The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 62 - sixty two

Chapter Sixty-Two

Malachi’s POV

"Will you marry me, Alicia?"

I asked, one knee falling to the ground.

I watched her expression closely. Shock. Then the corners of her lips rose with a warm smile. "Malachi..."

"Marry me, Alicia."

I said again.

"Marry me and let me show you what it’s like to be truly loved. Forget the blackwoods. We’ll go far away from here. Anywhere of your choosing. You can bring Sophie along. We’ll start a family..."

"Stop, Malachi."

She laughed. "Calm down."

But I couldn’t. Not when the woman I loved so much was right in front of me. I took a deep breath.

"Will you marry me, Alicia fonnel?"

Her lips moved.

But something was wrong. I heard knocking. My vision began to fade. I closed my eyes.

Finally, After what felt like forever, the knocking stopped. I opened my eyes. But I wasn’t with Alicia anymore. I was in bed.

"Fuck."

I sighed. Was it just a dream?

The knocking continued. I felt an urge to kill whoever woke me up just now.

"The master wants to see you, sir."

It was a servant.

I sat up and wore some clothes before leaving. What grandfather wanted to say had better be important.

My mind kept replaying the scene all over again.

When I arrived, he was already at his desk, looking through old photo albums. He looked up and smiled when I walked in.

"Malachi. Good. Sit down."

I took the chair across from him. Noticed the photos spread across his desk. Black and white images. People I didn’t recognize. Buildings that looked different from what I knew.

"I was just thinking about how it all started," Pa Wood said, gesturing to the photos. "The family company. Everything we built."

"Nostalgia?"

"Maybe." He picked up one of the photos. "This was the first office. Just a small space above a restaurant. Your great-grandfather and I ran everything ourselves. No employees. No fancy equipment. Just two men with a vision."

I’d heard parts of this story before. But never in detail. Pa Wood rarely talked about the early days.

"We had nothing," he continued. "But we had determination. And we had family. That’s what mattered."

He set the photo down and picked up another one. This one showed a woman. Young, beautiful, smiling at the camera.

"Your grandmother," he said softly. "She was there from the beginning. Supported every decision. Every risk. She believed in us when no one else did."

I’d never known my grandmother. She’d died long before I was born. But I’d heard she was remarkable.

"We found true love," Pa Wood said, his voice distant. Lost in memory. "Real love. The kind that makes you want to build something. Create something that lasts."

He touched the photo gently. Like it might disappear if he pressed too hard.

"We started a family. Built this empire together. She was my partner in everything. The best decision I ever made was marrying her."

I could sense the loneliness in his voice. The weight of decades without her. He only had a few of her things left. Old photos. Some jewelry. And Charlie, the descendant of her beloved dog.

That was all that remained of their life together.

"Do you miss her?" I asked.

"Every day." He looked up at me. "That’s why I want you to find what we had, Malachi. Real love. Real partnership. Don’t waste your life alone."

Before I could respond, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," Pa Wood called.

The door opened and Alicia entered carrying a tray with tea.

My breath caught. I loved her silver hair. Loved the way it caught the morning light streaming through the window. And what she had on that morning, a simple dress that hugged her curves in all the right ways, made my hands itch to touch her.

I wanted to rip it off and make her mine again. Right there. Right then.

"I brought your tea," she said quietly.

"Thank you, my dear," Pa Wood said warmly.

She set the cup in front of him. I watched her hands move. I wanted those fingers around my neck instead.

"I’d like some too," I said. "If it’s not too much trouble."

She looked at me. Those eyes. I wanted to drown in them.

"Of course."

Pa Wood pushed his cup toward me before she could leave. "Use mine. I can wait."

She stood there for a moment, looking uncertain. Pa Wood gestured to the other chair.

"Sit with us, Alicia. Keep us company."

She sat. I could smell her perfume from where I was. Something light. Floral. Driving me insane.

Pa Wood took a sip of tea and smiled. "Malachi, you should find yourself a woman like Alicia here. Someone thoughtful. Someone who makes life better just by being in it."

But I only wanted Alicia. Not someone like her. Her. And I’d have her, one way or another.

"You need to settle down," Pa Wood continued. "Start your own family."

"Maybe I will soon," I said, my eyes on Alicia.

"Do you have someone in mind?"

"I do. There’s a girl in my heart."

