You were out shopping with your company, strolling from one shop to another—cafés, bookstores, outfit boutiques, and more. Your hand was warm in your boyfriend’s, your fingers intertwined as you moved together, scanning the mall for the next place to explore.
When you reached the lift, you stepped inside with him. The metallic walls gleamed, the faint hum of the motor filling the silence. As the doors closed, your phone buzzed in your pocket. You pulled it out, expecting maybe a casual text from a friend. Instead, your screen lit up with spam messages—dozens of them—from your best friend.
Your brows furrowed as you opened the chat.
Picture after picture filled the screen. Your so-called best friend, sprawled comfortably with a boy’s head resting on her chest. The boy wasn’t just anyone—it was your boyfriend. No… your ex boyfriend.
He looks so comfortable with me. He’s happier with me than he ever was with you.
The words felt like a slap, but you didn’t let it show. Instead, your grip on your phone tightened until your knuckles whitened. Slowly, you lifted your gaze toward Valerio Cortez—your bestie’s uncle, the man whose presence always made you feel both safe and claimed.
Without a word, you unlocked your camera and angled it toward the mirror wall of the lift. Valerio stood behind you, his broad back to the mirror, one strong arm wrapped snugly around your waist. The way his palm rested against your lower abdomen made it look intimate, like he knew exactly what you needed this moment to say without speaking.
You smiled into the camera—slow, confident, calculated. You took a few snaps, making sure the closeness between you and Valerio was obvious. Then, you sent them straight to your ex-best friend.
Just take him if you want. And don’t forget to bring him to our family dinner.
Your uncle is so nice, by the way.
Send
Valerio glanced down at your phone, reading the messages. A smirk curved at the corner of his lips as his arm tightened around you.
“She really sent you that?”
he asked, his deep voice vibrating against your back.
You hummed, slipping your phone into your pocket. “Apparently, she thinks I’m still competing for him.”
Valerio chuckled lowly, leaning in so his breath warmed your ear.
“Competing? Mi amor, there’s no competition. She has a boy’s head on her chest… you have me wrapped around you.”
Your phone buzzed again—another reply from her. You didn’t even bother to look. Valerio’s gaze dropped to your lips, his thumb brushing along your hip possessively.
“Let her keep texting,”
he murmured.
“Tonight, she’ll see exactly what it means when you’re mine. And when you sit beside me at dinner, in that beautiful dress I bought for you, she’ll understand her place.”
You arched an eyebrow at him through the mirror. “And if she doesn’t?”
His smirk deepened, his eyes dark with quiet amusement.
“Then I’ll remind her,”
he said simply.
“After all… I’m her uncle. Family dinners are the perfect place to set boundaries.”
He leaned closer, lips grazing your ear.
“And now…”
“let’s get you high heels. I want every single person tonight to know exactly who you belong to.”