All Chapters of My Brother-in-law's sinful offer: Chapter 271 - Chapter 280

I had only said those words to end our debate, but he had taken my exhaustion as an invitation.*What if I actually decided against this? Would a man like Damian Sterling ever truly accept a ‘no’?*I didn't need to think for more than two seconds to know the answer.He must have sensed my thoughts spiraling again, because his long fingers intertwined with mine, his grip tightening as he gently tugged me closer."What are you doing?" I murmured, attempting to pull my hand back."Arabella," he rasped, his heavy gaze locking onto mine."What?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper."I just wanted to say your name," he murmured, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "Arabella... Arabella."My heart skipped a violent beat, my eyelashes fluttering in a subconscious tremor. I had no idea my name could sound so tender and yet so dark, and so intoxicating on someone else's lips.I was completely paralyzed. I could only stand there in his shadow, staring up at the man repeating my name in that vel

Arabella's POV I heard my phone buzzing incessantly from the bedroom just as I stepped out of the bathtub.I quickly pulled on one of the plush white bathrobes hanging neatly from the rack by the door. It was heavy, oversized, and swallowed my frame completely—undoubtedly tailored for Damian's towering height.Even the rich scent of the shampoo clinging to my damp hair smelled unmistakably like him. It made me wonder if he usually stayed here whenever he needed an escape from the world.Shaking off the stray thought, I hurried into the bedroom, catching the phone just before it missed the call. The screen displayed an unknown number.I swiped the icon and pressed it to my ear. "Hello? Who is—""Oh my God, Bella! Are you okay?!" a frantic voice blared through the speaker. "I just caught the news headlines... That bastard Ethan didn't lay a hand on you, did he?!"Hearing the raw anguish in my best friend's voice made my heart squeeze tightly in my chest."No, Tessa... don't worry, I'

I swallowed past the lump tightening in my throat. “I was afraid.”“Huh?” Tessa sounded genuinely caught off guard. “You were afraid? I don't understand, Bella… Why were you scared?”I let out a slow, trembling breath, my grip tightening on the phone.“You see, after everything Ethan put me through… and after watching my mom’s life break apart… the night I caught Ethan in that bed, I swore to myself I’d never let another man break me again,” I confessed, the words burning as they left my mouth. “Marriage, love, letting someone in—that was at the absolute bottom of my list. But with Damian… God, Tessa, I’m terrified I’ll let my guard down again. I’m terrified he’ll actually make me want to love.”*I was terrified of falling for him—especially because, in just three short days, he’d already managed to dismantle every defense I had.* But I kept that part buried deep inside.“Oh, sweetheart,” Tessa cooed, her tone melting with sympathy. “I get it. I really do.” She paused, picking her nex

"Let me know the moment she steps back through that door," I told Aunt Irene curtly before ending the call.I pulled up my contact list, tapped Arabella’s name, and sent a swift text: Where are you?I stared down at the glass screen. Thirty seconds passed. One minute. Two minutes... I waited for five whole minutes, but no reply came.*Arabella didn't reply to my text?**Arabella?*The same woman who used to reply to my messages within three seconds flat?It was only then that a startling realization hit me: Arabella hadn't sent me a single text message in three days.Normally, she flooded my phone with five to ten texts every single day without fail.“Have you made it to the office safely? Have a wonderful day!”“It's getting chilly outside; please don't forget your overcoat when you step out. Love you!”“Don't get so absorbed in your meetings that you skip lunch. Please take care of yourself!”“I cooked all your favorite dishes tonight. Can you try to come home early? I miss you.”Th

I approached my mother on shaky legs, my eyes wildly searching her face for any sign that her heart was failing under the stress."Mom," I called out softly as I reached her, wrapping my arms around her frail frame and carefully helping her step back into the room.I guided her toward the bed, my hands trembling as I helped her sit down and propped up her pillows so she could lean back comfortably."Are you all right?" I asked, my voice tight with suppressed fear once she was settled.My mother studied my face intently, her weary eyes taking in every detail. "Were you crying, Arabella?"I forced a tiny, reassuring smile and shook my head. "No, Mom. Just something in my eye on the walk up. I'm fine."A massive wave of relief washed over me as I realized she hadn't overheard my words in the corridor.I could feel Ethan's suffocating presence right behind me. He had sauntered into the ward after us, standing at the foot of the bed with his arms crossed.I turned around, meeting his gaze.