You Killed My Brother, Now You're Mine

Chapter 1

Isabella's POV

His lips moved over mine, slow and gentle at first, teasing, exploring. Then, the kiss deepened, turning urgent, hungry. His hands roamed my body, pulling me closer, making me shiver under his touch. The heat between us was intoxicating, making my heart race as he trailed soft, wet kisses down my neck.

I melted into him. Every touch, every breath he took against my skin sent a shudder through me. I wanted him-no, I needed him. No one had ever made me feel this way before.

"I love you," I whispered in his ear, my voice barely audible, my heart pounding.

A slow smile tugged at his lips. "Tonight, I'll show you that I'm a man. I'll make you scream my name," he murmured, his voice low and sultry. "Are you ready?"

I bit my lip, teasingly dragging my fingers over his toned abs. "I'll be waiting," I said, my voice laced with anticipation.

Without another word, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms, carrying me to the bed. His touch was both rough and tender, sending waves of electricity through my body. My breath hitched as he lowered me onto the mattress, his weight pressing against me in the most delicious way.

His hands caressed my body, tracing every curve as if memorizing me. I gasped when his lips found my skin again, trailing kisses lower, lower-until all rational thought escaped me.

My moans filled the room as pleasure coursed through me, his touch setting my body on fire. I arched against him, lost in the sensation, the overwhelming need consuming me.

But in the midst of it all, a thought lingered at the back of my mind. Was this love? Or just another temporary escape?

I had always been alone. My parents had abandoned me and my younger sister, Ashley. They were wealthy, but money never filled the emptiness they left behind. I had to grow up too fast, taking care of Ashley while they lived their lives as if we didn't exist.

Tonight, I had told the housekeeper to watch her-I wouldn't be coming home. I needed this. I needed him.

His fingers moved with expert precision, making me gasp. My body tensed, ready to unravel, and when I did, he didn't hesitate.

"So sweet," he whispered against my skin, his tongue tracing where his fingers had just been.

"F-fuck me," I begged breathlessly, my body trembling from the intensity of it all.

His eyes darkened with desire as he pulled out his length. I had seen it before-felt it before-but every time, it still amazed me.

"God, you're perfect," I murmured, my fingers trailing down his chest.

He positioned himself at my entrance, teasing me before finally pushing in. A sharp gasp escaped my lips as he filled me, stretching me completely.

We had always done it raw. He liked it that way. Afterward, I'd take the necessary precautions to prevent any surprises.

"Go faster," I whimpered, gripping the sheets beneath me.

His thrusts became more urgent, more desperate. The pleasure was unbearable, my moans uncontrollable. The heat between us built to an unbearable peak until, finally, we both came undone, collapsing onto the bed, breathless and spent.

I turned to him, touching his face, tracing the sharp angles of his jaw. "Did you enjoy it?" I asked softly.

He nodded, but something felt... off. His answer lacked the warmth I expected.

"Do you love me?" I whispered.

His hesitation was almost imperceptible, but I noticed it.

"Of course," he said, but the words felt hollow.

A strange feeling settled in my chest-something I couldn't quite place.

He soon drifted off to sleep, but I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing.

I heard a noise.

A whisper.

At first, I thought I was imagining it. But then, I heard it again-low and urgent.

I turned my head. He was gone.

Confusion turned to unease as I quietly slipped out of bed, following the sound. My heart pounded in my ears as I crept toward the door, pressing my ear against it.

And then, I heard his voice.

"I'm sorry, babe. I don't like her. She's just a sexmate-someone I use to pleasure myself."

The words sliced through me like a knife. My breath caught in my throat.

No.

No. I didn't just hear that.

But I did.

My entire world tilted as I stood frozen in place, listening to the man I had just given everything to, confessing that I meant nothing to him.

"It's you I love. Please don't leave me," he continued, his voice desperate.

A hot tear slipped down my cheek. My hands trembled as I reached for the doorknob.

I couldn't stop myself.

I pushed the door open.

