaggerating.

Turns out, she wasn’t.

“Why have you suddenly gone silent? Cat got your tongue?” Francesca taunted, a victorious look spreading across her face

“Let’s not waste any more time,” Tatiana said, walking over to her sister and tearing the tape off her lips.

Viktoriya’s red, bruised face came into view, her eyes swollen and tear-streaked, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks and falling over the already dried tracks of the ones she’d cried before.

Shaking uncontrollably, she sobbed, “Please, Tatiana… forgive me. I promise, I…”

“Hold it!” Tatiana raised a hand, cutting her off. With her eyes fixed on me, she looked at Viktoriya. “Do you know why she’s apologizing?”

I could only watch them, trying to pretend I wasn’t on the verge of a breakdown.

“Since you don’t want to answer, let me help you.” Tatiana sighed. “After you accused her of meeting up with Alvise, I just couldn’t pretend like you hadn’t told me that.” She rubbed her palms together. “I looked into it and discovered that Viktoriya had actually met up with him… without informing me!”

“I’m sorry,” Viktoriya choked out, so much desperation in her voice that guilt pummeled my stomach.

I should have never mentioned that to Tatiana. At the time, I only did it because Viktoriya was getting on my nerves, and I wanted to make her feel the heat because she was being a hypocrite. I wouldn’t have done it if I’d known just how crazy her

sister was.

“How does the saying go again?” Tatiana rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “It isn’t what you do, it’s how you do it?”

I tried to straighten up, but Francesca kicked my legs, making me fall back onto the floor. I hissed, the impact on my ass sharp and uncomfortable.

“You thought you could have what’s mine, Viktoriya,” Tatiana said, glaring at her. “You could never have him. Not in this life and definitely not the next.”

Tatiana turned her attention back to me and narrowed her eyes. “You slept with him.” A dark look crossed her face. “That’s even worse.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but she held up a hand, silencing me.

“Don’t try to make up any excuses.”

“It happened way before you both gor engaged, so leave me alone.

Her nostrils flared. “Do you know how long I’ve known Alvise?” She scoffed. “I knew him even before you had an idea he

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existed, so keep your stupid ‘truth’ to yourself.”

eded to get out of here.

Now.

I looked around, chilling goosebumps breaking out across my skin. How was I going to leave?

“I know you brought me here for a reason,” I said carefully. “So, what is it?”

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Francesca exhaled. “You’re finally asking the right questions at the right time.” Her mocking eyes met mine, and she pouted. “Look at you being so humble.”

“I brought you here, hoping you would deny sleeping with Alvise so I could gaslight myself into believing it didn’t happen,” Tatiana explained restlessly. “But you didn’t. And now, all I want to do is punish you.”

Punishment?

My shoulders tensed. What kind of punishment? “I…”

“You don’t need to talk,” Tatiana cut in. “Since yours was a while ago and Viktoriya’s was more recent, I’ll make you both punish each other.”

Watching the evil smile settle firmly on her lips, I started shaking. Whatever she was thinking could not be good.

I didn’t want to be here.

I needed to run away, but I was trapped.

Bile rose to my throat, and I tried to stand again, but Francesca crouched down and held me in place. “What do you mean by that? Why would I want to punish her…?”

“Just stop talking already,” Francesca ranted in my ear. “Who told you you have to want to do it for it to be done?”

“Exactly,” Tatiana chimed in. “A punishment is meant to be uncomfortable, right?”

Begging them was the last thing I ever wanted to do, but at that moment, it was the only thing I could do because I was helpless.

“Please…” I pleaded. “Let me go.”

Laughing in my ear, Francesca dug her nails into my arm. “It always feels good to watch you beg like a dog.”

A tremor wrecked through me, my teeth clattering together as Tatiana took her time glancing between Viktoriya and me.

“You know the crazy thing? I’m still thinking of the perfect punishment.”

“Please, don’t forget this… just let me go.” I begged, my voice a painful rasp. “I promise there’s nothing going on between Alvise and me. He’s yours.”

Francesca dug her nails deeper into my arm, as if the thought of that riled her up even more.

Tatiana, oblivious to Francesca’s reaction, tilted her head to the side and glared at me. “I know he’s mine,” she admitted. “But it doesn’t completely feel like it yet.”

