The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 97 - ninety seven

Chapter Ninety-Seven

Alicia’s POV

After staying with Sophie until she fell asleep, I finally left her room. The house felt too quiet. Too heavy with everything that had happened today.

I needed to do something. Needed to focus on something other than mysterious text messages and threats about the Maldives.

I went to the kitchen to monitor the cooking for dinner. It was part of my new responsibilities now, apparently. Head of family affairs and social relations meant overseeing household operations. Making sure everything ran smoothly.

The kitchen staff looked surprised to see me but didn’t say anything. They went about their work while I observed.

That’s when I noticed one of the maids preparing a dish I’d never seen anyone in the house eat before. Something elaborate. Expensive looking. With ingredients I didn’t recognize.

"What’s that?" I asked, moving closer.

The maid looked up nervously. "A special dish, Miss Alicia. For a guest."

"What guest?"

"Mr. Malachi instructed the head chef specifically. Said it needed to be perfect. That the guest had particular tastes."

My stomach twisted. Malachi was bringing someone? Someone important enough that he’d given specific instructions about their meal?

"Did he say who the guest was?"

"No, Miss. Just that they’d be joining for dinner tonight."

I stood there processing this information. Malachi never brought guests to family dinners. Never made special requests for meals. Whoever this person was, they must really hold importance for him to be so specific about the details.

I tried to push down the unease building in my chest. Tried to tell myself it was probably business related. A potential partner. An investor. Nothing personal.

But the way the maid had said it, the care being taken with this meal, suggested otherwise.

I spent the rest of the afternoon helping oversee dinner preparations. Trying to stay busy. Trying not to think about who Malachi was bringing or why.

When dinner was finally ready, everyone started coming down. Mario and Isabella. Layla. Sasha looking subdued after whatever Pa Wood had said to her. Adrian. Tom. Pa Wood himself.

I took my usual seat at the table, my hands folded in my lap. Trying to appear calm even though my mind was racing.

Isabella looked down the table at me and smiled. "You’re doing great work already, Alicia. The table looks beautiful. Layla never paid this much attention to details."

"Thank you," I said quietly.

Layla’s face tightened but she said nothing. She’d been stripped of power. Couldn’t say anything without risking more consequences.

We were about to start eating when I heard footsteps in the hallway.

Malachi walked in.

With a woman.

My heart started slamming against my ribs. Hard enough that I thought everyone could hear it.

She was beautiful. Objectively, devastatingly beautiful. Dark hair that fell in perfect waves. Designer clothes that fit her like they’d been made specifically for her body. Confident stride. The kind of woman who belonged in rooms like this.

The kind of woman who made me feel like the outsider I’d always been.

Pa Wood’s face lit up. "Cecilia! What a wonderful surprise!"

Layla stood up immediately. "Cecilia Jones. I can’t believe it. How long has it been?"

They knew her. They definitely knew her. This wasn’t some business associate. This was someone with history with the family.

I looked at Malachi, trying to catch his eye. Trying to understand what was happening.

But he avoided my gaze completely. Looked at everyone else. Smiled at Pa Wood’s greeting. Acknowledged Layla’s enthusiasm.

But didn’t look at me.

Something wasn’t right. Something was very, very wrong.

"Everyone," Malachi said, his voice carrying across the table. "I’d like you to meet Cecilia Jones. My girlfriend."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Girlfriend. He’d said girlfriend.

My fork slipped from my fingers and clattered against the plate. The sound seemed too loud in the sudden silence.

But no one was paying attention to me. Everyone was focused on Cecilia. On this woman who’d just been introduced as Malachi’s girlfriend.

I gripped the edge of the table. Trying to breathe. Trying to process what I’d just heard.

Girlfriend. He had a girlfriend. After everything. After the park and the necklace and the promises. After telling me I was his.

He had a girlfriend.

Malachi walked over to pull out the chair next to mine for Cecilia. The perfect gentleman. Attentive. Caring.

She had a small smile on her face as she sat down. Demure. Pleased. Like this was exactly where she belonged.

"Cecilia Jones," Pa Wood repeated, beaming. "Robert’s daughter. I’m so glad to see you, my dear. And even happier to hear this news."

"Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. It’s wonderful to be here."

"Malachi’s been too focused on work for too long," Pa Wood continued. "It’s good to see him settling down. Finding someone." He looked around the table with satisfaction. "Two granddaughter-in-laws now. The family is growing."

Two. He was counting Cecilia already. Like she was already part of the family. Like this was permanent.

I wanted to stand up. Wanted to leave. Wanted to run from this room and never come back.

But I was frozen. Trapped in my seat. Forced to watch this play out.

Dinner was served. Everyone started eating. Conversation flowed around me but I heard none of it.

All I could focus on was Malachi and Cecilia. The way he spoke to her. The way she touched his arm casually. The way they looked like they belonged together.

Like I’d never existed. Like everything between us had been nothing.

I was silent. My jaw so tight it ached. Picking at my food without tasting anything. Just moving it around my plate to look normal.

Every minute felt like an hour. Every word Cecilia spoke felt like glass cutting my skin.

I wanted to get away. Needed to get away. As soon as this dinner was over, I was going straight to my room. Locking the door. Processing this nightmare alone.

Finally, finally, Pa Wood stood up. "Wonderful meal. Alicia, you did an excellent job with the preparations."

I nodded. Couldn’t form words.

People started leaving the table. Heading to their rooms or the sitting room for after-dinner drinks.

I stood immediately. Needed to escape before I broke down in front of everyone.

But before I could take two steps, a hand caught my wrist.

Malachi.

He pulled me away from the dining room. Down the hallway. Into his room.

Before I could protest, before I could pull away, he closed the door and pinned me against the wall.

His body pressed against mine. His hands on either side of my head. Caging me in.

"Are you jealous?" he asked. His voice was low. Dark. Almost amused.

I stared at him. At this man who’d just introduced another woman as his girlfriend. Who’d avoided my eyes all through dinner. Who’d made me feel like I was nothing.

And he had the audacity to ask if I was jealous?

"Let me go," I said, my voice shaking with rage.

"Answer the question first." He leaned closer. "Are you jealous, little bird?"