The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 196 - One Hundred and Ninety-Six

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Six

Alicia’s POV

"Because you deserve the truth. The whole truth. Not just the parts that serve someone’s agenda." Emily stood up. "Malachi is a monster. He’s done terrible things. He’ll probably do more terrible things. But he’s your monster. And he’s trying to be better for you. That’s rare. That’s worth fighting for."

"Emily—"

"I have to go. But I wanted you to know. Whatever you decide about him, decide based on truth. Not fear. Not manipulation. Truth."

She started walking away.

"What will you do now?" I called after her.

She stopped. Turned back. "I don’t know. Figure out who Emily is when she’s not Ghost anymore. Figure out if there’s a life worth living after revenge."

"I hope you find it."

"Me too."

She left. Disappeared through the garden gate. I watched her go, this woman who’d lost everything and almost destroyed everyone in her grief.

I hoped she found peace. Hoped she found something worth living for.

Because if she could, maybe anyone could.

Sophie found me twenty minutes later, still sitting on the bench.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"About?"

"About choices. About fear. About whether love is ever enough."

"And?"

"And I think maybe it is. If you’re brave enough to let it be."

She sat down beside me. "So you’re keeping him? Malachi?"

"I’m keeping him."

"Good. Because I was getting tired of watching you two dance around each other."

I almost laughed. "When did you get so wise?"

"I’ve always been wise. You just never listened."

We sat together in the garden, watching the sunset. Waiting for Malachi to come home.

Six hours felt like forever.

But I could wait. Could be patient.

Because some things were worth waiting for.

✿

He arrived just after midnight.

I’d been dozing on the couch in the sitting room. Sophie had fallen asleep against my shoulder. Alessandro was reading nearby, keeping watch.

I heard the car. Heard voices. Heard the front door open.

Then footsteps. Coming closer.

I opened my eyes.

Malachi stood in the doorway. Alive. Whole. Looking at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

"Hi," I said.

"Hi."

Sophie stirred. Looked up. Saw Malachi and immediately got up. "I’m going to bed. You two need to talk."

Alessandro followed her out. Closed the door behind him.

We were alone.

Malachi crossed the room slowly. Like he was afraid I might disappear. He sat down beside me on the couch.

"You came back," I said.

"I promised I would."

"I know. But promises are easy. Keeping them is harder."

"Not when it’s you. Not when it’s our baby."

He reached out. Hesitated. I took his hand and placed it on my stomach.

"Still flat," I said. "But the baby’s there. Growing. Getting bigger every day."

His hand was warm. Steady. I watched his face as he processed it. Really processed it.

"I missed so much already," he said quietly. "The first doctor’s appointments. The first ultrasound. The morning sickness. All of it."

"There’s still time. Still months of appointments and sickness and everything else."

"I want to be there. For all of it. If you’ll let me."

"I’ll let you."

He looked at me. Really looked at me. "Emily talked to you."

"Yes."

"She told you about Pa’s plan. About the arranged marriage."

"Yes. And she told me you didn’t know. That you fell for me without knowing about any of it."

"I swear I didn’t know. Not until after. Not until we were already—"

I kissed him. Cut off his explanation. Because I didn’t need it.

I believed him.

When I pulled back, he was staring at me like I’d just given him the world.

"I love you," I said. "I’m terrified of you. I’m terrified of this life. I’m terrified of everything. But I love you. And I’m choosing to trust that."

"I’ll spend the rest of my life proving you can. Proving I’m worth that trust."

"I know."

"And the baby—"

"You’re going to be there. For everything. For every appointment. Every ultrasound. Every midnight craving. Every moment."

"Even the birth?"

"Especially the birth. You’re not getting out of that."

He smiled. Actually smiled. Real and genuine and unguarded.

"Okay. I can do that."

"Can you? Because I’ve heard labor can last for hours. And I’m planning to be very vocal about how this is all your fault."

"I’ll take full responsibility."

"Good."

We sat there for a moment. His hand still on my stomach. My head on his shoulder.

"What happened in Paris?" I asked. "Really happened?"

"I gave them both a choice. Zhao and Emily. Walk away or face the consequences. Zhao’s considering it. Emily... I think she’s done. I think she got what she needed."

"And your family? The evidence Emily released?"

"Will be dealt with. Pa will face consequences. Mario too. The family will survive but it’ll look different. Be different."

"And you?"

"Will be here. With you. Building something better than what came before."

"That’s a big promise."

"I know. But I mean it."

I believed him. Against all logic, against all reason, I believed him.

"Malachi?"

"Yes?"

"Take me to bed. I’m exhausted and you must be too. We can figure out the rest tomorrow."

He stood. Picked me up like I weighed nothing.

"I can walk," I protested.

"I know. But let me do this. Let me take care of you."

I didn’t argue. Just let him carry me up the stairs to my room. Let him lay me down gently on the bed.

He started to leave.

"Stay," I said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I want to wake up and know you’re real. Know you came back. Know this isn’t just a dream."

He climbed into bed beside me. Pulled me close.

I fell asleep listening to his heartbeat. Steady. Strong. Real.

And for the first time in weeks, I didn’t have nightmares.

I just dreamed of the future.

Of our baby. Of our life. Of the family we were going to build together.

It wouldn’t be easy. It wouldn’t be simple.

But it would be ours.

And that was enough.