Eager to save myself, I nodded, pathetically trying to use her little vulnerability as a way out for me. “It… happens… but I’m sure when you get married, it will be better. Just release…”

“I’ve had enough of listening to you,” she snapped. “Now, where the fuck is Dante?”

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At the same time as her outburst, the loud hum of an engine reverberated through the air.

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rned toward the source of the sound and furrowed my brows when a car drove toward us, stopping just inches away from Francesca and me.

I shot my confused gaze back at Tatiana, only to find her already watching me. “Now, you’re going to run Viktoriya over

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Did It

ARABELLA’S POV

A cold sweat broke against my skin, and my body screamed for me to run.

But I couldn’t.

Francesca’s grip on me tightened, and I struggled to breathe. “Run.. her over?” I gagged, tipping my head back.

She wanted me to run her sister over… Why? I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t hurt or kill her. No, I just couldn’t.

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Viktoriya’s strained voice filled the air. “Please… Tatiana, don’t do this. I’m begging you. I promise I’ll never talk to him…. Just forgive me this time, please.”

“You talking to him doesn’t bother me,” Tatiana snapped. “I don’t see you as competition. What I want is to teach you a lesson, and this is the perfect way.”

I shook my head. “No. I can’t do it,” I said, my voice filled with conviction. “I’m not going to run her over.”

She could die… and I’d be at fault. I’d be a murderer.

“You say that like you have a choice.” Tatiana sneered. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I call the shots here.” She glanced at the car and snapped her fingers. “Dante, you can come out.”

The guard stepped out of the car and walked towards us. “What next, madam?” he said, his voice thick with his Russian

accent.

“Force her into the car and make her run Viktoriya over. I don’t care if you have to put her at gunpoint to get the job done. Just get it done.”

Francesca released me and stepped back, giving Dante room to drag me up. I frantically stared at Tatiana. “Please! No!” 1 cried, thrashing against Dante’s hold.

My pleas fell on deaf ears as Dante shoved me into the driver’s seat. Before I could even try to get out, Francesca rushed forward and held the door shut, making sure I couldn’t open it no matter how hard I pushed the handle.

My heart thrashed against my ribs so fast I could barely breathe, and as Dante climbed into the seat beside me, the reality of what was happening came crashing down.

This was really happening.

He started the engine from his seat before standing and placing my hands on either side of the steering wheel, then settling back into his seat.

“Now, drive!” he ordered.

Francesca and Tatiana took cover far away after placing Viktoriya in the middle of the parking lot, some distance away from the car.

I looked at her face, red and filled with terror and panic, and then glanced at my trembling hands.

I couldn’t do this.

“Drive!” Dante yelled harshly.

“I… I can’t… please, just…”

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He cursed loudly, grabbed my hands on the steering wheel, and stood to place his legs over the brakes, towering over me. In one swift movement, before I could catch my breath or get over the shock of his body pressing against mine, he drove

ward, fast and without warning.

I screamed and pushed him,off me, yanking my hands away from the steering wheel.

But it was too late.

I felt the car hit something, and then the sickening sound of something slamming against the car bonnet pierced through the air.

My eyes darted to the windshield, and another violent scream tore through me.

Viktoriya’s body lay sprawled across it, her eyes closed and her body completely limp.

Bile rose into my throat, and I continued screaming, my entire body shaking as I rocked back and forth.

I heard the car door open and close, but I was too lost in my panic-stricken state to process my surroundings.

That was until the blaring sound of sirens made me jerk violently in the car.

Sirens. So many sirens.

And then they came closer, and closer, the sound becoming unbearable.

Red lights flashed across my face, making me freeze as my trembling body slowly stilled. I finally looked around, and the sight before me made my lips tremble.

I was surrounded by police cars, and in the blink of an eye, officers started pouring out one by one, all with their guns pointed directly at me.

Dread settled heavily in my stomach.

They called the cops on me and ran. I was doomed.

I couldn’t look at Viktoriya, and I couldn’t look at the policemen.

Nothing made sense anymore. It felt like my brain was shutting down, unable to process the nightmare unfolding around

I was overwhelmed.

“Keep your hands up. I repeat, keep your hands up.”

The chant continued, the sound growing distant as my vision began to fade.

Soon, I no longer saw the flashing red lights.

All I saw was black.

