Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 46

Ruined By My Brother’s Best Friend

Why are you upset with me?

anced at him, shocked by his words, my stomach fluttering with what felt like anticipation before I quickly shut it down. I turned back to the TV and scoffed. He could shove his desire to take up space up his nose for all I cared.

Our last encounter might have been a week ago, but that didn’t mean I’d forgotten. Oh no. I’d thought about it/every single morning and night for the past eight days, and each time, I only ended up getting more pissed.

Since his arrival in London, he’d done a lot that had hurt me, but somehow, that day at the office seemed to drive me the craziest. He’d just sat there and let her disrespect me. Alvise let the blonde Russian disrespect me! Sure, I wasn’t really expecting him to defend me. But the least he could’ve done was let me defend myself instead of chiming in just to tell me to get out of his office.

The thought made me pull the blanket off and stand abruptly.

Archie gave me a questioning look from his seat. “Where are you off to, little Bella?”

I forced a smile. “I’m going to snoop around your kitchen,” I said, turning around and heading for the door.

“There are literally more than enough snacks here,” he whispered. “And don’t touch those chocolates you brought me. They’re a gift.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to look at him. “Thanks for reminding me about those.”

He shook his head and turned his attention back to the TV. “Gluttony is a sin, little Bella.”

I smiled at his retort. “Nice one,” I nodded. “That was good, I’m not going to lie. I’ll get you back,” I said, then exited the room and headed to the kitchen before the people actually watching the movie killed me with their glares because I was distracting them.

I grabbed a bowl of ice cream from the freezer and sat on one of the kitchen stools before dedicating my attention to scooping the delicious chocolate chip ice cream into my mouth. I preferred the company of the ice cream to torturing myself with Alvise’s presence.

As if thinking about him had summoned him, the hairs on the back of my neck suddenly stood on end. The air grew tense as I felt his heavy presence behind me. I dug my spoon into the ice cream again just as he rounded the counter until he was standing directly across from me.

I felt his stare but refused to look at him as I shoved another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. When his gaze became too much to ignore, I glanced up, my eyes clashing with his intense blue ones as I swallowed.

Alvise tilted his head to the side. “You’re upset.”

I raised a brow. “You came all the way here to tell me that?”

He ignored my question and searched my face. “You’re upset.” He stroked his chin. “With me.” He said it like he’d only just come to that realization.

I scoffed and turned back to my ice cream, but he spoke again. “Why are you upset with me?”

I looked up to find him still watching me, and as I stared into his eyes, it all reminded me of the anger I’d barely managed to keep buried all this time.

“If you’re here to ask me why the sky is blue, then just leave.”

He ignored my question. “I just didn’t want her to know…” He stopped abruptly, cutting himself off while his jaw hardened as though he regretted saying even that much.

I furrowed my brows. “You didn’t want her to know what?” I asked, confused.

He ignored me again and pushed himself away from the counter, walking toward the door.

I smiled bitterly. “Of course he leaves,” I muttered through gritted teeth. “Why did I even say anything?”

I shoved another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth, still aware of his heavy presence behind me.

“I didn’t mean it, Arabella,” Alvise said again, but this time, I refused to turn around.

Then he spoke again, and his words made me freeze, the spoonful of ice cream in my hand nearly slipping off as I faltered.

“Don’t ask me to treat you like I treat everyone else,” he said, his tone serious.

I turned to look at him, my heart racing as I took in the sight of his striking face, his blue eyes locked onto mine as he shoved a hand into his pocket.

“You get away with talking to me like that, and so many other things you don’t even know about.” He shook his head once, a dark look crossing his face. “No one else does.”