[BL] A Marriage Ruled by Family, Saved by Desire-Chapter 95: A House That Finally Heals

~Alistair’s POV~

The Kind of Love That Fights Back

He looked at me intently, his eyes searching mine. "She mentioned that whatever you said to her really got to her. I don’t know exactly what you told her, Alis, but it clearly hit home. She’s actually changing... and honestly, it’s surprising to see."

I looked down at my plate, tracing the rim of my glass with my thumb.

"I didn’t say anything special, Alex," I said softly. "I just told her that family shouldn’t be a battlefield... that if she keeps pushing everyone away just to stay in control, she might end up alone in that big house."

Alex reached across the table, his fingers brushing lightly against my knuckles.

"Whatever you said... it worked," he said. "She sounds different. Less... sharp. I think she’s starting to realize the world doesn’t revolve around her expectations."

"I hope so," I replied, finally meeting his gaze. "I just want us to be happy. I want the wedding to happen without any drama... and then I want us to go away and finally breathe."

"We will," he said firmly. "The plan hasn’t changed. We’ll give her what she wants for the ceremony, play the part of the perfect sons... and then we’ll leave.

I smiled, feeling the last of the tension from our argument fade away.

We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"So," I said, trying to lighten the mood, "what are we going to do about your sister coming this weekend? Are we supposed to get her a gift or something? And how do you want me to act? I’ve only met her a few times... we’ve never really been in the same house together before. Since we’ll be spending the whole weekend together, I just want to know what to expect."

Alex chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"No, baby. My sister isn’t like my mother, she’s very easygoing," he said. "You don’t need to do too much. Just be yourself. She’s nice, and she’ll appreciate you for who you are. Let her have her moment with Mom... we’ll mind our business."

I looked at him and nodded softly.

"Alright, baby."

After we finished dinner, we headed back upstairs. Alex mentioned he needed to wrap up some work he hadn’t completed at the office so he could send it to his assistant.

He settled on the bed with his laptop, completely focused, while I leaned back against the pillows, quietly watching him.

My mind drifted back to our earlier argument. Even though I hadn’t said much, I didn’t want to create more tension between us, it still didn’t sit right with me.

A small part of me wondered... if it even made sense. Because to me, it felt like I couldn’t do anything without him agreeing to it.

The thought lingered, uncomfortable.

But then again, maybe this was part of what it meant to love someone... to build a life together. Sometimes, it came with compromises, quiet sacrifices you made without saying a word.

I exhaled softly, trying to make peace with it.

Eventually, Alex finished his work, set his laptop aside, and slipped under the covers beside me. He pulled me closer.

Then, he began teasing me... tickling and playing around until I was breathless with laughter.

"I’m sorry," he said again, his voice gentler this time. "For earlier."

He didn’t stop until I looked at him and assured him properly that I truly, truly forgave him.

Only then did he relax.

Wrapped in each other’s arms, the tension melted away, and before long, we drifted off to sleep.

That became our routine for the rest of the week. Every morning, we went our separate ways to work, and every evening, Alex would pick me up so we could head home together.

When the weekend finally arrived, the house buzzed with a different kind of energy. Alex’s father called early that morning to confirm we were coming.

He had already made it clear to Alex beforehand, not to interfere in the reunion between his mother and sister. It was their matter to settle.

Alex agreed. He had already decided to stay out of the family drama as much as possible.

We packed our bags, the driver loaded them into the car, and we began the long drive to the Montclair estate. When we finally arrived, the tension of the city felt miles away.

We stepped into the grand living room and were immediately met by the sight of Alex’s sister. She was already there, cradling her baby in her arms. The atmosphere was warm.

Alex rushed forward the moment he saw his sister, pulling her into a quick, warm hug.

"I missed you," he said.

"I missed you too," she replied, smiling brightly.

They both looked genuinely happy like the distance between them had never existed.

Alex leaned down slightly, peering at the baby in her arms. A teasing grin spread across his face.

"This baby doesn’t look like you at all," he said playfully. "He looks exactly like your husband."

His sister whined softly, nudging him. "That’s not true! He looks like me."