A sharp pain coursed through my legs, jerking me awake.

I blinked, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings. Where was 1?

My eyes darted down to my legs, where the sting still lingered.”

“That was enough to wake you up, right?”

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I looked up to see a female police officer glaring at me, a whip clutched in her hands.

itall came crashing back.

The car. Viktoriya and the police.

I tried to stand, but a sharp throb in my hands as I moved them immediately drew my attention. I was handcuffed.

“Did you think faking being unconscious was going to stop you from facing the law?”

I glanced at the door to see a grumpy-looking, middle-aged police officer walking in. I could immediately fell that he hated

Finally taking the time to study my surroundings, I realized we were in some kind of interrogation room

“Why am I here?” I whispered, but winced when I heard my own voice. I barely recognized it.

The female officer snorted. “You tried to kill someone, and now you’re asking us this stupid question?”

The male officer stopped in front of me and shook his head. “We ask the questions, not you.”

“I…” I choked on air, coughing before forcing myself to speak. “I didn’t run her over… I was forced to…”

“We saw you at the crime scene. Alone.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t bother trying to get out of this one. You’re going to jail. Life imprisonment. I’ll make sure of it.”

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t think. I couldn’t do anything except sit there as panic consumed every rational thought in my mind.

Was Viktoriya dead…? Did I kill her?

Was I really going to spend the rest of my life in jail for something I didn’t do?

“Can… I call someone?” I asked.

What would I tell Archie? No… I couldn’t call him.

Then who?

The male officer laughed in my face. “You don’t get to call anyone. I trust the sources that called us. I’m a hundred percent sure you’re guilty.”

I frowned. “I’m allowed to have a lawyer at least…”

“Shut up and give up any silly hope you have. No one is coming to save you.”

My shoulders sagged, and I sank back into the chair.

So this was really it.

I was locked in an interrogation room in what was probably a deserted place, and I wasn’t even being allowed to reach out to

anyone.

I closed my eyes and exhaled.

My life… it had just slipped out of my hands.

“Officer?”

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I snapped my eyes open as someone rushed into the room, looking frantic.

emale officer turned to him. “You can see I’m in the middle of an interrogation, detective.”

The detective struggled to catch his breath. “Someone is here for her.”

The air disappeared from my lungs.

What?

“Send them away,” the officer said. “She must go to jail.”

“Sir?” the detective probed.

“What?”

He swallowed. “It’s not just anyone.” The detective sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. “It’s Alvise Valerio.”

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He Came…

ARABELLA’S POV

The detective had to be mistaken.

Blood drained from my face, and my handcuffed hands shook continuously, my body seemingly losing control of itself.

Alvise was here… Alvise?

No. I was hallucinating. I had to be. He was the last person I would expect to show up for me after everything.

“Fuck.” The male officer cursed, “Why would he be here for her?” He eyed me like I had been picked out of a dumpster. “How does he even know her?”

The detective still looked like he had seen a ghost. “I don’t know… but he’s here for her.” His voice dropped into a whisper “And he doesn’t want to wait.”

The female officer’s eyes widened. “Did we pick the wrong person?” she asked frantically. “If he’s here for her, then he knows her… this can’t be good.”

Confused, I squinted, studying the officers and wondering why they looked so worked up.

Why were they so scared of Alvise?

“Let him in,” the officer grunted hesitantly.

Beside him, the female officer cleared her throat. “We should take off her handcuffs.”

“No.” He snapped. “He could be here for another reason. Let’s not conclude that he’s here to save her.”

The detective shared a look with the female officer before rushing out of the room.

Hot, prickling sweat broke out across my forehead, trailing all the way down my neck.

How was I going to face him? What was I going to say if he asked how I got into this situation?

I felt him before I saw him.

The room went eerily still, a strange and intimidating silence falling over everything. The detectives’ muttled whispers died down, the only sound echoing through the room being the faint footfalls drawing closer and closer.

I kept my gaze fixed on the floor as a pair of dark, polished shoes came into view. As my gaze traveled up the perfectly ironed suit pants that followed, I knew with absolute certainty that I was not hallucinating.

He was here.

He was really here.

But I couldn’t muster the courage to look at him.

“Mr… Valer…io.” The officer stammered. “What brings you here? You should have sent for us… yourself…”

“Who handcuffed her?”

