The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 192 - One Hundred and Ninety-Two

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Two

Alicia’s POV

"My mother died in childbirth. The Blackwoods had nothing to do with that."

"Are you sure? Pa Blackwood specializes in making deaths look natural. In covering tracks. In eliminating anyone who gets in his way."

"My mother died because we couldn’t afford good medical care. Because my father spent everything he had on—" I stopped. Realized what I was about to say.

On what? My father had been desperate. Broken. Like he’d lost something more than just his wife.

"Your father knew something, didn’t he?" Emily’s voice was soft now. Almost sympathetic. "Something about Hong Wei’s death. Something about the Blackwoods. That’s why he drank himself to death. Why he couldn’t look at you without seeing what he’d done."

"Stop."

"The Blackwoods took everything from you, Alicia. Just like they took everything from me. And Malachi is exactly like his father. He’ll use you. Control you. And when you’re no longer useful, he’ll discard you."

"He’s not like that. He wouldn’t—"

"Wouldn’t he? He tortured people, Alicia. Laughed while they begged. You heard the recordings. You know what he’s capable of."

"Those people deserved what they got."

"Did my father deserve it? Did my son?"

I had no answer for that. Couldn’t defend what Pa Blackwood had done.

"What do you want, Emily?"

"I want you to open your eyes. To see Malicia for what he really is before it’s too late. Before you’re trapped the way I was trapped."

"I’m not trapped. I chose to be here."

"Did you? Or did they arrange your entire life to lead to this moment? Think about it. Really think about it. Then ask yourself if Malachi’s love is real or just another part of the plan."

The line went dead.

I sat there, phone in hand, trying to process what I’d just heard.

Emily could be lying. Probably was lying. Trying to turn me against Malachi. Trying to isolate him.

But what if there was truth in what she’d said? What if Pa Blackwood really had orchestrated everything?

Alessandro was watching me. "What did she say?"

"That my marriage to Travis was planned. That Pa Blackwood knew about my connection to the Morettis. That he’s been using me all along."

"That’s..." Alessandro stopped. His face changed. "Actually, that makes sense."

"What?"

"Pa Blackwood reached out to us about six months before your wedding. Wanted to discuss a business alliance. We declined. Told him the Morettis don’t work with the Blackwoods. Then suddenly you marry into the family and we get another overture. This time mentioning the connection through marriage."

My stomach dropped. "When was this?"

"Right after your mother died."

The timing. It all lined up.

Pa Blackwood had known. Had planned this. Had arranged for me to marry Travis as a way to connect to the Morettis.

And Malachi...

No. Malachi couldn’t have known. He’d been just as surprised as everyone when we’d started our affair.

Hadn’t he?

My phone buzzed. A text from Malachi.

About to go in. If something happens, if I don’t make it out, I need you to know: everything I’ve done has been to protect you. Even the dark things. Even the terrible things. You and our baby are worth any price.

I stared at the message. At what might be his last words to me.

Everything I’ve done.

What did that mean? Protecting me? Or using me?

I wanted to believe him. Wanted to trust that his love was real.

But Emily’s words echoed in my head. Pa Blackwood orchestrated everything. Malachi is exactly like his father.

I typed back slowly.

Did you know? About me and the Morettis? About Pa’s plan?

The three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Then nothing.

No response.

Which was answer enough.

He’d known. Maybe not everything. But something.

Sophie appeared in the doorway. "Alicia, you need to come see this."

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing. Just... come."

I followed her to the window. Outside, the sun was setting. Painting the sky in shades of red and gold.

And in the garden, Signora Moretti had planted flowers. White roses. Dozens of them.

"She did it for you," Sophie said. "For your baby. Said every child should be welcomed with flowers."

Tears filled my eyes. This was real. The Morettis’ love for me was real.

But was Malachi’s?

My phone buzzed.

A message. Finally.

I knew Pa had plans. Knew he wanted an alliance with the Morettis. I didn’t know you were the key until after we’d already started. I didn’t know you were Giuliana’s daughter until yesterday. I swear. But even if I had known, it wouldn’t have changed anything. I fell for you anyway. That was never part of any plan.

I wanted to believe him.

How do I know that’s true?

You don’t. You have to trust me.

Trust. Always trust.

Another message came through.

I love you, Alicia. Not because of what you represent. Not because of the Morettis. Because you’re you. Because you make me want to be better. Because our baby deserves a father who fights for what’s right instead of what’s convenient.

Then another.

I have to go now. But when I get back, I’ll prove it. I’ll prove that my love is real. That it was never about alliances or plans. Just you. Always you.

The messages stopped.

He was going in. Walking into danger.

And I was here, doubting him. Questioning everything.

"What did he say?" Sophie asked.

"That he loves me. That it was never about the alliance."

"Do you believe him?"

Did I?

I thought about Malachi. About the way he looked at me. The way he’d killed three men to protect me. The way he’d promised to stay away if that’s what I wanted, even though it was killing him.

Men didn’t do that for political alliances. They did that for love.

"Yes," I said finally. "I believe him."

"Good. Because you look like you’re about to cry and I don’t think that’s good for the baby."

I almost laughed. Almost.

My phone buzzed one more time.

A message from an unknown number. Not Malachi’s. Not Emily’s.

I opened it.

A photo. Taken from outside the estate. Through the window.

Of me and Sophie. Right now. In this moment.

Below it, words that made my blood freeze.

Beautiful sisters. It would be a shame if something happened to one of them. Tell Malachi if he interferes tonight, I’ll make sure only one of you survives. His choice which one. - Zhao

I showed Sophie. Her face went white.

"He’s here. He’s watching us right now."

"We need to tell Malachi. Warn him."

"No. If we tell him, he’ll do exactly what Zhao wants. He’ll back off. Let Emily and Zhao win."

"But if we don’t tell him and something happens—"

"Then we handle it ourselves. We have security. We have the Morettis. We’re not helpless."

Sophie didn’t look convinced. Neither was I.

But I couldn’t let Zhao use me to control Malachi. Couldn’t let fear win again.

I deleted the message. Blocked the number.

"What are you doing?" Sophie asked.

"Standing my ground. Fighting back."

"Alicia—"

"Go get Alessandro and Marco. Tell them we have a situation. Tell them Zhao just made a threat and we need to be ready."

"What about Malachi?"

I looked at my phone. At our last conversation. At his promise to come back.

"Malachi does what he needs to do in Paris. We do what we need to do here. And when he comes back, we’ll both be alive to welcome him home."

I texted him one last message.

I trust you. I love you. Come home to us.

Then I turned off my phone.

Whatever happened tonight, whatever Emily had said, whatever doubts I had—

I was choosing to trust Malachi.

Choosing to believe his love was real.

Because the alternative was letting fear win.

And I was done being afraid.