Loyalty and Desire: The Twin's Forbidden Attractions

Chapter 3: Did he take advantage?

As Zoey stirred awake, the chill of the early morning crept over her skin, causing her to shiver and then gasp in shock. Slowly, she blinked open her eyes, her gaze taking in her surroundings. It was morning; she realized as she tried to remember where she was and why she was so cold.

The unfamiliar large room drew her eyes around even as her brain tried to process the information crawling into her sleep-fogged head. While still laying on her back, she turned her head and stared at the window of the room before she finally looked down at herself.

It was then that she realized she was lying on the bed in her torn wedding dress, the fabric of the once-beautiful gown now ripped and shredded. Instinctively she tried to move and found that her legs were tangled in the skirt of the dress, making it difficult for her to shift position, while her upper body was almost naked, save for the tattered remnants of the bodice.

It all came back to her then, her wedding night and how she had been terrified by her husband’s disfigured face. She remembered how he had grabbed her and pressed her against the cold wall in the hallway when she chased after him. She also remembered his words about fulfilling her wifely duties. Panic rose in her instantly.

Zoey forced her legs free and sat up immediately on the bed and took stock of her body. Fear gripped her at the thought that he might have taken advantage of her last night. Frantic hands ran over her body, checking for evidence, but after a moment, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was fine and nothing hurt or felt weird.

As grateful as she was, though, a frown still formed between her brows. Zoey was a little confused that Ryan had left without touching her, following his statement in the hallway. Had he only changed his mind because she had fainted? She wondered. Or had he felt pity for her? Or perhaps there was a good man in him, after all? She hoped with all her heart.

The more she thought about it, the more Zoey realized that the memories of the previous night were a jumble of confusion and conflicting emotions that she would have loved to forget. But amidst the chaos, there were some fragments that stood out.

She remembered the sensation of Ryan’s strong arms holding her up just before she fainted. The feeling of safety and comfort that enveloped her at that moment was something she had never experienced before in her life. But she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that Ryan hadn’t covered her up before leaving her alone in the room.

As though to emphasize the thought, Zoey shivered suddenly, feeling the early morning chill creep over her skin again and almost seep into her bones. She sneezed and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to generate some warmth.

Zoey shook her head. She pushed all her thoughts away and decided to finally move with warmth now as a priority. She got out of bed and took care of business in the bathroom before she shivered her way into fresh, clean clothes. Once she was dressed, her shriveled stomach growled and wailed in protest. It was only then that she remembered she hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning before the wedding.

Her nerves had been so tense, nothing would have crossed her throat. But now she was more than ready for some food. Zoey walked out of the room and slowly descended the stairs.

But halfway there, she stopped in her tracks. Down the stairs at the large dining table, a tall and strikingly handsome man was enjoying his breakfast. Zoey’s eyes crawled over him, taking in every detail of the stranger.

He wore a dark blue silk shirt, the cuffs of which were rolled up to reveal his wrists and a loose tie hung around his neck. His attire was formal and looked expensive, befitting of a man of wealth and power.

Zoey couldn’t help but stare in amazement at the man’s commanding presence. His chiseled features, neatly trimmed hair, and confident demeanor left her feeling both intimidated and intrigued. A beat passed and her gaze continued to be drawn irresistibly to the man, and before she knew it, she had taken two steps closer.

The man, sensing her approach, looked up from his meal and immediately fixed her with a gaze as cold and sharp as the edge of a sword. His piercing, ice-blue eyes bore into her, sending shivers down her spine. The sheer force of his glare was overwhelming, and Zoey found herself rooted to the spot, too terrified to move.

At that moment, she knew with absolute certainty that this man despised her. His every movement and gesture as he wiped his mouth with a napkin exuded a disdainful hostility that made her feel like an unwelcome intruder. It was a lot of emotion for a man who didn’t know her and Zoey was puzzled.

Then he spoke, and his words were harsher than his glare. “What? Would you look at my brother like that? The way you are looking at me as though you just want to seduce me?” he demanded before he spat out venomously, “A woman who doesn’t know how to behave!”

His words shocked her, but the cold, bitter laughter that followed snapped her out of her daze enough to think. She realized she was looking at Evan Abarough, her husband’s elder twin brother.