My breathing slowed, the cold, low timbre of Alvise’s voice sending a tremble through my body.

I looked up, and my breath finally caught in my throat.

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He looked perfect and put together, the total opposite of me right now. His eyes, hard and blue, were fixed on my handcuffs. his glare so harsh I feared I would feel the sting of it on my skin.

did.”

Alvişe darted his eyes toward the officer, and with a single nod of his head in my direction, he said, “Remove it.”7

It happened faster than I could register.

The officer sprinted toward me and unlocked the handcuffs hastily, almost wrenching my wrist in the process.

A painful hiss escaped my lips, but I bit down on my lip to hold it back. Alvise’s eyes snapped to me, and if felt like all the air had been knocked from my lungs.

His eyes narrowed, and painfully slowly, he let his gaze travel up and down my body, burning holes into every spot he

touched.

“Get out.” Alvise ordered, his eyes still locked on mine.

I looked away, overwhelmed by his presence and ashamed of my situation.

I expected the officers to protest and say it was against the law, but none of them said a word. They all rushed out so quickly that I saw one nearly fall flat on his face before catching himself against the door.

Alvise didn’t speak to me.

He didn’t need to.

The look in his eyes earlier had been enough to tell me exactly how displeased he was.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed, breaking the suffocating silence between us.

He didn’t respond.

I waited, my stomach twisting uncomfortably with each passing second.

“How did you end up here?” he finally asked, completely ignoring my apology.

My eyes flicked back to him, and I rubbed my fingers over my sore wrists, one at a time. “I… I was set up,” I said, my voice trembling. “You probably know who I ran over by now. I’m sure they told you everything.”

I was sure of it.

So, why was he asking?

A dreadful part of me believed he wouldn’t take my side over his fiancée. I’d not just run over his sister-in-law; I had probably killed her.

I feared the questions Alvise had for me. I could see it in his eyes that there was a lot he wanted to say, but he didn’t.

He stroked his chin, his eyes flicking back to the bruises around my wrists. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” I said absentmindedly. “At least not physically.”

For the first time since he entered the room, Alvise moved closer to my chair, leaning against the interrogation table and bringing his face close to mine. So close that his cool breath brushed against my face, his addictive, woody scent filling my nostrils.

“Who did this to you?”

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

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I attempted to look away, but he shook his head in warning, his eyes blazing with an intensity that made my stomach elench.”

allowing hard, I said, “I don’t think you want to know the answer to that question.”

“Who, Arabella? Give me a name.”

“Tatiana.” I said, my voice a harsh whisper.

I dug my nails into my palm, dreading his reply.

Would he say I had crossed the line by accusing his fiancée of setting me up? He might call me a liar and accuse me of implicating her when she was innocent.

There was no surprise on his face.

Not even a single flicker of reaction.

“Get up.” Alvise ordered, straightening and slipping a hand into his pocket.

I bit my inner cheek hard enough to draw blood. I wasn’t surprised.

He didn’t believe me.

And now, he was going to hand me over to the officers himself.

“I don’t have all day, Arabella,” Alvise said, walking toward the door.

I blinked, staring at his retreating back in confusion. I wasn’t allowed to just walk out of an interrogation room, right?

“Where are we going?”

He turned back, the depths of his blue eyes destabilizing me. “We’re leaving.”

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ARABELLA’S POV

“Leaving?” I couldn’t believe my cars. What was Alvise thinking?

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I’d been arrested for attempted murder… or murder, since I still didn’t know if Viktoriya was dead or alive. How was I supposed to just leave?

Even the officer believed I’d done it.

Alvise cocked his head to the side. “What did I just tell you?”

I released a weak breath. “You said we’re…”

“If you heard what I said, then fucking follow me.”

My legs moved before I could take a second to think about it. Fear, strong and heavy, settled within me and I rushed to stand right beside Alvise.

He stilled, his shoulders tensing as I walked beside him. “I’m scared,” I whispered, scooting closer to him without giving it a second thought.

As we walked past the large office area, several policemen glanced at us, their gazes unwavering, but the man beside me remained calm, like he had nothing to be afraid of.

My frown deepened when some officers immediately made way for Alvise, desperately trying not to get in his way.

I couldn’t find the officers from earlier or the detective. Where were they?

We passed the large prison cells, heading for the door, and it suddenly dawned on me.

