The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 71 - Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-One

Alicia’s POV

At 6pm, I heard a knock on my door. I’d been dreading this moment all day. The reunion. Facing everyone from my past. Pretending I was someone I wasn’t.

I opened the door expecting a maid. Instead, Malachi stood there holding a large box and several smaller ones.

"What’s this?" I asked.

"Your outfit for tonight." He walked past me into the room, setting everything on my bed. "I wasn’t sure what you’d wear, so I took care of it."

I stared at the boxes. Designer logos I recognized from magazines. Brands I could never afford even now.

"Malachi, you didn’t have to—"

"Open them."

I lifted the lid off the largest box. Inside was a dress that took my breath away. Deep emerald green silk that caught the light. Simple but elegant. The kind of dress that whispered wealth instead of shouting it.

The smaller boxes held accessories. Delicate gold jewelry. A clutch that probably cost more than my first car. Shoes that actually fit perfectly when I tried them on.

"How did you know my size?"

"I pay attention."

Something warm bloomed in my chest. He’d thought about this. About me. About making sure I felt confident tonight.

It made me smile. A real smile that reached my eyes for the first time since yesterday’s breakdown.

"Thank you," I said softly.

"Get dressed. We leave in thirty minutes."

He left and I quickly got into the dress. It fit like it was made for me. Hugged my curves in all the right places without being too revealing. Made me look expensive. Untouchable.

I did my makeup carefully. Nothing too dramatic. Just enough to highlight my features. Left my silver hair down in loose waves.

When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. I looked like I belonged at an event like this. Like I was someone important.

Not the scared scholarship kid anymore.

Malachi was waiting in the hallway when I emerged. His eyes swept over me and something dark flickered in their depths.

"Perfect," he said. Just that one word, but the way he said it made heat pool in my stomach.

We left together. The drive to the venue was quiet. I kept smoothing down my dress nervously, checking my reflection in the window.

"Stop worrying," Malachi said. "You look incredible."

"What if they can tell? That I don’t really belong?"

"You belong anywhere you want to be. Remember that."

The venue was beautiful. Some upscale hotel ballroom with chandeliers and marble floors. Everything designed to impress.

Everyone was surprised when we walked in. I could see it on their faces. The double takes. The whispers starting immediately.

That’s Alicia? The scholarship kid? Look at her now.

Who’s that with her? He’s gorgeous.

Is that a real Cartier necklace?

I held my head high and walked in like I owned the place. Malachi’s presence beside me made me braver. Made me feel like I could face anything.

Cassie spotted me immediately and rushed over, her boyfriend trailing behind her.

"Alicia! You look amazing!" She hugged me tight. "And you brought someone. I thought you were coming with—" She stopped, glancing at Malachi. Understanding dawning on her face.

"This is Malachi," I said simply.

"Your brother-in-law?" Cassie whispered.

I gave her a look that said we’d talk about this later.

"Nice to meet you," Malachi said smoothly to Cassie and her boyfriend.

Cassie introduced her boyfriend, David. The real estate developer she’d been gushing about. He seemed nice enough. Polite. Clearly smitten with Cassie.

"I can’t believe you came," Cassie said. "After yesterday, I thought you’d bail."

"Changed my mind."

"I’m glad." She squeezed my hand. "Now come on, let’s get drinks. We have years to catch up on."

As we moved through the crowd, I could feel eyes following us. Jennifer was holding court near the bar, surrounded by her usual crowd. She looked up and her smile faltered when she saw me.

Good.

But then I saw someone else. Someone who made my breath catch.

Lucas.

He was standing near the windows, a drink in his hand. His right hand was bandaged. When our eyes met, something cold passed between us. He knew. Knew what Malachi had done to him.

I felt Malachi tense beside me. Felt the rage radiating off him like heat.

"Malachi," I said quietly. "Don’t."

"He shouldn’t be here."

"It’s fine. Just ignore him."

But Malachi’s hand found my waist. Possessive. Territorial. A clear message to Lucas and everyone else watching.

I forced myself to look away. To focus on anything else.

My eyes wandered the crowd and found Jason.

He was standing with a group of men in expensive suits. Laughing at something someone said. He looked good. More handsome than I remembered. The years had been kind to him. His suit was custom tailored. His watch probably cost more than my wedding ring.

He’d done well for himself. Clearly.

But I felt nothing looking at him. No flutter of attraction. No regret about what could have been. Just a vague memory of a girl who’d thought he was everything.

That girl didn’t exist anymore.

I went to get a drink instead of approaching him. Needed something to calm my nerves.

I was reaching for a glass of champagne when I heard his voice behind me.