She had heard of him from her aunt and cousin before the marriage was finalized. Evan was the current CEO of the Abarough family business. A position he had taken after the fire incident had left his brother too injured to make public appearances. She had heard he was a hard man to negotiate with in business, but she hadn’t expected him to be this blunt to someone he just met in his house. And not just anyone but his brother’s wife.

Embarrassment and irritation washed over Zoey in equal measure, causing her pale face to flush with a thin, red hue. She stumbled over her words as she addressed the man, her voice wavering with a mix of embarrassment and anger. “You... who... who wants to seduce you? Why are you being so rude?”

Tension vibrated in the air between them as they glared at each other. It was all so confusing. Zoey couldn’t understand the man’s harsh accusation or his apparent anger towards her. But just then, just as Zoey was feeling lost and uncertain about what to do, or say, the housekeeper, an older woman in a black and white uniform, arrived with the dining cart, saving her from her embarrassment.

“Young lady, what are you standing there for? Sit down and eat,” the housekeeper cheerfully said, her voice cutting through the tension and halting whatever situation had been unraveling.

But Zoey realized she was not ready to let the matter go. It was her first time meeting Evan Abarough, and she certainly hadn’t expected him to be so hostile toward her and accuse her of trying to seduce him within five seconds of seeing her. She pouted for a second and then turned to face the man once more, her expression now one of seriousness and anger. “Brother-in-law, you owe me an apology,” she demanded.

The man, who had been reclining in his seat, watching her, raised his eyebrows in surprise at Zoey’s boldness. With a hint of amusement, he repeated her words in a mocking tone. “An apology?”

Zoey nodded and remained resolute, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. “I respect you as my husband’s brother. And I may only be your younger brother’s wife, but I still deserve respect. Tell me, is it appropriate to say such hurtful things to me the morning after my wedding? I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”

The atmosphere in the room was charged again. Heavy with unspoken emotions that seemed to crackle with electricity. Zoey could feel the tension in the air, and her heart pounded in her chest as she and the man locked eyes. The room was silent except for the sound of the fork clanging against the plate as Evan’s hand shook with anger.

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she added. “Are you so desperate for a woman’s attention that you have to resort to flirting with your own sister-in-law?” Zoey’s voice grew louder with every word, her eyes blazing with anger.

A wave of determination flowed through her. Zoey had been mistreated her whole life in her aunt’s house and she refused to start her new life in her husband’s house under the same treatment. No. That wasn’t going to happen, she thought.

At the table, the man’s expression turned dark, and his jaw clenched as he glared at Zoey. The fork in his hand suddenly slammed down on the plate with a loud clatter, sending a shower of food flying in all directions. For a moment, the air was thick with the scent of hot coffee and scrambled eggs.

“How dare you accuse me of such a thing?” His voice was low and dangerous, like a growl from a cornered animal. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Zoey knew that things were spiraling out of control, and her heart raced as she prepared for the worst. But then, as suddenly as it had started, the tension dissipated. The housekeeper entered the room again. This time with a tray of food, interrupting the argument and diffusing the situation.

With a warm smile that betrayed her wisdom, the housekeeper stepped in between Zoey and Evan, expertly wielding a silver tray with a steaming hot plate of breakfast. The fragrant aroma of eggs and waffles wafted through the air and filled the room, effectively diffusing the tension that had been simmering between them further even as Zoey’s stomach growled with hunger.

The housekeeper’s smile brightened. “Young lady, please go and deliver this food to your husband in his room. He’s feeling a little under the weather this morning. I think breakfast together will be nice for both of you.”

Zoey’s hands trembled as the housekeeper pressed the tray into her hands. Her heart was still pounding in her chest as she glanced up at Evan’s ice-cold stare. She couldn’t help but feel grateful for the interruption, as it gave her a chance to escape the quarrel that had been brewing between them.

And as she turned to make her way up the stairs, she couldn’t help but also feel a sense of relief, realizing that Ryan hadn’t really done anything wrong to her last night. That made bringing breakfast to him this morning so much easier and a great opportunity to start over on the right foot for them.

Meanwhile, back at the table, Evan’s eyes followed Zoey’s every move, his expression darkening as he watched her retreating figure disappear up the staircase. Then he muttered under his breath, cursing the housekeeper for her interference, “You’re such a troublesome woman.”