All Chapters of Seduced By My Fiancee's Older Brother : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

OPHELIA COLE The car slowed to a stop in front of the Dawson Corporation’s annual party, and before I could take one last breath, the valet was already at my door, pulling it open with a polished smile.“Welcome, Miss Cole.”I nodded, returned a soft smile, and stepped out.The evening air met me first, cool, perfumed with expensive colognes drifting from guests who had already made their entrance. I stood still for a heartbeat, gathering myself. I was alone, of course. Even though Damien and I lived under the same roof, he’d left much earlier, saying he had things to take care of. No specifics. No offer to go together. A simple, distant note left on the counter.My heels clicked against the marble entryway as I straightened my dress. The gown hugged me in ways I wasn’t used to being noticed, black satin, smooth and clean, cinched perfectly at the waist, flowing down into a soft flare. The neckline dipped just enough, elegant without invitation, and the thin straps framed my should

OPHELIA COLE The car rolled to a slow halt at the beach. I’d redirected the driver earlier, insisting I couldn’t go home, not yet. I needed air. Space. Silence.Night had swallowed the shore, so when the car finally stopped and I stepped out with the glass of wine I’d stolen from the party, it was just me. Just the waves. Just the ache.I stood at the edge of the water, one hand gripping the hem of my long dress, the other lifting the wine to my mouth. I was… hurt.And I hated that. I hated feeling stupid. I don’t do stupid. Never.Another engine approached, tires grinding softly against the sand. I didn’t bother to turn, I didn’t need to. Damien’s scent hit me before his presence did.He stayed by his car, a few feet away. Not coming closer. Not speaking. Just there.I shook my head and drank harder, almost punishing the bottle.“Why did you follow me?” I shouted, eyes still fixed on the waves. “What happened to your party?”The water didn’t answer, but it soothed me anyway. At leas

OPHELIA COLE I sat on the edge of the bed, fingers picking at my nails while water rushed in the bathroom. A few minutes later, the flow stopped and Luca stepped out, towel low on his hips, drops of water trailing down his chest.I swallowed and looked away, anywhere but at him. He noticed, of course he did.“Oh, come on, Ophelia,” he chuckled, voice dipped in old confidence. “You can’t possibly tell me you don’t miss this body. You were never this shy.”I didn’t respond. Didn’t look. And thankfully, he didn’t push. He crossed to his wardrobe, acting as though nothing, no scandal, no rehab, no betrayal, sat between us.He was right about one thing. We’d never slept together, but there had been hands, mouths, lines crossed in the dark. And yes.... I had adored him. A sketch in my drawer still proved it.But that was before.Before the fracture.Now everything sat lopsided and wrong.Luca, however, seemed blissfully unaware. Too cheerful. Too light. Too certain.“What do you think...

OPHELIA COLE Mary’s apartment building looked the same as always, old bricks, peeling paint, the stubborn flowerpot she kept outside her door even though everything inside it refused to grow. But today, standing in front of her door, it all felt… comforting. Familiar. Like I could finally breathe. I knocked once.The door swung open almost instantly.“Jesus Christ, Lia,” she said, eyes immediately softening. “You look like someone wrung your soul out.”I tried to smile, but it came out more like a painful twitch.Mary didn’t wait for explanations. She grabbed my wrist, pulled me inside, and kicked the door shut behind us.Her apartment smelled like warm cinnamon, leftover coffee, and the citrus cleaner she used when she was stressed. Soft music played somewhere in the background, one of those old playlists she swore helped her think.“You’re staying here for a while,” she said, not even a question. “Sit.”I collapsed onto her couch, sinking into cushions that felt like they’d been w

OPHELIA COLE I had just finished changing my clothes when Luca walked into my room.I noticed him immediately, of course I did.....but he didn’t say anything. He stood by the door, arms folded across his chest, watching me in that unsettling way that made my skin prickle. The silence stretched, thick and deliberate, like he was waiting for me to crack first.I didn’t give him the satisfaction.I moved around the room, setting my bag down, adjusting the throw pillow on the bed, pretending I couldn’t feel his eyes on me. Pretending I didn’t know he was there at all.It annoyed him. I could tell.“You told me you were going to see Mary,” he said at last.“Yes,” I replied calmly. “And I did.”He let out a humorless laugh. “Mary isn’t who I saw you with in that car.”I froze for half a second before forcing myself to stay still.“That was Malcolm Clark,” he continued, his voice sharpening. “So what is this, Ophelia? Are you fucking him now? Is that what this is?”The words hit like a sl