"We aren't blood related. You aren't my real sister, so what's the goddamn problem?"
REVIEW
Would I read it again? Yes No Maybe
Spice Level Legend How spicy is this book?
Tropes | Trigger Warnings |
Forced proximity, friends to lovers, Foster siblings, Dual POVs, Revenge, Morally black MMC, pseudo-incest, touch her and die | Non-Con, Dub Non Con, somnophilia, stalking, abduction, death, violence, loss of loved one, multiple kinks including sibling kink |
SUMMARY
Olivia was adopted by the Vize family when she was young. When she was 7, the Vize’s adopted another child - an 8 year old boy named Malachi. Malachi is mute from being emotionally and physically traumatized. When they meet, Malachi is immediately like “she’s mine”.
Growing up, they were always close…a little too close. They loved to sleep in the same bed together and cuddle. As they got older, their parents made Malachi move to the other side of the house because they said he was getting too attached to Olivia.
When they were teenagers, Malachi realized that his feelings for Olivia were inappropriate for a brother to have. He wanted to be with her, as a boyfriend, not as a brother. It wasn’t until Olivia was 17 (or 18, I don’t remember), that she also realized she wanted him as a boyfriend.
Their mother has a very old fashioned viewpoint of life and decided that Olivia needed to be married off to a wealthier family, in an arranged marriage type of situation. Olivia was against this, and so was the dad, but the mom doesn’t listen to shit. She even sold Olivia’s virginity. When Malachi finds out about the arranged marriage, he tells their parents that he will marry her, because no one else can keep her as safe as he can. This disgusts them because they’re siblings…. But they aren’t… not blood related.
When Olivia is 18, Malachi tells her he needs lessons on how to touch and be with a girl and he trusts Olivia, and he needs help. Olivia agrees to give Malachi lessons. Which just means they’re hooking up in secret.
Olivia hears a rumor that Malachi is hooking up with one of her classmates. Instead of calmly asking him, she freaks out on him, won’t look at him, keeps grabbing his hands so he can’t sign. He ends up chasing her into the hallway, and then going down on her. Their dad comes home, sees Malachi, and they start fighting. Malachi, who has mental issues, loses his shit, and beats the dad almost to death. Then he takes, dubious consent like, Olivia, on top of their dad’s unconscious body. It’s fucked up man.
The police show up and arrest Malachi for attempted murder.
Olivia ends up testifying against him, even though she doesn’t want to, because their mom tells her that’s the only way Malachi will get help.
Fast forward, 8 years - Malachi is out of prison. He still doesn’t talk a lot, but he is working on it. He can say some words, and fractured phrases. He is stalking Olivia and ends up kidnapping her. She doesn’t know it's him, she thinks it is but is unsure. He rapes her … (is it rape though? Lines be blurry) a few times. Carves his initials into her. Keeps her chained up in the basement. A few days later, he takes her upstairs to his bed, gets her cleaned up. She figures out for sure that it's Malachi, starts crying, and then they have consensual (for sure this time) sex. He tells her that he bought this house for them to live in. She tells him she can’t live with him, she doesn’t love him, and doesn’t want to be with him. She’s lying of course. Because she says it's wrong for them to be together and also their mom has arranged for her to marry some other dude in two weeks.
Two weeks later, Olivia leaves this dude at the altar and runs to Malachi and confesses her love for him. Unfortunately, their mom signed some contract and Olivia is having trouble getting out of it. They end up kidnapping Olivia and shooting Malachi.
Their dad, who needs to win an award for being a very understanding, forgiving individual, stays by his side for three weeks until he wakes up from his coma. Then they, along with some other people that are written like we should know who they are (because apparently, they have a series as well which I didn’t know while reading it), rescue Olivia.
There are two epilogues showing their lives - they couldn’t officially get married because they are still technically legally adopted siblings but they are basically married. They have a son, Issac. Malachi has healed his relationship with their father and their father has accepted their relationship … but still considers both of them his kids. Malachi has continued going to therapy, regular and speech, and has really worked on his issues for Olivia and for their son.