He stood there, phone pressed to his ear, his back turned to me. He didn't even realize I was there.

"That's all I am to you?" My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

He spun around, his expression shifting from shock to guilt.

"Isabella-"

"That's all I was? A fucking sexmate?" My voice broke. "Everything you said to me... it was all a lie?"

His lips parted, but no words came out.

I shook my head, stepping back. "I gave you everything, and you-" My voice cracked as anger replaced the devastation. "You fucking bastard."

I turned away, grabbing my bag with shaking hands.

"Please, babe. I didn't mean it-"

I yanked my arm away before he could touch me. "Don't. Don't fucking touch me."

My chest rose and fell rapidly as I stormed toward the door, my mind a whirlwind of betrayal, heartbreak, and disgust.

And then-

My phone rang.

I barely heard it over the sound of my own shattering heart.

I swallowed hard before answering. "Hello?"

A pause. Then, a voice I didn't recognize.

"Isabella?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, but we need you to come to the hospital immediately. Your parents... they've been in an accident. It's critical."

My breath hitched.

"You need to get here as soon as possible."

The words felt distant, unreal.

"No," I whispered. My vision blurred. "No, this isn't happening."

A long silence. Then-

"They... they're gone. I'm so sorry, Isabella. Your parents are dead."

The phone slipped from my hand.

I felt the floor beneath me disappear.

And then, nothing.

Chapter 2

Issabella's POV

I felt my knees give way beneath me as the words from the phone call echoed in my mind. My parents were gone. How could they be gone? They were supposed to be there for me. They'd always been so distant, so busy with their own lives, but now... now they were gone. Gone forever. The weight of the world crashed down on me.

My hands shook as I fumbled with the phone. I couldn't seem to grasp it properly. What was happening? Was this real? Was I dreaming? My heart was pounding so loudly I couldn't hear anything else. It was like everything had slowed down around me, but my body was still moving too fast, unable to catch up. I staggered backward, my back hitting the wall. I needed to breathe. I couldn't breathe.

Dave's voice broke through my panic, but it only made it worse. "Isabella, what's going on? Please talk to me. I don't understand."

I pushed him away, my arms flailing, desperate for space. "You don't understand!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "My parents... they're gone! Gone forever! How could they-how could they just... leave me like this?" The words felt like a punch in my stomach.

I didn't want to feel angry at them. I wanted to grieve, but all I could feel was rage. They were never there for me, never present when I needed them, but now they were gone. Gone. I couldn't understand it.

Dave reached for me again, but I pulled back. "I need to go. Leave me alone, please!" I felt like I was drowning. The anger, the hurt, the fear-they were all mixing together inside me, clouding my thoughts.

"Isabella-please!" Dave's voice cracked, his desperation clear.

I couldn't handle it. I couldn't stand here any longer with him, not with everything crashing around me. I needed to be alone. I needed to get to the hospital. I had to see them. I had to see if they were really gone.

I grabbed my bag, barely thinking as I shoved it over my shoulder. I was shaking, every step felt heavy, but I couldn't stop now. I rushed toward the door, not looking back, not caring who was staring at me. I couldn't hear anything but my own heartbeat as it raced in my ears. My fingers were numb as I fumbled with the phone again, dialing the number.

"Hello? Is this the hospital?" I said, my voice barely a whisper, trembling.

"Yes, this is Homestown Hospital," the voice on the other end said calmly. "Is something wrong?"

"My parents... they're... they're in there, right?" I couldn't get the words out, but the nurse seemed to understand. She gave me the address, told me to hurry, but it all felt like a dream.

I rushed out, barely glancing at Dave as I stormed past him, my heart aching. I knew he was calling after me, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't listen to him anymore. He was just pretending to care.

"Don't follow me!" I shouted, spinning around to face him. "Just stay away! You never cared!"

I didn't wait for his response. I turned and ran, not stopping until I reached the bus stop. My body felt like it was moving on autopilot, and every part of me was screaming at me to stop, but I couldn't. I needed to get to the hospital. I needed to make sure they were real. I needed to understand why this was happening.

