The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 114 - One Hundred and Fourteen

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen

Malachi’s POV

Cecilia was sitting on the edge of the bed when I came back to our room. She looked tired. Worried. Her hands were clasped in her lap.

"We need to talk," she said.

I closed the door behind me. Leaned against it. "About?"

"My uncles. My aunts. They’re making moves."

I’d expected this. Cecilia’s family was a nest of vipers. Always had been. Her father’s death had thrown everything into chaos. The inheritance. The company. The power.

And Cecilia was the one standing in their way.

"What kind of moves?" I asked.

"Legal ones. They’re challenging the will. Saying I don’t meet the criteria. That the marriage clause is outdated and shouldn’t apply."

The marriage clause. The reason we were in this fake relationship in the first place. Her father had been old fashioned. Traditional. He’d written into his will that Cecilia had to be married to inherit. Married to someone suitable. Someone respectable.

Her father had helped me when I first went to Dark City. Given me opportunities when no one else would. Believed in me when I had nothing. No connections. No credibility. Just ambition.

I owed him everything. And when he was dying, he’d asked me to look after Cecilia. To help her get what was rightfully hers.

This fake relationship was me keeping that promise. Repaying a debt I could never truly repay.

"Let them challenge it," I said. "You’re meeting the criteria. We’re together. That’s all that matters."

"But what if the court sides with them? What if they say our relationship isn’t legitimate?"

"Then we make it more legitimate. We get engaged. We set a date. We make it look real."

She looked at me with those wide eyes. Trusting. Grateful.

"They’re not just challenging the will," Cecilia said quietly. "They’re making other moves too. Dangerous ones."

I straightened. "What do you mean dangerous?"

"I’ve been getting threats. Anonymous ones. Messages saying I should step aside. That it would be safer for me if I just gave up the inheritance."

Rage flared in my chest. Her father had trusted me to protect her. And I would. No matter what it cost me.

"You’re safe here," I said. "In this mansion. With the family around. No one can touch you here."

"But what about when we go back to Silver Lake City? What happens then?"

She was right to be worried. The mansion here was isolated. Secure. But Silver Lake was different. Too many people. Too many opportunities for someone to make a move.

"The real problem will be when we’re back in Silver Lake," I admitted. "We’ll need to be more careful there. More visible. Make sure everyone knows we’re together."

"We need to move fast," Cecilia said. She stood up. Started pacing. "I can’t wait months for this to play out. The longer it takes, the more time they have to hurt me."

"What are you thinking?"

"I’ll call my lawyer. Speed up the process. Get the paperwork moving faster."

I frowned. "Your family lawyer?"

"Yes. He’s handled everything for my father for years. He knows the will inside and out."

"That’s the problem. He knows your family. And your family has money. Influence. What’s to stop them from buying his loyalty?"

Cecilia stopped pacing. Looked at me like she hadn’t considered that possibility.

"You think he’d betray me?"

"I think anyone can be bought. Especially lawyers. You should hire someone new. Someone who doesn’t have ties to your family. Someone who only answers to you."

She sank back down onto the bed. The worry on her face deepened. Turned into something that looked like despair.

"I don’t know who to trust anymore."

"Trust me," I said. Because I’d promised her father. Because I owed him my loyalty even after death.

She looked up at me. "I do trust you, Malachi. You’re the only person I can count on right now."

Her father’s face flashed in my mind. The way he’d looked at me that last time. Made me promise. Made me swear I’d take care of his daughter.

I’d keep that promise. Even if it complicated everything else in my life.

"You’ll get the inheritance," I said. "And once you do, this arrangement is over. We break up. Go our separate ways. You’ll be free."

"And you?"

"I’ll be fine."

She nodded slowly. "Thank you. For everything. I know this isn’t easy for you either."

It wasn’t. Every moment I spent with her felt like torture. Not because of her. But because of Alicia. Because I was counting down the days until I could stop pretending. Until I could focus on what I really wanted.

On who I really wanted.

"Get some sleep," I said. "We’ll figure out the lawyer situation tomorrow."

She climbed into bed. Pulled the covers up. Within minutes, her breathing evened out. She was asleep.

I moved to the couch. The same place I’d been sleeping since we started sharing this room. Far enough away to maintain the illusion of propriety.

I lay down. Stared at the ceiling. Tried not to think about Alicia.

Failed immediately.

She was all I could think about. Always. The kiss. Her body against mine. The way she’d responded to my touch. The way she’d looked at me afterward. Confused. Wanting. Conflicted.

I wanted her so badly it physically hurt. Wanted to go to her room right now. Climb into her bed. Make her forget about Travis. Make her forget about everything except me.

But I couldn’t. Not yet. Not while we were here. Not while everyone was watching.

I pulled out my phone. Scrolled through my contacts. Found Violet’s name. Hit call.

She answered on the second ring. "It’s late."

"I know. How are things in Dark City?"

Violet handled my business interests there. Kept track of the operations I’d built. The empire I’d created with the foundation Cecilia’s father had given me.

"Quiet," she said. "No movement for now. No problems."

"Keep watching."

"I always do."