All Chapters of CORRUPT ME (GIVING MY INNOCENCE TO MY BROTHER'S BESTFRIEND): Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

36 Chapters

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

ZYRAN. "What do you want, Cristian?""Oh my goodness, is this the way a newly married man should talk?" He said it with such exaggerated offense that I almost rolled my eyes."I don't give a shit. Say what you want to say or leave me alone.""Wow, you seem to be in a bad mood." He studied me for a moment. "Let me guess. Is it because your morals are hindering you from doing what you most desperately want to do?"I went still."What are you on about now?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral."I see the way you look at her," he said simply. "You can fool anyone else, Zyran, but you can't fool me. You know that very well.""She's my wife. I'm supposed to look at her, right?""Hmm. I highly doubt that." He moved closer, lowering his voice even though there was no one around to hear us. "This whole wedding thing seems like a charade. A very elaborate, very public charade."I didn't respond. Didn't confirm or deny. Just waited to see where he was going with this."We both know how much Luca

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

MYRA.The last guest left around midnight.I watched from the window as the final car pulled away, red taillights disappearing down the long driveway until they were swallowed by the darkness. And then it was just quiet. The kind of quiet that felt heavy, oppressive, like it was pressing down on my chest and making it hard to breathe.I was alone in this house.Well, not alone. Zyran was here somewhere. But that almost felt worse than being actually alone.I looked around the guest room, my room now, I guess—and tried to make it feel like mine. My suitcases were in the corner, packed with clothes and books and the few personal items I'd brought from home. Elena had offered to unpack for me but I'd told her I'd do it myself. I needed something to do with my hands, something to occupy my mind other than the fact that I was married now and living in a stranger's house.Not a stranger. My husband.The word still felt foreign in my mouth. Husband. Like it belonged to someone else's life, n

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

I couldn't sleep.That wasn't unusual. Sleep had never been a priority. There was always work to do, plans to make, problems to solve.But tonight was different. Tonight I couldn't sleep because every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.Myra in her wedding dress, looking at me like she was waiting for something I couldn't give her. Myra standing in my doorway last night in those thin pajamas, asking me what we were supposed to do now. Myra walking away with that look on her face, hurt and confused and trying to hide it.I'd hurt her. I knew that. I'd seen it in her eyes when I told her to go back to her room, when I dismissed her like she was an inconvenience instead of my wife.But what else was I supposed to do? Let her stay? Pull her into my room and show her exactly what I'd been thinking about since the moment I saw her in that pool? That would have been a disaster. That would have been breaking every promise I'd made to Luca.So I'd sent her away. And now I was lying in my bed at

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

ZYRANI looked at her then, really looked at her. Her hair was down, falling in dark waves around her shoulders. Her face was bare of makeup, making her look younger, softer. There were dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't been sleeping well either.She was beautiful. That wasn't news. I'd known she was beautiful for years. But seeing her like this, unguarded, honest, sitting in my kitchen at two in the morning, it hit different."I don't know," I admitted. "I've never done this before.""Been married?""Been married to someone I actually—" I stopped myself before I could finish that sentence.She leaned forward slightly. "Someone you actually what?""Someone I actually have to live with," I said, changing direction. "Most marriages in our world are distant. Separate lives under the same roof. This is... different.""Because we're pretending it's real?""Are we pretending?"The question hung in the air between us. She stared at me, her blue eyes wide, and I could see her trying

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

ZYRANIt was a challenge. A dare. And every part of me that wasn't still clinging to some sense of control wanted to accept it.I reached out and caught her wrist, my thumb finding her pulse point. It was racing, just like mine."You have no idea what you're asking for," I said."Then show me."We stood there, frozen in that moment, both of us barely breathing. Her eyes were locked on mine, waiting, challenging me to make a move.I wanted to. God, I wanted to.But if I did this, if I crossed this line—there would be no going back. No pretending this was just a contract. No maintaining the boundaries I'd promised Luca I'd keep.This would change everything."Myra," I said, her name coming out almost like a warning."I'm right here," she whispered. "I'm your wife. What are you so afraid of?"The truth? I was afraid of myself. Afraid of what I'd do once I stopped holding back. Afraid that if I touched her the way I wanted to, I'd never be able to let her go when the time came.I was afra