I watched Alicia’s reaction. Saw the way her shoulders tensed slightly. The way her fingers pressed together in her lap. Anticipating my answer.

Jealousy. She was jealous.

Good.

"The woman will soon be mine," I continued. "When the time is right, I’ll need your blessing."

"Of course," Pa Wood said happily. "Any woman you choose."

"She’s very lucky then," Alicia said. Her voice was tight. "Whoever she is."

I smiled. Let her wonder. Let her feel what I felt every time I saw her with Travis or any other man.

After a few more minutes, Pa Wood asked Alicia to take Charlie to the vet. I offered to drive immediately. I couldn’t give up the opportunity to spend hours with her.

We left an hour later. Charlie was in the back seat, happy and oblivious. Alicia sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window.

My eyes kept glancing at her. At her profile. At the way her silver hair fell over her shoulder. At her hands folded in her lap.

When we passed the park, I noticed the way her eyes lingered on the couples walking together. The longing in her expression.

She wanted that. Wanted something simple and normal. Something this family could never give her.

But maybe I could. Maybe I could give her moments. Small pieces of the life she wanted.

I thought back to the dream. Only if it were real. Only if Alicia would say yes...

At the vet, while Alicia was with Charlie in the examination room, I stepped outside and called Maurice.

"Send another driver to pick up the dog," I said. "Have him wait in the parking lot."

"Sir?"

"Just do it."

When the vet finished and we left the building, Maurice took Charlie from me and put him in another car.

"What’s happening?" Alicia asked.

"Walk with me."

"What?"

I held out my hand. Watched her eyes widen slightly as she realized what I was offering.

She took my hand. Her palm was warm against mine. Small but strong. It felt like I was holding a fragile thing.

We walked into the park together. The same park she’d been staring at from the car. I led her down the main path, past couples and families and people living their normal lives.

There were bubbles in the air and excited screams of little kids.

Her eyes beamed with joy. Her slim fingers would reach out to poke the air bubbles. It felt good seeing her that way. So jovial.

"We could come every day if you wanted," I said. "Just like this."

I meant it. Would clear my schedule. Would make time. I would give her whatever pieces of normalcy I could. I’d buy her the damn park if she wanted it.

But she shook her head. "I don’t think that’s a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Because this isn’t real, Malachi. Whatever this is between us, it can’t last."

The words stung more than they should have. My smile dropped.

"Why can’t it?"

"You know why. I’m married to your brother."

There it was again.

I stopped walking. Turned to face her. "What if I told you I don’t care about any of that?"

"Then I’d say you’re not thinking clearly."

"Or maybe I’m thinking clearly for the first time in my life."

She pulled her hand away. "Don’t say things like that."

"Why? Because it scares you?"

"Because it’s not true."

"How do you know what’s true for me?"

She didn’t answer. Just looked at me with those eyes that saw too much.

"Can we just walk?" she asked finally. "Without talking about this?"

We kept walking in silence. Torturing silence. Suddenly, she stopped.

Why are you so tall?"

She frowned. Fine lines appearing on her forehead. Her lips were slightly parted. I wanted to put my tongue between them and claim her mouth.

She turned her face away from mine.

My shy little bird.

"Isn’t it a good thing?"

I smiled, raising her chin with one finger so she could face me again.

Her eyes met mine. Green and full of life.

She stepped back.

"How is that a good thing?"

I smiled, grabbed her wrist and pulled her to myself. Her head pressed against my chest.

That floral scent filled my nostrils again.

I smiled. "Everytime you hug me, you get to feel my heartbeat. A heart that beats only for you, little bird."

She stayed awkwardly silent. Probably surprised.

Then, her stomach rumbled. She probably hadn’t eaten all morning. I felt her stiffen in my embrace. Probably embarrassed.

I released her from the hug.

"Let’s get you something to eat, hungry bird."

We walked over to a shop, and I got her what she wanted. We sat on a bench together while she ate.

She ate happily while watching little kids run around. She liked kids, and I’d noticed.

Would she like one with me?

When she was done, we caught up with Maurice and Charlie who was barking happily as soon as he sighted us.

The drive back was silent. Alicia didn’t say anything, and neither did I. Her gaze was right outside the window again. She was probably deep in thought.

As we pulled up to the mansion, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

"Alicia."

"Yeah?"

"That woman I mentioned to grandfather. The one in my heart."

Her whole body went still. "What about her?"

"Don’t you want to know who she is?"