The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 126 - One Hundred and Twenty-six

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-six

Malachi’s POV

My phone rang at two in the afternoon.

Cecilia’s name flashed on the screen. I answered immediately.

"What’s wrong?"

"They’re here. At my apartment. Malachi, they’re trying to get in."

Her voice was shaking. Panicked. I’d never heard her sound like this.

"Who’s there?"

"My uncles. Both of them. They’re saying I need to sign papers. That if I don’t, they’ll make me. Malachi, I’m scared. I was at the company earlier, but you weren’t there."

I was already moving. Grabbing my jacket. My keys. "Lock yourself in your bedroom. Don’t open the door for anyone. I’m on my way."

"Hurry. Please."

I hung up. Ran for the elevator. Called Maurice while I waited.

"I need security at Cecilia’s apartment. Now. Her family is threatening her."

"On it. I’ll have a team there in ten minutes."

"Make it five."

I drove faster than I should have. Ran two red lights. Didn’t care.

Cecilia was my responsibility. I’d promised her father I’d protect her. Keep her safe while she fought for what was rightfully hers.

And I’d failed. Let my obsession with Alicia distract me. Let my guard down.

Not anymore.

I pulled up to her building. Saw two expensive cars parked out front. Her uncles. Had to be.

I took the stairs. Faster than the elevator. Got to her floor and heard voices. Loud. Aggressive.

"Open the door, Cecilia. We just want to talk."

"Sign the papers and this all goes away. You can have a nice settlement. Live comfortably. No one has to get hurt."

That last part made my blood boil. They were threatening her. In her own home.

I walked up behind them. Both men in expensive suits. Entitled. Arrogant. Used to getting what they wanted.

"Gentlemen. I think you’re at the wrong address."

They turned. Looked me up and down. Unimpressed.

"Who the hell are you?" the older one asked.

"Malachi Blackwood. Cecilia’s boyfriend. And you’re trespassing."

"Boyfriend?" The younger one laughed. "Convenient. She gets a boyfriend right when she needs to meet the marriage requirement."

"Believe what you want. But you need to leave. Now."

"Or what? You’ll call the police? Go ahead. We’re family. Just having a conversation."

"A conversation where you’re threatening her through a locked door? That’s not a conversation. That’s harassment."

The older one stepped closer. "Listen, kid. This is family business. None of your concern."

"She’s my concern. Which makes this my business."

"You don’t know what you’re getting into. Cecilia is unstable. Emotional. She’s not fit to run the company."

"That’s not your decision to make. Her father left everything to her. The will is clear."

"The will is outdated. Unfair. We’re challenging it."

"Challenge all you want. But you’re not going to intimidate her into giving up what’s hers."

The younger one smirked. "You think you can protect her? You have no idea who you’re dealing with."

"Neither do you."

I pulled out my phone. Made a show of taking their pictures. "I’m documenting this. Every threat. Every attempt to coerce her. My lawyers will have a field day with this."

"You’re making a mistake."

"No. You are. Leave now. Or I’ll have security escort you out."

"This isn’t over."

"Yes. It is. For today at least."

They stared at me. Trying to decide if I was bluffing. If I was really willing to escalate this.

I stared back. Let them see I wasn’t backing down.

Finally, they turned. Walked toward the elevator. The older one looked back once. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"She can’t hide behind you forever."

"She won’t have to. Once the court rules in her favor, you’ll have no claim. No power. Nothing."

They left. The elevator doors closed.

I knocked on Cecilia’s door. "It’s me. They’re gone."

I heard movement. Locks turning. The door opened.

Cecilia stood there. Tears streaming down her face. Shaking.

"Thank you. Thank you for coming."

"Of course. Are you okay?"

"No. Yes. I don’t know." She stepped back. Let me in. "How did they even know where I live?"

"They have resources. Money. They probably hired someone to follow you."

"This is insane. They’re actually threatening me. My own family."

"I know. But we’re going to handle this. Maurice is getting you better security. And I’m going to talk to your lawyer. Make sure they know about this incident."

She sat down on her couch. Buried her face in her hands. "I’m so tired, Malachi. Tired of fighting. Tired of being scared."

I sat beside her. Put an arm around her shoulders. "I know. But you’re strong. Stronger than they think. And you’re not alone."

"I feel alone. Most of the time. Even with you here. I feel like I’m drowning."

Guilt twisted in my chest. She was right to feel alone. Because I hadn’t been fully present. Hadn’t been giving her the attention she deserved.

My mind had been elsewhere. On Alicia. Always on Alicia.

"I’m sorry," I said. "I’ve been distracted. Dealing with family issues. Business problems. But that’s not an excuse. You needed me and I should have been more available."

"It’s okay. I know you have a lot going on."

"It’s not okay. You’re important. This situation is important. And I need to do better."

She looked at me. Really looked at me. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Are you happy? With us? With this arrangement?"

The question caught me off guard. "What do you mean?"

"I mean. I know this started as a favor. You helping me meet the marriage requirement. But sometimes I wonder if. If maybe there could be more. If you ever think about us being real."

My chest tightened. This was dangerous territory. Territory I’d been trying to avoid.

"Cecilia."

"I know. I know that’s not what this is. But I had to ask. Because lately. Lately it feels like your mind is somewhere else. Like you’re going through the motions."

She wasn’t wrong. I had been going through the motions. Pretending. Playing the part.

But not because I didn’t care about her. Because I cared about someone else more.

"I care about you," I said carefully. "You’re important to me. But this arrangement. It was always meant to be temporary. Once you get the inheritance, we agreed to end things."

"I know. I just. I guess I was hoping maybe you’d changed your mind."

"Cecilia."

"It’s okay. You don’t have to explain." She wiped her eyes. "I’m just emotional. Scared. Not thinking clearly."

But she was thinking clearly. She’d sensed the distance. The distraction. The fact that my heart wasn’t in this.

And she deserved better than that.

"Let me call Maurice," I said. "Get the security situation handled. Then we’ll call your lawyer. Document everything that happened today."

"Okay."

I stood up. Made the calls. Arranged for round-the-clock security. Made sure she’d be protected.

But the whole time, my mind was elsewhere.

On Alicia. On the impossibility of what I wanted. On the fact that I was failing everyone by wanting her.

Cecilia deserved someone who could love her fully. Without reservation. Without being distracted by someone else.

But I’d made a promise to her father. And I’d keep that promise. No matter what it cost me.

Even if it meant denying what I really wanted. Who I really wanted.

My phone buzzed. Text from Alicia.

Are you okay? You weren’t at work today.

I stared at the message. Wanted to respond. Wanted to tell her everything.

But I couldn’t. Not now. This had to be handled secretly.