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

I WANT TO WRITE POEMS ON YOUR SKIN WITH MY LIPS. MYRA.I should have known the invitations would start coming.We'd been married for three days when the first one arrived—a heavy cream envelope with gold lettering, delivered by a man in a suit who waited at the door like he expected an immediate response. Elena brought it to me while I was eating breakfast alone, as had become my routine.Zyran was already in his office. Working. Always working.I opened the envelope and pulled out the card inside.The Konstantin Family requests the honor of your presence at their annual gala...A mafia event. Of course. I'd been to plenty of these growing up—my father dragged us to every major family's gatherings, using Luca and me as props to show how united and strong the Rossi family was. I'd always hated them. The fake smiles, the careful conversations, the way everyone was constantly sizing each other up and calculating advantages.And now I'd have to go to them as Zyran's wife."Mrs. Theon?" E

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

MINE, ONLY FUCKING MINE. MYRA."Myra Theon." The name still felt weird in my mouth. "I know who you are. Everyone does. The woman who married Zyran Theon." He leaned against the bar. "How's that going for you?"I took a long drink of my whiskey. "It's going."He laughed. "That good, huh?"I should walk away. Should make some excuse and go find Zyran and play my role as the devoted wife. But I was tired of playing roles. Tired of pretending. And this stranger with his easy smile and obvious interest was offering me something I desperately needed—the feeling of being wanted.Even if it was shallow. Even if it meant nothing."What gave it away?" I asked."The fact that you're over here alone while your husband is across the room not even looking at you." Adrian signaled the bartender for his own drink. "If you were mine, I wouldn't let you out of my sight."It was a line. Obviously a line. But it still felt good to hear."Well, I'm not yours," I said. "I'm his.""Are you though?" Adria

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT ~~

TAKE ME ROUGHLY, KISS ME DEEPLY AND LEAVE NO PART OF ME UNTOUCHED.”MYRA.His eyes were wild, dark with something that made my heart race and my breath catch in my throat.I'd never seen him like this. Never seen him this close to losing control. The careful mask he always wore was gone, replaced by something raw and hungry and terrifying.And I wanted it.I wanted all of it."Say it again," he said, his voice rough. "Say you'll find someone else. I dare you."I lifted my chin, meeting his eyes even though every instinct told me to look away. "Why? What are you going to do about it?""You really want to find out?""Yes."The word had barely left my mouth before his lips crashed into mine.It wasn't gentle. Wasn't soft or sweet or any of the things a kiss was supposed to be. It was rough and demanding and desperate, like he was trying to consume me whole. His hands moved from the bookshelf to my face, holding me in place while his mouth claimed mine with an intensity that made my knees

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

“IT WAS MY FAULT FOR THINKING THIS COULD WORK.”MYRA.I woke up alone.The sheets beside me were cold, like he'd been gone for a while. I sat up slowly, my body still humming with the memory of last night, and looked around the room.Zyran's room. But he wasn't here.I got up and padded to the bathroom, half expecting to find him in the shower or getting ready. Empty. I checked the closet. Some of his clothes were missing, like he'd packed in a hurry.A sick feeling settled in my stomach.I walked back into the bedroom and that's when I saw it—a piece of paper on the nightstand, folded once with my name written on it in his sharp, precise handwriting.I picked it up with shaking hands and unfolded it.Myra,I had to leave early for business in the city. I will be back in a few days. Call if you need anything.- ZThat was it. That was all he had to say after last night.Not "good morning." Not "about what happened." Not even a proper explanation of where he was going or why he had to

CHAPTER THIRTY

LET THE CHAOS IN.MYRA.Two words. That's all it said.But I knew. I knew immediately who it was from.My hands started shaking so badly I nearly dropped the phone.You thought you could get away from me by marrying him? You thought a ring would change what you are?Another message came through.You're still the same pathetic, weak little girl. Nothing's changed. Nothing will ever change.I stared at the messages, my heart pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears.Jeremy.It had been over a year since I'd blocked him, since I'd cut off all contact, since I'd tried to erase him from my life completely. And now he was back, just when I thought I was finally safe.Another message.I saw the pictures from your wedding. You looked beautiful. Almost made me wish I'd been the one putting a ring on your finger. But we both know how that would have ended, don't we?I felt sick. Physically sick.Congratulations on the marriage, by the way. How long do you think before he figures out what you

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