The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 116 - One Hundred and Sixteen

Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen

Malachi’s POV

I couldn’t focus.

Pa Wood was talking about expansion. About new territories. About opportunities in the eastern markets. Numbers and projections that usually held my full attention.

I didn’t hear a word of it.

All I could think about was Alicia. That moment in the hallway. How close I’d been to kissing her. How her breath had hitched. How her eyes had gone dark with want.

Then Cecilia had appeared and ruined everything.

"Malachi. Are you listening?"

I looked up. Pa Wood was staring at me. His expression unreadable. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Yes. Eastern markets. I’m listening."

"Then what did I just say about the timeline?"

I had no idea. Hadn’t heard a single word about timelines.

"Six months," I said. Taking a guess.

Pa Wood’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Three months. I said three months. Where’s your head today?"

"Sorry. Just tired."

Tom smirked from across the table. "Late night with Cecilia?"

I wanted to hit him. Wanted to wipe that knowing look off his face.

"Something like that," I said instead.

Pa Wood waved his hand dismissively. "Focus. We have work to do."

I forced myself to pay attention. To engage with the conversation. To be present.

But my mind kept drifting. Back to Alicia. Back to that hallway. Back to the way she’d looked at me like she wanted me as much as I wanted her.

The meeting dragged on. Pa Wood outlined plans. Tom added his input. Mario challenged everything just to be difficult.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Pa Wood dismissed us.

I stood immediately. Headed for the door.

"Malachi. A word."

I stopped. Turned back. Pa Wood was watching me with those sharp eyes that saw everything.

Tom and Mario left. The door closed behind them.

"Sit," Pa Wood said.

I sat.

He leaned back in his chair. Studied me. "You’re distracted."

"I’m fine."

"You’re not. And I need you sharp. Focused. Not whatever this is."

"It won’t happen again."

"See that it doesn’t." He paused. "Is it the girl?"

My heart stopped. "What girl?"

"Don’t play stupid with me. I’ve seen the way you look at her. The way she looks at you."

He knew. Of course he knew. Pa Wood knew everything.

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

"Alicia. Your brother’s wife. That girl."

I said nothing. Couldn’t deny it. Couldn’t confirm it.

"Be careful, Malachi. You’re playing a dangerous game. One that could cost you everything."

"I know what I’m doing."

"Do you? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re about to create problems this family doesn’t need."

"There are no problems."

Pa Wood’s expression hardened. "Keep it that way. You made your choice when you brought Cecilia here. When you committed to helping her. Don’t complicate things."

"I’m not complicating anything."

"Then prove it. Focus. Keep your priorities straight."

I stood. "Are we done?"

"For now. But Malachi? I’m watching. Don’t disappoint me."

I left the study. My jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

Pa Wood was right. I was playing a dangerous game. But I couldn’t stop. Didn’t want to stop.

I found myself walking toward the sitting room. Toward where the women had been knitting earlier.

The room was empty now. Just abandoned yarn and needles. Evidence of where they’d been.

I picked up a ball of blue yarn. The color Alicia had been using. Held it in my hand like it was something precious.

This obsession was going to destroy me.

"Pathetic."

I turned. Travis was standing in the doorway. Glass in his hand. But his eyes were clear. Sober.

I set the yarn down. "What do you want?"

"Just enjoying the view. My brother standing in a room full of knitting supplies, holding yarn like a lovesick idiot."

"Get lost, Travis."

"Why? This is entertaining." He came into the room. That smug look on his face. "Let me guess. Blue yarn. Alicia’s color. How touching."

My fists clenched. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Don’t I? I’ve seen the way you look at her. Everyone has. Well, everyone except Cecilia apparently. Poor girl has no idea her boyfriend is obsessed with someone else."

"Shut up."

"Make me." He took a sip from his glass. Water. Not alcohol. Which somehow made this worse. "You know what’s funny? You’ve always thought you were better than me. Smarter. More successful. More disciplined. But here you are, pining after my wife like some desperate fool."

"Your wife who can’t stand you."

His jaw tightened. Good. I’d hit a nerve.

"At least she’s mine. What do you have? A fake girlfriend and a fantasy."

"Better than being a drunk who drove his wife away."

"I’m sober now. Have been for weeks. But you wouldn’t know that because you’re too busy staring at Alicia to notice anything else."

I stepped toward him. "You want to do this? Right here?"

"Do what? Fight? Please. You’d love an excuse to hit me. To take out all that frustration you’ve been bottling up."

He was right. I wanted to hit him. Wanted to wipe that smug expression off his face.

"You don’t deserve her," I said.

"And you do? You’re dating someone else. Or did you forget about Cecilia while you were fantasizing about my wife?"

"This isn’t about Cecilia."

"No. It’s about you wanting something you can’t have. Story of your life, isn’t it? Always reaching for more. Never satisfied."

"Better than settling for mediocrity like you."

"Mediocrity? I have a wife. A home. A life. What do you have? Business deals and an obsession with a woman who’s married to your brother."

"A brother who treats her like garbage."

"I made mistakes. I’m fixing them. Which is more than you can say. You’re just making everything worse."

"She doesn’t love you."

The words hung in the air between us. Dangerous. True.

Travis’s expression went cold. "Get out."

"This is a family room. I have as much right to be here as you."

"Then I’ll leave. Can’t stand looking at you anyway."

He turned to go. Stopped at the door.

"You know what the saddest part is? Even if I divorced her. Even if she was free. She still wouldn’t choose you. Because you’re exactly the kind of man she’s been running from her whole life. Controlling. Obsessive. Dangerous."

He left before I could respond.

I stood there. Fists clenched. Breathing hard.

He was wrong. He had to be wrong.

But doubt crept in anyway. What if he was right? What if I was just another version of the men Alicia feared?

No. I wasn’t like that. I wasn’t like her father. I wanted to protect her. Cherish her. Give her everything.

I picked up the blue yarn again. Held it tight.

She would choose me. Eventually. When this was all over. When I could finally tell her the truth.

She had to.