The Billionaire’s Bound Bride

Chapter 3 — The Brother’s Warning

Elena’s POV

“Are you seriously going to sit there and pretend while sipping that champagne like nothing has happened?” I asked, glaring so hard at the man leaning against the balcony, looking effortlessly charming.

He turned, and instead of showing any remorse, he flashed a grin that, in an unexplainable way, was very magnetic. “And what, exactly, do you expect from me? Burst into flames, or properly disappear each time you glance in my direction?”

I huffed, folding my arms across my chest. “You’re flirting. You know it, and yet you still pretend to be innocent.”

Thomas Vale laughed softly, and somehow the laugh seemed to carry a warmth that had been missing in my life for a long time. Not even Lucien was able to provide it, after making so many promises to me. With the money he made available, I was still feeling empty, but grateful that my mom could actually get good treatment without my struggling like before. “And what if I am, and really want to? You won’t mind a little harmless fun with me, right?”

No joke—I felt my cheeks burn up, blushing and my cheeks red. He was frustratingly disarming, with all his charms and teasing eyes. He was so unlike his brother, a complete opposite of the beast I was married to. I had never had a decent chat with Lucien unless it was to take orders from him, but with his brother I felt free, not scared of what the outcome of our little chit-chat might be.

“You’re my husband’s brother, and it should remain so,” I said finally, my voice very tight. “This… this isn’t harmless in any way.”

His grin softened, then shifted. Though I couldn’t tell what he had in mind, I knew it wasn’t for good. “Ah, but you have no idea who my brother is, do you?” His voice dropped, more like a warning, very serious now. “You may think you already know him. But I can assure you, you don’t. Be very careful around him, Elena.”

I froze, completely confused. “Careful? Why?”

“Because, unlike others, he doesn’t play by the rules you think exist,” Thomas murmured, his eyes turning dark. “Lucien Vale… unlike the one you know on paper, is completely obsessive, dangerous, and capable of things your fragile mind can’t even imagine. Don’t dare let yourself drown in him. Don’t forget that—after this, you exist outside of him.”

I blinked, still trying to grasp the message he was passing on. “And how do I… what do I do to stay safe? Especially now that he owns almost everything about me?”

Thomas chuckled, but it was soft rather than sarcastic. “That’s the big problem. You don’t. Not fully, as you think. But if you think well, you can survive. You just have to adopt smarter options, Elena. Smarter than what you always display at the gala.”

I wanted to protest, but lacked the words to describe how I felt. He was more than right. That night, the press had gathered, the cameras all over us, and of course Lucien’s hand was on my waist, lingering longer than usual. Everything was beginning to make sense to me now—that I was allowing myself to get lost in his world and that I might not recover once he finally strikes.

“And what do you want in exchange for this information, Thomas?” I finally asked, doing my best to be in charge of our conversation.

“Nothing,” he said easily, though his eyes said otherwise, filled with mischief. “Just… do well to consider my warning.”

I wanted to roll my eyes at his pettiness, but my smile betrayed me, my cheeks turning red all over again. He was more trouble than help—the way he carelessly brushed his hand against mine while toasting with a glass of champagne.

As we were still in that position, the sound of approaching footsteps from behind alerted us. It was Lucien as he made his way to where we were sitting, carrying his usual cold and dominating exterior. He abruptly stopped before us, his eyes roaming from me to Thomas.

“Did you two know each other before?” Lucien asked, and from his tone I knew all wasn’t well.

I stepped back instinctively so he wouldn’t make a fuss. “We just… happened to meet,” I said, giving him the simplest explanation ever.

“I can see that clearly,” he said, and surprisingly there was a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Thomas smirked, clearly enjoying the scene. “Relax, brother, nothing serious. We’re just talking like friends. Elena’s smart; she can handle whatever I’m bringing her way.”

Lucien’s gaze snapped to me, and I didn’t know how to react to it; it was the first time. It was unforgiving, possessive, like he was laying a claim on me. “I will take care of it my way,” he finally said. And before I knew what was happening, he captured my lips in a hard, commanding kiss. The kiss did the magic, silencing every word that had been forming in my head.

I froze, completely overwhelmed, not knowing how to react. The dominance, the thrill—everything was too much, nothing like what I expected. When he finally pulled back, I was gasping for breath.

“Any questions?” he asked, his voice deadlier.

“None,” I whispered, though inside me there were thousands of things to say.

Thomas raised an eyebrow, smirked in an annoying way, then stepped back like he wanted to give us time to drown in our sin. “Be careful, Elena.”

“I… I can’t do…” I stammered.

“Yes, you can, and you will do it,” he interrupted, his hand finding its way to my waist, his fingers brushing against the curve of my hip like he owned them. “You will do as I say. Because, the moment you signed the contract, you belong to me. And tonight, you’re mine, Elena.”

I gasped at the possessiveness, the danger accompanying it, the electricity that surged uncontrollably between us. Unexplainable sparks ignited; it was too undeniable, yet still terrifying in their intensity.