"Alicia? Alicia Chen?"

I turned. Jason was standing there, that familiar smile on his face. But there was something calculating in his eyes now. Something that hadn’t been there before.

"It’s Blackwood now," I said.

"Right, right. I heard you got married." His eyes swept over me appreciatively. "You look amazing. Really different from high school."

Before I could respond, Malachi appeared at my side. His arm wrapped around my waist possessively. He pulled me against him, his lips finding my neck.

He kissed the sensitive skin there, then playfully bit it. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to mark. Enough to make a statement.

I felt heat flood my cheeks. Felt my body respond to his touch even here, surrounded by people.

"I’m her husband," Malachi said, his eyes locking with Jason’s. There was challenge in his voice. A clear warning.

Jason’s eyes widened. "Oh. I thought you married someone else. Travis Blackwood?"

"She did," Malachi said smoothly. "I’m his brother. But semantics don’t really matter, do they?"

The implication was clear. The possession in his voice unmistakable.

Jason backed up slightly. "Right. Well, it was good seeing you, Alicia. Enjoy the party."

He disappeared into the crowd quickly.

"Did you have to do that?" I asked Malachi.

"Yes."

"He was just being polite."

"He was looking at you like he wanted to devour you. I was simply clarifying the situation."

I should have been annoyed. Should have told him he couldn’t just claim me publicly like that.

But part of me liked it. Liked him being possessive. Liked everyone knowing I belonged to someone who wouldn’t let me go.

Music started playing. Something upbeat and nostalgic from our high school years.

I looked down at my feet. At the beautiful but uncomfortable heels.

Without thinking, I slipped them off. Let my bare feet touch the cool floor.

"What are you doing?" Malachi asked.

"Dancing. I can’t dance in those."

"Alicia—"

But I was already moving toward the dance floor. Something had loosened in me. Maybe it was the champagne. Maybe it was seeing all these people who’d made me feel small and realizing they didn’t matter anymore.

Maybe it was Malachi’s presence giving me courage.

I danced. Really danced. Not the careful, controlled movements I usually maintained. But free. Wild. Letting the music move through me.

Cassie joined me, laughing. A few other people I vaguely recognized from high school joined in. The dance floor filled up.

I lost myself in the rhythm. In the feeling of being alive and free and not caring what anyone thought.

Then I felt hands on my waist. Gentle but firm. Guiding my movements.

I turned, expecting Malachi.

But it wasn’t him.

It was someone else. A man wearing a dark suit and a masquerade mask. Simple black mask that covered the upper half of his face.

"May I?" he asked. His voice was cultured. Smooth. Vaguely familiar but I couldn’t place it.

I should have said no. Should have pulled away. But something made me nod.

We danced together. He moved well. Confidently. His hands stayed respectful but there was an intimacy to the way he held me.

"You look beautiful tonight," he said close to my ear. "Very different from how I remember you."

I pulled back slightly. "Do I know you?"

"We’ve met before." He smiled. I could see it in the curve of his lips below the mask. "Though you probably don’t remember."

"Why the mask?"

"I like the mystery. Don’t you?"

We kept dancing. He moved me expertly across the floor. I could feel eyes watching us. Could feel Malachi’s gaze burning into my back.

"Your husband doesn’t look happy," the stranger observed.

"He’s not my—" I stopped. How did this man know about Malachi?

"Not your real husband," the stranger finished. "But the one you want. I can see it in the way you look at him."

"Who are you?"

"Someone who’s been watching you for a long time, Alicia." His hand tightened slightly on my waist. "Someone who knows things about you that you’ve tried very hard to hide."

My heart started racing. Not in a good way. "What are you talking about?"

"Your father, for instance. Interesting man. Very interested in finding you and your sister."

I stopped dancing. Tried to pull away. But his grip was firm.

"Don’t worry," he said softly. "I haven’t told him where you are. Yet."

"Let me go."

"In a moment. First, I have a question for you." He leaned closer, his lips almost touching my ear. "Do you know what really happened to Emily Cartwright?"

The name hit me like a physical blow. Emily. The girl from the mansion. The one everyone whispered about. The one whose picture Travis kept locked in his safe.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Liar." His voice was gentle but the word cut. "You’re living in her house. Married to the man who loved her. Sleeping with the man who’s obsessed with finding out who killed her child."

How did he know all this? Who was this man?

"Who are you?" I demanded.

The stranger smiled again. Spun me once more. The music was ending. People were starting to leave the dance floor.

"The real question, Alicia, isn’t who I am." His hand released my waist. He stepped back. "The real question is—do you know who you really are?"