Claimed by my husband's brother.

Episode 5

Liliah.

I quickly pushed Dante away and adjusted the straps of my dress. It happened so fast that I managed to compose myself within seconds. What if it had been Ian? He would have caught us red-handed.

"Liliah!"

Mom's voice rang through the room, and I turned toward the door, my breath coming in uneven bursts.

Dante straightened to his full height.

Mom's eyes widened. I didn't know how to explain what she had just walked into, but it definitely looked bad. Her brows knitted together as her gaze shifted between me and Dante, trying to make sense of the situation.

Silence hung heavily in the room.

I gulped, my words failing me. Had Mom noticed what we were doing..

"Liliah!" she called again, striding toward me. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from Dante.

"Are you bringing another man into this house now?!" she demanded, her voice echoing through the room.

"Don't you know the consequences? The Hills family aren't people to joke with! Don't tell me you're playing tit for tat with Ian!" she shouted, scolding me the way she always did.

"Mom... It's not—"

"I'm Dante," his deep voice cut in smoothly. "The heir to the Hills Empire."

Mom fell silent, her eyes lifting to him.

Dante stood with effortless authority, his hands tucked into his pockets. There was something commanding about his presence calm, intimidating, and impossible to ignore. He didn't need to raise his voice to make the room feel like it belonged to him.

"Is it true, Liliah?" Mom asked, doubt lacing her voice.

"Yes, Mom. He returned today. I'm not bringing another man home."

She let out a long sigh of relief.

"Okay... You scared me for a moment." She placed a hand over her chest. "I'm here because you weren't answering my calls yesterday."

I nodded.

Of course. She had come to make sure I hadn't run away. To make sure I was still a slave to Ian... to the Hills family.

Tears stung the corners of my eyes, but I forced them back. I refused to cry again.

"I'm fine, Mom. Ian and I are okay. You don't have to worry," I said, the resentment in my voice impossible to hide.

"Liliah... my child." Her expression softened. "I'm sorry. But it's for our own good."

She lingered for a brief moment before turning and quietly walking away."So... you really are Ian's slave. A possession?" Dante asked the moment Mom left, the mockery in his tone unmistakable.

I rolled my eyes. "Isn't that what your family does?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Come here, bunny. Let me finish what we started. I bet you're still thinking about my tongue in those little cunt of yours”

My lips twitched.

Something about the way he spoke always got to me. It made my skin tingle, my heart race, and my thoughts spiral in the most frustrating way.

But I wasn't falling for it. Not now.

I was still Ian's wife, and whatever was going on between the brothers, getting involved with Dante would only make everything worse.

"Just stay away from me, Dante. I don't know what game you're playing, but I want nothing to do with you!" I snapped, folding my arms across my chest as I glared at him.

A sharp laugh escaped him, his hands still tucked casually into his pockets.

What on earth was so funny?

"Are you sure about that, bunny?" he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Weren't you moaning ‘uhhhhh’ and screaming my name just a moment ago?"

He deliberately mimicked me, and my face burned with embarrassment.

I let out a slow scoff, my lips parting in disbelief.

"f**k you, Dante. Honestly!" I spat.

He merely rolled his eyes and started walking toward me again.

Each step made my heart pound harder against my ribs.

What the heck was he doing?

"Stop!" I yelled, raising a hand to keep him at a distance. "Stay right there."

I honestly didn't know if he had cast some kind of spell on me.

"Bunny..."

"I'm not your bunny, Dante. I'm your brother's wife," I stated, even though we both knew he was already aware of that.

"Does he know that?" he asked quietly.

Silence settled between us.

Because he was right.

Ian didn't even treat me like his wife.

Dante closed the remaining distance between us before I could react. He pressed a brief kiss against my lips, and my heart lurched.

"Well, I'll leave you for now. I need to be at the office."

With those final words, he turned and strode out of the room.

I found myself unconsciously watching him leave.

The moment he disappeared from sight, I pressed my fingers against my temples. Memories of everything that had happened came rushing back all at once, sending a shiver through my body.

I was probably doomed.