I didn't care who saw me. The tears streaming down my face felt hot, but they didn't help me breathe.

Finally, a cab appeared, and I rushed to stop it. "Homestown Hospital," I gasped, sliding into the back seat without another word. The ride was silent, the tension in the air thick. I couldn't even bring myself to look at the driver. I just stared out the window, my mind a blur of confusion and fear.

The hospital wasn't far, but it felt like the longest ride of my life. I couldn't sit still, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The air felt heavy, like it was pressing down on me from all sides.

When I arrived, the nurse met me at the door, her face serious, her eyes full of pity. "Miss, I'm so sorry. Please try to stay calm," she said, her voice soft but firm.

"Where are they?" I demanded, my voice shaking, my mind still struggling to catch up with reality.

The nurse led me down a long hallway. Every step felt like it took forever, my feet dragging beneath me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. But instead, I just kept walking.

When we reached the room, the first thing I saw were the sheets. The white, sterile sheets. I couldn't look at their faces, couldn't bring myself to see them lying there, lifeless. But then I did.

The memories hit me like a truck. I remembered the times when they'd loved me, when they'd cared for me. When they'd smiled at me and told me everything would be okay. But now, all I saw was cold, unfeeling stillness.

My legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor. "No," I whispered. "No. Wake up. Please, wake up. Mom, Dad..."

Tears blurred my vision, and my chest felt tight. My head was spinning, my heart breaking.

The police officers stepped into the room, their faces grim. One of them looked at me, his voice low. "Mrs. Isabella, we're sorry for your loss. We have some information about the accident."

I stood up slowly, wiping my tears away. "What happened?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"It was a hit-and-run," the officer said. "We're still investigating, but the driver has not been found yet. We're doing everything we can to find the person responsible."

I nodded, my stomach churning. I couldn't think. All I could feel was the emptiness that had settled in my chest.

"I... I'll make sure they pay for this," I said through gritted teeth, my anger rising. "They'll pay."

As I walked back to the waiting area, my phone rang. I stared at the screen. It was an unknown number. Hesitantly, I answered.

"Hello?" I said, my voice weak.

"It's the housekeeper," the voice on the other end said. "We've been told to leave the house. They said it's no longer yours. Someone else has already moved in."

My breath caught in my throat. My heart stopped. "What? No. No! That's my house. My parents' house. What do you mean, someone else moved in?"

"I'm sorry, Miss. That's what they told me."

I couldn't breathe. What was happening? What was going on?

The phone slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor.

My world was falling apart, and I had no idea how to fix it.

Chapter 3

Isabella's POV

I barely even felt my feet hitting the pavement as I stumbled away from the hospital. My hands clutched the broken phone, but it didn't matter anymore. The world felt like it was turning upside down. I didn't want to leave, but I had to leave. Ashley... she was waiting for me. I couldn't just stand there, not with everything falling apart.

The taxi ride was a blur. My mind kept racing, thoughts spinning like a tornado, faster than I could catch them. I opened my purse, my fingers trembling, but all I found was empty space. My wallet-gone. I stared at it, confused. Where was the money? How could this be happening now, of all times?

The driver's impatience grew. "Where's my money?" he demanded, his voice low and angry.

I swallowed hard, my breath shallow. "I brought it with me," I said, barely above a whisper, "I swear I did."

He scowled, eyes narrowing. "You're gonna pay me, right?"

I nodded, but my hands were shaking so much I couldn't even find my cards. My head spun. What's going on? My mind raced, but the words I needed wouldn't come. I grabbed at my bag, feeling like I was going to lose it completely.

My fingers brushed across the cards. I tried to swipe them, but each time, the screen flashed: Frozen. Frozen? How? Why is everything frozen? The question hit me like a slap. No. No, no, no...

Frustration bubbled inside me. I turned to the driver, my voice cracking. "I swear I have the money. My cards-they're just not working. Please... please, let me fix this."

