Episode 11
1283 Words
Liliah.
"Sleeping in your room?" I repeated.
It didn't seem like a good idea, but I guess I had to follow Dante's lead if I was going to accept his help.
"Ian would make a fuss about that."
"So you'd rather sleep in the guest room than decide your own fate?" he asked.
I stayed quiet.
"You'd rather let him do whatever he wants? Invite his mistress while you're there being the obedient wife?"
I twitched my lips.
"I understand you're doing this for your family. That's exactly why I'm here to help."
I pondered over his words for a moment. Ian would continue treating me like trash whether I obeyed him or not.
I let out a quiet sigh.
"Fine. I'll trust you then." I smiled casually.
Instead of smiling back, he simply nodded.
He took my plate from the table and picked up the fork.
Just as I was about to protest, he scooped up a bite and held it in front of me.
"I have hands!" I protested.
"Well, allow me, bunny. You're struggling between eating and staring at me. I know I sweep you off your feet." He said, his voice teasing.
I rolled my eyes. "You wish."
Yet, I still parted my lips, letting him feed me.
After I finished eating, Dante led me upstairs to his room. Oddly enough, I felt... comfortable. I didn't know if Dante was worthy of trusting, but what did I have left to lose? Ian would keep treating me like trash either way. My feelings for him had never mattered.
I lay on the bed while Dante carefully pulled the duvet over me.
"I think you should get some rest. You need it," he said. I nodded.
He offered me a small smile before walking over to his desk.
I didn't even realize when I drifted off.
The next time my eyes snapped open, a loud banging echoed through the room.
I jerked upright. Dante was already making his way to the door.
My eyes flickered to the clock on the bedside table. 9:00 p.m.
He opened the door, it was Ian.
"Is Liliah here?!" he barked, trying to look past Dante into the room.
Dante glanced at me before turning back to him.
"When did you suddenly start caring about her whereabouts, Ian?" he asked calmly. "She doesn't matter to you, so let her be."
"Have you gone nuts? You're keeping my wife here now? Is that it?" Ian snapped.
"Liliah! You were supposed to be in the guest room!"
He tried to shove his way inside, but Dante blocked the doorway without moving an inch.
"Let's go, Liliah. I don't want to repeat myself. You know what happens when you defy my rules."
I slowly climbed out of bed and walked toward the door. Ian's eyes immediately dropped to the oversized shirt I was wearing.
A bitter scoff escaped his lips. "What?"
His jaw clenched. "Are you sleeping with my brother, Liliah?"
"Why are you wearing his shirt?"
"I always knew you were a w***e, but I didn't think you'd be this shameless."
"The double standards are crazy, Ian." I met his gaze. "You don't even like me, so please... just let me be."
"You dare say that again?" he growled. "My problem is that you actually think you have a place in the Hill family." He said in a serious tone, pointing at me.
"You know exactly where you belong."
"Exactly," Dante replied without missing a beat.
He stepped beside me, snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me closer..
"She belongs with me now."
The room fell silent.
Ian stared at him in disbelief.
"You're doing this to get back at me, Dante. I know you." He looked at me desperately. "Liliah, do you know this motherfucker is pretending? He's only doing this because he hates me. Don't believe a word he says. He's fake."
I looked from Ian...
...to Dante.
Then back to Ian. I let out a slow breath.
"I don't mind, Ian.”I said..
He gulped hard, slightly in defeat, I would say.
"I won't repeat myself, Liliah. Let's go."
"I don't want her following you," Dante said calmly. "And to be fair, I'll have my lawyer prepare her papers."
Ian frowned. "What papers?" he barked, frustration written all over his face.
"Divorce papers." Dante held his gaze.
"You don't deserve her."
"This must be a f*****g joke!"
Ian lunged forward and grabbed Dante by the collar, his fists tightening as though he was seconds away from throwing a punch.
Dante didn't even flinch.
He simply pried Ian's hand off his collar and brushed the fabric of his shirt as if dusting away dirt. "I'm serious."
Silence settled over the room. My fingers curled into my palms.
"I want a divorce, Ian.”
"You're getting no divorce," Ian said coldly. "Unless you're ready to send your parents to jail and let them lose everything.” He threatened..
My heart sank.
"I won't let you go, Liliah. This marriage will be your lifetime punishment."
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"Unless you crawl back to me... get on your knees... and beg." He let out a mocking laugh.
"You think having Dante by your side changes anything?"
His eyes flickered toward Dante.
"You'll be shocked by how fast he'll switch up on you. Everything he does is calculated. So enjoy it while you can."
"Clearly you're pissed, Ian." Dante's voice remained calm. "Pissed that your favorite toy is slipping out of your hands."
Ian's jaw tightened.
"You can say whatever you want. It's okay, brother."
A faint smirk tugged at Dante's lips.
"I know exactly how you feel."
"This isn't over!" Ian roared.
He shot one last glare at both of us before turning on his heel and storming away.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Dante turned to me after Ian walked away. His fingers slipped gently into my hair, brushing a few strands behind my ear.
"Don't mind what he says," he murmured. "We both know how manipulative Ian is. He'll say anything if it means getting you back on his side." He held my gaze.
"The choice is yours, bunny."
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Do I have an agenda? Of course." He shrugged lightly. "But I think we both do."
Before I could respond, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss against my lips.
My heart skipped.
I hated how easily I melted whenever he kissed me. I still didn't understand him.
Ian's words echoed in my mind.
What if Dante was worse than Ian?
What if all of this was just another game?
He slowly pulled away but didn't take his eyes off me.
Instead, his gaze traveled over me... from the oversized shirt hanging loosely on my frame, to my bare legs, before slowly meeting my eyes again.
Heat crept into my cheeks beneath the intensity of his stare.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, my voice coming out quieter than I intended.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Honestly, bunny..." He shook his head, almost in disbelief. "You're one of the hottest women I've ever seen.”
I twitched my lips. “Am I ?”
“Do you need to ask?” He answered, dropping on his knees beneath me.
“What are you doing!” I smacked his shoulders a little. The door was clearly still open.
“Spread your legs bunny…” He demanded, parting my legs.
“It's time for him to hear your moans again but pretty much real this time..” he gazed up at me and winked.
- Writer
