From Dead Alpha to Obsessed: My ex husband's brother wants me

"Do you even hear yourself, Rose? You have been in a sexless marriage for two long years. Your own husband avoids you like you are a walking curse, and then he has the nerve to go online and tell the whole world that you are the reason there are no children. And you just let him. You sit there and you let him destroy your reputation."

Rose sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair. "What am I supposed to do, Alina?" she asked, her voice sounding small and tired. "This marriage was a contract, I know that. But we have known each other since I was a little girl. I truly believed in my heart that he loved me. I believed he wanted me. Before the wedding, we used to talk for hours, fantasizing about what our life would be like once we were finally married. You know how much I love him. The truth is, I exist for the Dohuk family alone. I have nowhere else to go until they find a way to break my curse. I don’t care if my name is dragged through every gossip magazine or plastered across the tabloids. I only want one thing from Liam. I want his body, and I want his seed inside me. So tell me, Alina, what more can I possibly do? I don't think I can control this physical urge any longer. The fire inside me won't stop until I am finally marked and claimed by him."

Alina went silent for a moment before asking, "What else are you even going to try now? You told me you tried seducing him with the most expensive lingerie. You tried getting him drunk so he would lose his inhibitions, and still, he acts like he doesn't even see you. Rose, look at yourself in the mirror. You are perfect. You are beautiful. What if he just isn't into women?"

Just then, the sound of a notification popped up as Jasmine joined the group call. Alina and Jasmine were the only two friends Rose had managed to keep over the years. Jasmine was the wild one—a bit weird, very hot, and always sassy. Alina was her complete opposite: the responsible, supportive anchor. Rose loved Alina more than anyone else because Alina had been there through the darkest parts of her life. Alina was there when Rose’s father died in that horrible car accident. She was there when Rose’s mother ran away to marry another man and start a new family, leaving Rose behind like an unwanted piece of luggage.

Her mother had abandoned her the moment the contract agreement with the Dohuk family was signed. Because of that, Rose grew up alone in the massive Dohuk household. During that time, her family’s business had gone bankrupt, and the Dohuks had stepped in to take over her father’s company—the one he had managed with so much pride before he passed away. Since the two families were original business partners, the marriage contract was legally binding and impossible to escape. The only people Rose could call her own were Alina, Jasmine, Mr. Dohuk, and his children: twenty-two-year-old Jessica and twenty-six-year-old Liam.

"Lina, I don't want to keep repeating the same sad story, but you have to understand," Rose said, her voice cracking. "No matter what I do, no matter how close I get to him, there is no reaction. No erection. Nothing. I feel so heartbroken. I really do not want to start suspecting the things you are suggesting."

"Have you considered getting toys to satisfy yourself then?" Jasmine’s voice chimed in. "Maybe that could help you survive the nights."

Rose shook her head, even though they couldn't see her. "I didn't save myself all these years for a plastic toy to break my virginity. Besides, you know the curse doesn't work that way. It has to be him."

The curse had been a shadow over Rose since the day she was born. It was a cruel biological clock. If her fated mate did not claim her before she turned eighteen, her body would begin to crave intimacy with an intensity that was almost unbearable. The longer it took, the worse the urge, the physical pull, and the actual pain became. If she tried to resist it forever, the curse would eventually bind her to her mate anyway, making her belong to him heart and soul even without a single touch. Liam knew this. He had been the one to insist they wait until they were legally married. They married when she was twenty, but even after the rings were on their fingers, he refused to touch her. Now she was twenty-two, and the physical ache was becoming a constant scream in her blood.

"Well, girl, I don't know how you're going to handle your business with Liam, but you need to step up your game," Jasmine said, her tone blunt as usual. "Look at you; you are completely sex-starved. You need a man in your life, not just a bank account full of money. I’m giving you this advice as a friend: if he won't do the job, someone else will. You won't know the truth until you try someone else. For all we know, he might not even be the one meant to break the curse."

Jasmine went offline before Rose could even respond. Rose knew Jasmine was being harsh, but she also knew she was right about the hunger. But what could she do? Her two-year marriage anniversary was only seven days away. For two years, they had slept in different bedrooms, only coming together to pretend they were a happy, loving couple when the family was watching. As long as she carried the Dohuk name, she couldn't just go out and find someone else. She couldn't even bring herself to think about cheating on Liam. If waiting was her only option, she would wait.

She had spent so many nights fantasizing about Liam—about the way he would hold her and finally make her his. But reality was much colder. He rejected every touch. Every time she tried to be intimate, he pushed her away, which was why he had eventually moved all his things into the guest room.

By 7:00 PM, Rose was packing up her things to leave the office. Earlier that afternoon, Jessica Dohuk had called to tell her that the whole family was gathered at the house. That meant Liam would be on his best behavior. He would play the role of the doting husband, and Rose would have to wear a fake smile until her face ached. If he is going to pretend to love me tonight, maybe I should try one more time? Rose thought to herself. It’s been so long since I tried to seduce him. Maybe tonight will be different.

She arrived home at 7:40 PM. Her guard and driver, Sophia, parked the car and excused herself for the night. Rose took a deep breath and walked toward the living room. As she approached, she heard the sound of happy laughter. She recognized the voices immediately—it was her mother-in-law and Liam. She stopped just outside the door, her hand frozen near the handle.

"What is keeping her from giving us a grandchild, Liam?" Mrs. Dohuk asked, her voice sharp. "Are you not doing your job properly as a husband?"

"It’s not my fault, Mom," Liam replied, his voice smooth and casual. "We keep trying all the time, but Rose just doesn’t seem to get pregnant. She is more obsessed with her work at the office than she is with giving me a child. Honestly, I don’t think she is fertile. I told her we should go to the hospital for a check-up, but she refused to go."