The driver's patience snapped. He stepped forward, raising his voice. "I need my money now! You think I'm just gonna wait around for you to figure it out?"

I froze. My heart pounded in my chest. I was trapped. There was no way out.

Then, from out of nowhere, a soft voice interrupted the growing tension.

"Alright, alright. It's okay, sir," an elderly man stepped forward, his hand extended. "How much is the fare? I'll pay for her."

I blinked in disbelief, my body rigid with shock. The driver eyed the man suspiciously but then took the money offered. The man handed him the change, a smile on his face.

"Thank you, ma'am. God bless you," he said as he turned to me, his voice warm and reassuring.

I forced a smile, but it felt hollow. Nothing is okay, I thought, the words biting in my mind.

The old man nodded at me. "I can see how stressed you are, young lady. But don't worry. Things will get better."

Better? How could anything get better? I didn't respond. Instead, I hurried to the door, my mind spiraling, feeling like I was about to collapse.

When I reached the house, I saw Ashley standing outside with the housekeeper. Their faces were tight, worried. My stomach dropped.

"Ashley?" I called out, but my voice felt small. "What's going on?"

The housekeeper looked at me, his eyes full of dread. "The house... it's not yours anymore. They've taken everything. The new owners... they're moving in."

I felt my chest tighten. "What do you mean? The house is... it's ours! My parents-" My throat closed up. What is happening?

Ashley spoke, her voice shaking. "They said everything's gone, Ivy. All of it. The house. The business. It's all... it's all over."

I could feel the world spinning around me again. My parents were gone, and now everything they had worked for... it was taken. My heart sank even lower. No, this can't be real. This isn't happening. This is just a bad dream.

I heard footsteps. My eyes snapped up, and there he was-the man who had just stepped into our lives, claiming everything. His cold eyes locked with mine. He looked like he knew what he was doing. This was it. This was the end.

"What's really going on?" I demanded, walking up to him. My voice was shaking, but I couldn't stop it. "Please, just tell me. What's happening? The house is ours. It's my family's."

He sighed, his expression blank. "Your parents took loans, Ivy. Big loans. Loans they couldn't repay." He paused, his eyes never leaving mine. "They lost everything. The house, the company-it's all been sold to the government. It's not yours anymore."

I felt the blood drain from my face. What? I could barely breathe. They sold everything?

He pulled out a stack of papers, handing them to me. "Here's the proof. Your parents... they were in debt. Big debt. And now you... you have nothing."

I shook my head, disbelief washing over me. "No... this can't be real. My parents, they would've-"

The man cut me off. "You've lost everything. There's nothing left for you. No house, no business. It's all gone. It's the government's now."

I backed away, my legs unsteady. My breath was coming fast, my heart racing. This is it. This is the end. I wanted to scream, to run, to fight. But what was there to fight for? It was all slipping away, and I was powerless.

"I'll get a lawyer," I said, my voice hoarse, trying to grasp onto some shred of hope.

He raised an eyebrow. "A lawyer? You think you can afford a lawyer? You've lost everything. The house, the company-it's all gone. There's no hope left for you. Don't you see that?"

I felt the weight of his words crushing me. No hope? I wanted to deny it, to scream at him that he was wrong, but my voice failed me.

"Get out," he said, his tone hardening. "This house belongs to the government now. It's no longer yours."

I stood there, frozen, as he turned and walked away. My legs gave out, and I dropped to my knees on the cold, unforgiving pavement. Everything's gone. There's nothing left for me.

Ashley's arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. Her sobs mixed with mine as we both fell to pieces. "Ivy... we're alone."

Alone? I had always been alone, but now it felt different. Now it felt like I had nothing left.

Tears blurred my vision. My world had crumbled, and I had no idea how to pick up the pieces.

What do I do now?

Just then Ashley collapsed, but luckily I caught her before she hit the floor, my mind racing.

I checked her breathing and she wasn't breathing anymore.

"Ashley, wake up! Please! Somebody help!'