Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 318

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

No Touching

ARABELLA’S POV

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Alvise caught my wrist and pulled me back, knocking the breath out of me as my back collided with his chest.

“And what do you mean by that?” he asked roughly, his voice dangerously low.

I turned around, but he didn’t loosen his grip.

“I guess you’ll have to find out, baby,” I whispered, tilting my head to the side. “After all, all’s fair in marriage and in war.”

“That’s not how it’s said.”

“I know.” I tried to snatch my hand away. “I wanted to say it that way.”

“I’ll say it plainly once, Arabella.” Alvise’s eyes darkened, the blue disappearing into something colder. “Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not the truth.”

“Let. Me. Go.”

He didn’t budge. Instead, he stepped into my personal space, his breath fanning across my face.

“Do you think I take orders from you?”

“I don’t give a…’

“Complete it,” he said, placing both hands on my hips and hoisting me up. “I dare you.’

I yelped in shock as he dropped me onto the center console, planting his hands on either side of me and trapping me between them.

Alvise’s gaze lowered, narrowing as he stared at the towel that had ridden low on my hips.

I scoffed, tightening it around myself as I shook my head.

“If you think you have any right to look at my body after I just caught you speaking to some other woman, you’re joking.”

Slowly, he looked up, one brow lifting.

“And making a show of undressing in front of me was part of your ‘punishment,’ I presume?”

“Punishment?” I chuckled, forcing a smile. “Who am I to punish you? I wouldn’t dare.”

Oh, but I would.

And he wouldn’t see it coming.

Alvise studied me, suspicion written plainly across his face. “Thread carefully, Arabella.”

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

Pissed off, I deliberately pulled the towel lower, bunching it in my hands.

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fought not to look, but ultimately lost the battle and glanced down, tensing the moment his eyes landed on my bare chest.

Alvise sucked in a breath, straightening as he moved to grab my waist.

“Don’t. Touch. Me.”

He froze, his hands hovering over my skin, but he didn’t touch me.

Instead, he took a step back and folded his hands at his back. “If that’s what you want.”

“It is,” I said, jumping off the center console and throwing the towel over my shoulder. “And it will be for as long as you think you can play me for a fool.”

I walked out of the closet with his eyes boring into my back and headed for the bathroom.

The moment I shut the door, I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and clutched my chest.

I almost had a heart attack.

“You look good, as much as I hate to admit it. Is this some sort of revenge dress?”

I smiled, playfully hitting Rozaliya on the shoulder as I sat beside her at the dining table.

“Of course not.”

Her blue eyes narrowed, and she scoffed.

“You have on lace dress that hugs every one of your curves,” she deadpanned. “Tell me, what did my brother do? I know a revenge dress when I see one.”

As if she’d summoned him, Alvise walked toward the table looking like sin itself in a navy suit.

His expression was dark and brooding as he took the seat beside me.

After I showered and returned to the bedroom last night, it was empty.

I’d gone downstairs to eat since I hadn’t had dinner and ran into him on the stairs, but we walked right past each other.

He didn’t sleep in the room.

And this morning?

I was only seeing him now.

I leaned closer to Rozaliya. “Bold of you to assume I wore it for him,” I mumbled through gritted teeth.

“You know, I’d been wondering how a calm girl like you would survive my brother, but now I can see you have some spice.” She grinned. “I knew I liked you for a reason…”

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

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Approaching footsteps made her straighten and stop talking, her playful expression disappearing.

mood soured when Alexei’s face came into view, Mrs. Valerio beside him as they approached the table.

My eyes dropped to his neck, and I frowned.

He had a neck brace on.

“You’re both late,” Alvise muttered, tapping a finger against the table.

“Sorry, son,” his mother said, settling into her chair after helping her husband sit. “Your father hasn’t been well.”

“I don’t care,” Alvise said nonchalantly, stretching his long legs as he leaned back in his chair. “I asked why you’re both late.”

“Because… he’s not been well.”

“That is and never will be a reason for you to come down here late. It’s better you don’t come at all.”

Alexei gritted his teeth and nodded, while Mrs. Valerio simply smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes as they landed on me.

Instead of plastering a smile on my face, I returned the scowl she was shooting at me.

“How did you get that neck brace, Father?” Rozaliya asked, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen over the table.

Alexei’s eyes hardened.

“Shut up and mind your business,” he snapped. “You should be married in your husband’s house by now, yet here you are.”

“It’s not my fault the man you betrothed me to against my wishes is nowhere to be found,” she said dryly.

“And whose fault is that?”

“Definitely not mine,” Rozaliya mumbled. “I never even met the man.”

“You’re a disgrace! Pray he returns and marries you, or else you’ll remain a single liability with no title to your name.”

I flinched, my face falling as Alexei’s harsh words settled over the table.

Why was he being so cruel to his own daughter?

“I already have a title,” Rozaliya shot back. “I’m the Pakhan’s sister. That’s enough for me.”

Alexei shook his head, looking at his wife. “Look at the daughter you raised.”

“Rozaliya!” Mrs. Valerio scolded, glaring at her. “Watch how you speak to your father.”

“Tell him to also watch how he speaks to me!” she yelled, shaking in her seat. “I’m tired of being proper and keeping quiet while you all make decisions for me and make me wait for some man I don’t even…”

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

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Approaching footsteps made her straighten and stop talking, her playful expression disappearing.

mood soured when Alexei’s face came into view, Mrs. Valerio beside him as they approached the table.

My eyes dropped to his neck, and I frowned.

He had a neck brace on.

“You’re both late,” Alvise muttered, tapping a finger against the table.

“Sorry, son,” his mother said, settling into her chair after helping her husband sit. “Your father hasn’t been

well.”

“I don’t care,” Alvise said nonchalantly, stretching his long legs as he leaned back in his chair. “I asked why you’re both late.”

“Because… he’s not been well.”

“That is and never will be a reason for you to come down here late. It’s better you don’t come at all.”

Alexei gritted his teeth and nodded, while Mrs. Valerio simply smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes as they landed on me.

Instead of plastering a smile on my face, I returned the scowl she was shooting at me.

“How did you get that neck brace, Father?” Rozaliya asked, breaking the awkward silence that had fallen over the table.

Alexei’s eyes hardened.

“Shut up and mind your business,” he snapped. “You should be married in your husband’s house by now, yet here you are.”

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