The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 119 - One Hundred and Nineteen

Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen

Alicia’s POV

I walked out of that room trying not to limp.

Every step reminded me of what just happened. Of Malachi’s hands on my body. His mouth on my skin. The way he’d made me fall apart against that wall.

I needed air. Needed space. Needed to think.

But thinking was dangerous. Because thinking meant acknowledging what I’d done. What we’d done.

I’d cheated on Travis. With his brother. In a room full of family photos.

The guilt should have been crushing. Should have made me hate myself.

It wasn’t there. Not yet. All I felt was the ghost of Malachi’s touch. The memory of his voice in my ear. The way he’d looked at me afterward like I was everything.

I was going to hell. That much was certain.

I made my way outside. The gardens were quiet. Empty. Just me and my thoughts.

What had I done? What were we doing?

This couldn’t continue. It was reckless. Dangerous. Someone would find out eventually. And when they did, everything would explode.

But even knowing that, I couldn’t regret it. Couldn’t wish it hadn’t happened.

Because for those moments with Malachi, I’d felt alive. Really alive. Not just going through the motions. Not just surviving.

I’d felt wanted. Desired. Cherished.

Things I’d never felt with Travis.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out. Another text from that unknown number.

You can’t hide forever.

My blood ran cold. The warmth from moments ago vanished completely.

It was him. Had to be. Robert. My father. The monster I’d been running from.

How had he found my number? How did he know where I was?

I deleted the text. Blocked the number. But the damage was done. The fear had settled back into my chest.

I kept walking. Tried to clear my head. Tried to focus on anything other than the fear and the guilt and the memory of Malachi’s hands.

That’s when I heard voices.

Low. Urgent. Coming from around the corner near the hedge maze.

I stopped. Listened.

"Please. You don’t understand. I can’t do that." Sasha’s voice. Panicked. Scared.

I’d never heard her sound like that. She was always so cold. So angry. So controlled.

"I know. I know what you said. But there has to be another way." A pause. "Don’t say that. Please don’t say that."

I moved closer. Stayed hidden behind a column. Watched.

Sasha was pacing. Phone pressed to her ear. Her free hand was shaking.

"I’ll get it. I promise. Just give me more time." Another pause. "No. No, please. I’m begging you."

Whatever the person on the other end was saying, it was terrifying her. I could see it in her body language. The way she kept looking around. The way her voice cracked.

"Fine. Fine. We’ll meet when we’re back in Silver Lake. But you have to promise. Promise me you won’t." She listened. "Okay. Okay. I’ll have it by then."

She hung up. Stood there for a moment. Her whole body was trembling.

Then she noticed me.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"I just got here. Are you okay?"

"I’m fine. Mind your own business."

She stormed past me. Back toward the mansion. That cold mask firmly back in place.

But I’d seen it. Seen the fear. The desperation.

What had Sasha gotten herself into? Who was threatening her?

Part of me wanted to follow her. To ask. To help if I could.

But the look she’d given me said she’d rather die than accept help. Especially from me.

I stood there for a moment longer. Processing. Two mysteries now. The texts from the unknown number. And whatever was terrorizing Sasha.

This trip was supposed to be a vacation. A break from reality.

Instead, it was turning into a nightmare.

I went back inside. Made my way to my room. All I wanted was to shower. To wash away the evidence of what I’d done. To try to feel clean again.

I opened the door to my room and stopped.

Travis was there. Sitting on the bed. Two glasses and a bottle of wine on the nightstand.

"There you are," he said. Smiling. "I’ve been waiting."

"What are you doing here?"

"Thought we could have a drink. Talk. We haven’t spent much time together on this trip."

Because I’d been avoiding him. Because being near him made my skin crawl.

"I’m tired, Travis. Maybe another time."

"Come on. Just one drink. Then I’ll let you rest."

I should have said no. Should have kicked him out. Should have locked the door between us.

But I was exhausted. Emotionally drained. And the thought of fighting with him seemed like too much effort.

"Fine. One drink."

I sat down on the opposite end of the bed. As far from him as possible.

He poured wine into both glasses. Handed me one.

I took a sip. It was good. Expensive. The kind Pa Wood kept in his private collection.

Travis was watching me. That look in his eyes I recognized. The one that used to make me feel special. Before I realized it was just possession.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said.

"Thank you."

"I’ve missed you. Missed us."

There was no us. There never really had been.

"Travis."

"I know. I know I messed up. Drank too much. Ignored you. Made you feel like you didn’t matter."

He’d done all of that and more. But I didn’t say it.

"I’m trying to be better. For you. For us."

"I appreciate that."

"Do you? Because sometimes I feel like you’ve already given up on me."

"I’m here, aren’t I?"

"Physically. But not really. Your mind is somewhere else. With someone else."

My heart stopped. Did he know? Had he figured it out?

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Don’t you?" He moved closer.

"Travis. Stop."

"I’m your husband, Alicia. Not him. Me."

He leaned in. Tried to kiss me.

I pushed him away. Hard.

All the anger I’d been suppressing came flooding back. The years of neglect. Of being treated like I didn’t matter. Of watching him choose alcohol over me every single time.

And now. Now after what I’d just experienced with Malachi. After being touched with care and passion and real desire. The thought of Travis touching me made me sick.

"Don’t you ever dare touch me again," I said. My voice was ice.

He stared at me. Shocked.

"What?"

"You heard me. Don’t touch me. Don’t kiss me. Don’t pretend like you suddenly care."

"I’m your husband."

"You’re a stranger who happens to wear a ring. That’s all you’ve been for years."

"Alicia."

"Get out."

"This is my room too."

"Then I’ll leave."

I stood up. Grabbed my phone. Headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere you’re not."

I slammed the door behind me. Left him sitting there with his wine and his wounded pride.

I didn’t care. Didn’t care if I’d hurt his feelings. Didn’t care if I’d made things worse.

All I knew was that I couldn’t stand to be near him. Couldn’t stand the thought of him touching me after Malachi.

Because now I knew the difference. Knew what it felt like to be wanted. Really wanted.

And I couldn’t go back to settling for less.