Alex laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright... maybe a little."

Then, as if suddenly he turned toward me. he said lightly. "My partner is greeting you."

I stepped forward with a polite smile. "Hello."

She shifted her attention to me immediately, her expression warm and welcoming.

"Hi," she said gently. "How are you? How have you been?"

"I’m good," I replied.

Her face lit up as she nodded, still holding her baby close.

And in that moment, standing there with them, it felt like something fragile was beginning to mend, as this family might truly have a chance to heal.

The estate felt different as evening began to settle in, the last glow of the sun stretching across the windows before slowly fading away.

Alex’s mother wasn’t home when we arrived, tied up in her usual high-stakes business meetings, so for a few quiet hours, the house felt peaceful.

It wasn’t until the moon had risen high in the sky that the front doors finally swung open.

And with it, the matriarch of the Montclair family stepped inside.

For the first time in years, the family was complete.

Dinner was served in the grand dining hall, a scene of quiet, expensive peace. I watched them all—Alex, his father, his sister with her baby, and his mother at the head of the table. It was a picture-perfect image of old Money stability. We ate in a comfortable silence.

As the meal wound down, Alex gave my hand a meaningful squeeze under the table. He stood up, and his father followed, signaling the men to move to the living room to give the women space. I followed them, but as we settled into the plush velvet chairs of the living room, the architecture of the house allowed their voices to drift over to us from the dining room.

The air in the dining room sharpened instantly.

"I still don’t understand it," Alex’s mother began, her voice like a cold blade. "To marry someone so... below us. Someone with nothing to his name. A man who couldn’t even uphold the reputation of this family. I spent years worrying that you were the one feeding him with your money."

"He isn’t poor anymore, Mother," Alex’s sister said, her voice trembling slightly but holding firm. "He has built something for himself. He worked day and night to establish his own business. He doesn’t want my money. He’s never asked for a single dime. He works hard... and he provides everything our child needs."

"A ’best life’ requires more than just trying," her mother scoffed, her voice laced with the cold certainty of someone who measured love in assets. "You could have had anyone." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"I have the best life because I have a husband who loves me!" she shot back, her voice rising as she defended the man she had sacrificed everything for. "We don’t depend on my money. He works harder than anyone I’ve ever met just to prove he’s worthy of me. Please... just look at how far he’s come."

The argument burned hot a collision between a mother’s rigid pride and a daughter’s unwavering loyalty. But eventually, the fire began to fade.

Alex’s sister was the first to soften.

"I’m sorry," she said quietly, her voice no longer defensive. "For the distance... for everything."

She took a breath, her eyes lowering slightly.

"I know you only wanted security for me... even if it didn’t feel that way."

Slowly, the ice between them began to melt. Alex’s mother finally apologized for chasing her away, her voice breaking under the weight of everything she had held in for so long.

And just like that, the distance between them collapsed.

They moved into each other’s arms, holding on tightly, as if afraid to let go again, while years of resentment quietly dissolved into a long-overdue reconciliation.

"Look at your brother," his mother said softly as they finally joined us in the living room, her gaze settling on Alex and me. "He’s having his wedding again. The first time... we weren’t there. His father wasn’t there, I wasn’t there, and even our family friends were left out."

Her voice steadied, regaining its usual authority.

"But this time, I’m doing it properly. I’m investing everything into this celebration. I want everyone to witness it, to see my son."

She turned back to her daughter.

"Your husband is invited. The invitation cards will be ready next week. I expect you, and your friends, to be there to celebrate this family."

The tension that had haunted the house for years was gone, replaced by an unfamiliar, warm light.

Later that night, we all moved to the rooftop. It was a sprawling, luxurious space designed for the elite, overlooking the city lights, decorated with deep tones and soft glowing lanterns. We sat together, the finest wine flowing as we enjoyed the cool night air.

It was a small, private celebration of peace. Alex’s father sat back with a satisfied smile, watching his children finally at ease. Alex pulled me close to his side, his arm heavy and protective around my shoulders. For the first time, I saw his mother look at us, and then at his sister, with genuine acceptance.

In that moment on the rooftop...