Ex Jealous of Her Brother

After enduring three years of being mistreated by her boyfriend, Isabel Taylor's stepbrother, Royce, came back home. The first thing he did was insist she break up with Johan Rice and took her back to their family home. The second thing was making her dinner.

As Isabel finished her meal and looked up, she noticed Royce had been standing silently in the doorway, leaning against the frame, a belt held loosely in his hand. "What do you think you did wrong?" he asked, his voice carrying the same authority it did when they were kids.

Unfazed, Isabel asked, "What did I do wrong?"

Royce suddenly pressed her against the door with a determined look. "I treated you with the care of handling fragile glass, yet you let yourself be walked over by that guy?! If it's like that—" he kept one hand pinning her as he slowly began undoing his belt with the other. "Better it's me than someone else, right, 'little sister'?"

---

When Isabel returned to her apartment, she discovered her white silk nightgown missing from the balcony. The bedroom was silent, so she assumed Johan hadn't come back yet. She turned the doorknob and flipped the light switch. Johan was sprawled across the large bed, asleep beside someone. The sudden light made him furrow his brows and open his eyes, irritation apparent. He blinked in surprise when he saw her. "Isabel? Why are you back?"

The girl next to Johan awoke from the disturbance and sat up, still groggy. Isabel finally noticed the girl was wearing her white nightgown, the strap draped delicately over her shoulder, intertwined with her dark brown hair. Isabel recognized her as Persephone Mills, a DJ at Johan's bar, who had been there less than a month. Upon seeing Isabel, Persephone seemed nervous, quickly snuggling back into Johan’s embrace.

Unbothered, Isabel quietly closed the door and took her suitcase to the couch. Outside, the vibrant city lights blurred by the heavy rain painted a surreal tapestry of colors.

Time seemed to drag before the bedroom door opened again. Persephone came out, now wearing Johan's oversized white shirt, barely covering her thighs. She offered Isabel an insincere smile. "Sorry, Isabel, I tore my dress, so I borrowed your nightgown."

She handed it back. "My bust was a bit bigger, you see, stretched it out. I'll buy you a new one."

Isabel took the gown and promptly threw it into the trash without saying a word. Persephone's smile faltered. Johan appeared, shirtless, in gray lounge pants and slippers, leaning against the doorframe, a cigarette in his hand, and shot Persephone a disapproving look. "Didn't I tell you to leave?"

Persephone blushed and clung to Johan's arm, ignoring Isabel. "But you tore my clothes to shreds. How can I leave like this?"

Johan scoffed, exhaling smoke. "Your usual outfits are barely there anyway. And now you care about modesty?"

He blew out a smoke ring and pushed her away gently, his tone sharp. "Enough. Go."

Realizing