Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 243

It’s About Survival

ANABELLA’S POV

It had been just over twenty-four hours since I landed in Moscow, but I already had over a dozen things that I was definitely not looking forward to.

And one of those things was eating with Alvise’s family. Because now, as I dressed up in a shiny black shory dress after freshening up, I wondered why I needed to try so hard to fit into their norms.

“I can’t do this.” I mumbled to myself, and before I could change my mind, I peeled off the dress and changed into a more casual mini dress with long sleeves.

I preferred to be comfortable, especially when eating, and there was no way I was going to go downstairs looking all dolled up.

Finally comfortable with my reflection in the mirror, I headed to the door and walked out of the room.

“Hi!” I said to the guards outside the door.

None of them replied to me or even offered me a nod. They both just stared ahead and acted like I wasn’t

there.

Frowning, I walked past them and headed downstairs, too nervous to dwell on their coldness.

As I descended the stairs, I kept my head low and refused to raise it, afraid of making eye contact with someone and then losing my footing like I almost did last time.

I didn’t even make it to the table before Alexei’s displeased voice made me pause.

“What is that girl still doing here?”

My chest heaved up and down, the familiar feeling of being unwanted poking at me again.

I looked up, my eyes darting toward him, but I found his attention fixed on Alvise.

“Whatever bullshit you’ve come up with this morning,” Alvise said, his eyes trained on the phone in his hand. “I don’t care for it.”

I walked toward the table, my legs almost shaking as I scanned it for the nearest empty seat. I breathed a sigh of relief when I spotted one close to Alvise, and I walked toward it.

I was about to sit down when someone cleared their throat, stopping me.

I turned around and gasped at the sight before me.

Viktoriya, still using her crutches, stood some feet away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“That’s my spot.” She snapped, struggling with her crutches as she approached me.

I stepped out of the way to let her sit down and raised my brows as I assessed the situation.

Sep 14

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

If Tatiana wasn’t present, why was Viktoriya comfortable coming here and then sitting in her sister’s usual spot while boldly claiming it as ‘her spot’?

I ficked my gaze toward Alvise and found him already looking at me. I didn’t know what to make of his dynamic with Viktoriya, so I just looked away and sat at the only other free spot left, which happened to be the one next to his sister.

I finally let myself look around the table and sighed.

It looked like everyone I’d noticed from dinner was also present at breakfast, with the only person evidently missing being Tatiana.

Thankfully, this time, I was sitting opposite Alvise’s mother and not his father. Though, from the glares he was still sending my way, that didn’t seem to stop him.

“You didn’t take my advice.”

I jumped in my seat, clutching my chest as I looked toward the source of the voice. “You scared me.”

Rozaliya scoffed. “I’m sitting right next to you. Why are you shocked that I spoke to you?”

“I zoned out, so you took me by surprise.”

Rozaliya looked me up and down. “What are you wearing?”

I looked down and casually glanced at my dress.

Of cou Of course, I was underdressed, and though it rubbed me the wrong way, I tried not to think about it.

I smoothed my hand over my legs. “A dress?”

“I told you dressing up is very important.” She hissed. “And you still didn’t listen.”

“I’m not comfortable wearing sequined gowns to dinner.” I rasped. “This is what I normally wear.”

She shook her head like I was a dumb child. “Here, it’s not about comfort. It’s about surviving.”

I opened my mouth to ask her what that meant, but she was cut off.

“No talking at the table.” Mrs. Valerio scolded, her eyes trained on her daughter.

“Sure.” Rozaliya said hesitantly.

“A proper lady should dress well and have manners.” Mrs. Valerio continued, her words feeling like hot coals against my skin.

She was taking a jab at me, specifically at my dress, and though I tried to ignore it, it messed with my confidence a little.

The staff finally brought in the food, one tray after another, and though I knew I wasn’t going to eat much, I was excited because the faster we ate, the faster I could leave

“Pakhan!” A guard yelled urgently, rushing over to whisper something into Alvise’s ear.

13 Mon, Sep 14

Rumed By My Brother’s Best Friend

Unbothered, his blue eyes emotionless, he nodded. “Let them in.”

The guard wasted no time and rushed out, leaving me wondering what was so important that had made hi run like that.

“Eat.” Alvise ordered, and then everyone picked up their cutlery and started eating.

Biting my lip, I did the same, settling for toast and scrambled eggs.

I didn’t get the second spoonful of eggs into my mouth before I heard the front door open, followed by the angriest voice I’d heard all morning.

“Where the fuck are they?”

I dropped my spoon, making it fall against the plate with a loud thud and drawing everyone’s attention

“Sorry.” I mumbled, my hands shaking as I picked it up.

“Oh, there they fucking are!”

I turned in my seat, and a knot immediately formed in my stomach when I saw the man standing with a group of men behind him, with Tatiana at his side.

I knew exactly who he was.

I’d seen his photo when I looked Tatiana up for the first time.

His furious eyes searched the room until they found Alvise, and the moment they did, his jaw hardened as he stalked toward him.

“What is going on, Pakhan?” He seethed, his eyes bloodshot with rage. “We had a deal! So why the fuck are you ending the engagement with my daughter?”

It happened so fast that I didn’t have time to process any of it,

One minute, I was sitting at the table, and the next, someone grabbed me by the shoulders and violently hauled me out of my seat before pressing cold metal against my temple.

My breath caught in my throat, the smell of cigarettes invading my nose as hot, foul breath fanned across my face from behind me.

I froze.

The cold metal pressed harder against my temple before a rough voice spoke directly over my neck. “So you’re the fucker who ended my sister’s engagement?”

мол зер 14

Rumed By My Brother’s Best Friend

You Are The Devil