We were leaving.

They were allowing us to leave without stopping us. No one said anything.

“Have a great day, sir,” an officer said, pulling the door open for us.

Alvise ignored him and walked out. I followed suit, my legs too weak to trust, just like my brain had become too overwhelmed to process what was happening.

“What just happened?” I asked, bewildered, as we walked toward his waiting car.

My eyes drifted to the huge van behind us. I recognized it from the first day Henry came to my workplace.

The van carried numerous security men.

“Alvise…” I rubbed my hand over my pants, my fingers trembling. What’s going on?”

“Get inside,” he instructed, slipping into the driver’s seat.

I sat in the passenger seat, pinching myself subtly to assure myself it was still not a dream.

It wasn’t.

It really wasn’t a dream.

I had just walked out of there freely. Just like that.

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Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

I thought my life was over, that I was never going to recover from the setup, but here I was, walking out freely.

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rned to Alvise as he turned on the engine and pulled onto the road. “I didn’t do it, Alvise,” I said, suddenly feeling the ned to let him know.

“I know,” he said, his eyes still fixed on the road.

My chest suddenly felt lighter, like a heavy weight had been lifted off it.

He came for me.

He believed me.

I had concluded that the officer was right and no one was going to save me. I’d lost all hope… all will. But he showed up for

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I stared, hard and without reservation, the feeling of immense gratitude engulfing me.

“You’re staring.”

Heat crept up to my cheeks, but I didn’t look away. I stared at him until tears welled in my eyes. “Thank you.”

Alvise glanced at me and his eyes flicked straight to the tears spilling down my cheeks, his jaw tightening before he looked back at the road.

I bit my lip to hold back a sob as I allowed the memories of everything that had happened to hit me all at once.

It was devastating and depressing, but all I could think about was who had saved me.

The same man who hadn’t been speaking to me and had gone to such great lengths to make sure I stayed out of his space.

“Thank you so much, Alvise… I… I don’t know what to say.”

Silence dominated the car, except for the low hum of the engine.

He didn’t respond, but I didn’t need him to. I was simply full of appreciation, still in disbelief that I wasn’t going to be spending the rest of my life in jail.

“Is Viktoriya alive?” I asked after some time, genuinely desperate to know what had happened to her.

“I don’t know,” Alvise said nonchalantly, like he hadn’t even cared to ask.

A frown formed on my lips. I’d imagined he would have gone to see her first before coming here.

“How did you know I was here?”

The corner of Alvise’s lips lifted, a dark look crossing his face, visible in his side profile.” “I just knew.”

That was a lie, and it wasn’t the reply he wanted to give. I could see it written all over his face, but I chose not to press further.

The car pulled to a sudden stop, making me flinch. My eyes darted outside the window, and my chest tightened, another wave of sweat breaking out across my forehead.

This wasn’t my apartment or Archie’s.

It wasn’t even an apartment.

I’d been too lost in my thoughts to pay attention to my surroundings. We were in front of a large cottage with ivy-covered

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brick walls, white-framed windows, and a wild, pretty garden.

as beautiful, but I was too taken by surprise to admire it.

I turned to Alvise, confused about what was going on. “What are we doing here?”

He got out of the car, prompting me to do the same before he spoke.

“When were you going to tell me there was a security breach at your apartment?”

My eyes widened, my throat suddenly dry.

How did he know?

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I cleared my throat. “Y… you weren’t speaking to me, and I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t have time to before this happened.

Alvise didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.

Probably for now.

“You’ll be staying here for the next few days until you get a new apartment and your security is assured.” He walked toward me and placed a set of keys in my palm, his hand grazing mine. “The house is already clean, with clothes inside,” he said, and then he turned around and started walking back toward his car.

My blood chilled in my veins, and I rushed after him, panicking so much that I grabbed his hand. “Are you leaving me alone…?” I glanced around warily. “Here?”

He looked down at my hand on his before slowly pulling his hand away and stepping back, putting distance between us. “You’ll have security with you.”

I looked behind him, spotting the men trooping out of the van.

It didn’t make me feel better.

After everything that had happened and what my neighbor had said, I was scared of staying alone… of being alone.

So scared that, without thinking, I blurted out, my voice reduced to a weak plea. “Please don’t go…. stay with me.”