The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 113 - one hundred and thirteen

Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen

Alicia’s POV

After dinner, I needed air. Needed space. Needed to think without everyone watching.

I slipped out the back entrance and walked toward the gardens. The night was cool. Stars scattered across the sky like someone had thrown diamonds. The sound of crickets filled the silence.

I couldn’t stop replaying what happened earlier. The kiss. His hands. The way he’d looked at me when we were alone with the deer. Like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Then at dinner, he’d barely looked at me. Sat next to Cecilia. Acted like nothing happened. Like he hadn’t had me pressed against a wall just hours before.

I hated it. Hated the pretending. Hated watching him with her. Hated myself for caring.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Cassie’s name on the screen. I answered immediately.

"Hey."

"Finally. I’ve been trying to reach you all day." Her voice was warm. Familiar. Exactly what I needed right now.

"Sorry. Signal here is spotty."

"Where is here exactly? I came by your place in Silver Lake today and no one was home. The whole mansion was empty. I thought maybe you’d all gone on vacation or something."

Guilt twisted in my stomach. I should have told her. Should have let her know we’d be gone.

"I’m sorry. I should have called. We’re in the Maldives. The whole Blackwood family. It was kind of last minute."

"The Maldives? Fancy. How long are you there for?"

"Two weeks."

"Two weeks alone with the Blackwoods. That sounds like either paradise or hell."

"Bit of both."

She laughed. "I bet. So how is he?"

I didn’t need to ask who she meant. Cassie always knew. Always understood without me having to spell it out.

"He’s just there," I said. Keeping my voice neutral. Like my heart wasn’t racing just thinking about him.

"Just there? Come on, Alicia. It’s me. You can’t lie to me."

I sat down on a stone bench near the edge of the garden. Looked up at the stars. Tried to find the right words.

"I don’t know what to say."

"Start with the truth. What’s happening between you two?"

"Nothing. Everything. I don’t know."

"That’s helpful."

"I’m married to Travis. Nothing can happen."

"But you want it to."

It wasn’t a question. She knew me too well. Knew exactly what I was feeling even when I couldn’t admit it to myself.

"It doesn’t matter what I want."

"Of course it matters. Alicia, you need to make up your mind. Do you want him or not?"

"It’s not that simple."

"I know it’s not. But you can’t keep going like this. Stuck between what you want and what you think you should do. It’s killing you."

She was right. I could feel it. The constant tension. The guilt. The wanting. It was exhausting.

"Deciding is hard," I said quietly.

"I know. Trust me, I understand the dilemma. You’ve got Travis, who’s safe and familiar. And then you’ve got Malachi, who’s dangerous and complicated and probably bad for you in every way."

"He’s not bad for me."

"See? You’re already defending him. That tells me everything I need to know."

I closed my eyes. Tried to sort through the mess in my head. The kiss kept replaying. His hands. The way he’d looked at me.

"I kissed him today," I said. The words came out before I could stop them. "Or he kissed me. I don’t know who started it. But it happened."

Cassie was quiet for a moment. "How was it?"

"Cassie."

"What? I’m just asking. Was it good?"

"It was perfect. And terrible. And I can’t stop thinking about it."

"Does Travis know?"

"No. God, no. And he can’t. Ever."

"Alicia, that’s so not like you."

"I know."

"You’ve got it bad."

"I know."

She sighed. "Look, I can’t tell you what to do. But I can tell you that you deserve to be happy. And if Malachi makes you happy, then maybe that’s worth something."

"He doesn’t make me happy. He makes me confused and frustrated and crazy."

"That’s basically the same thing."

I laughed despite myself. "How do you always make everything sound so simple?"

"Because from the outside, it is simple. You love him. He loves you. Figure out the rest."

"He hasn’t said he loves me."

"He doesn’t have to. I can hear it in your voice when you talk about him. And I’m guessing he’s the same way."

Maybe. I didn’t know. He was so hard to read sometimes. Hot and cold. Close and distant.

"Anyway," Cassie said, her tone shifting. "I wanted to ask you something. Is the security at your place usually pretty tight?"

I frowned. "Why?"

"Because when I was there today, I saw a woman. She was sitting in a car across the street. Just staring at the mansion. And her eyes were not friendly."

Something cold settled in my stomach. "What do you mean not friendly?"

"I mean she looked angry. Or intense. I don’t know. It gave me weird vibes. Like she was watching the place for a reason."

"Did you recognize her?"

"No. I’d never seen her before. But she was definitely focused on your house."

"What kind of car was she in?"

"I don’t know. I didn’t think to memorize anything. I probably should have, but I was more focused on trying to figure out if you were home."

I stood up. Started pacing. My mind was racing. Who would be watching the mansion? And why?

"Did she see you?"

"Maybe? I’m not sure. I didn’t stick around long enough to find out. The whole thing felt off."

"You should have called me immediately."

"I tried. Your phone went straight to voicemail. Remember? Spotty signal?"

Right. I’d been in the woods with Malachi. Too focused on him to notice my phone.

"Do you think it’s something to worry about?" Cassie asked.

"I don’t know. Maybe. Probably."

The Blackwoods had enemies. Lots of them. That came with the territory. With the money and the power and the influence.

But someone watching the mansion felt personal. Felt targeted.

"Should I call someone?" Cassie asked. "Like security or something?"

"No. I’ll handle it."

"Are you sure? Because this felt serious, Alicia. Like stalker level serious."

"I’m sure. Just keep your eyes open. If you see her again, call me immediately. And try to get a license plate number or something."

"Okay. I will."

We talked for a few more minutes. She filled me in on gossip from home. Told me about her new job. Made me laugh with stories about her disaster of a dating life.

By the time we hung up, I felt slightly better. More grounded. Like I’d reconnected with something real.

But the unease lingered. Someone had been watching the mansion. Someone with unfriendly eyes.

I looked back toward the main house. Saw lights in the windows. Heard distant voices.

For now, I had enough to worry about. Like Malachi. Like Travis. Like the fact that I’d kissed my husband’s brother and wanted to do it again.

I walked back toward the mansion slowly. The night air helped clear my head. Helped me think.

Cassie was right. I needed to make a decision. Needed to figure out what I wanted.

But how could I decide when every option felt impossible?