CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER FORTY SIX

Chapter Forty-Six

Malachi’s POV

I woke up reaching for her.

My hand stretched across the bed before I was even fully conscious. Searching for warmth. For the softness of her skin. For any evidence that last night hadn’t been a dream.

But the sheets beside me were cold. Empty. Untouched.

Of course they were. She wasn’t here. Would probably never be here again.

The realization hit like a punch to the gut. Again. Like it did every morning since Dark City. Since I’d lost her.

I stared at the ceiling. At the same spot I’d stared at for hours last night. Whispering her name into the darkness like a prayer that went unanswered.

My phone rang. Shattered the quiet.

Maurice.

I grabbed it. "What?"

"Sir, we have a situation." His voice was tense. Urgent. "It’s about Zhao Wei."

I sat up. Instantly alert. "What did he do?"

"He’s making moves. Big ones. My sources say he’s planning to take over your operations in Dark City. All of them."

My jaw clenched. "He signed his own death warrant."

"There’s more, sir. He’s also targeting the Blackwood holdings here in Silver Lake City. The legitimate businesses. The shipping routes. Everything."

This wasn’t just about territory anymore. This was personal. A declaration of war.

"And Mario?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Helping him. Feeding him information about family assets. About security weaknesses. Everything Zhao needs to move against us."

Of course. My uncle was so blinded by his grudge that he’d side with our enemies. Would burn down everything Grandfather built just to hurt me.

"Tell Mavis to mobilize everyone. I want surveillance on both of them. Twenty-four seven. And Maurice?"

"Yes, sir?"

"If they make a move, if they even think about touching our people, I want to know immediately."

"Understood. Will you be returning to Dark City?"

I looked at the closed door. Beyond it, somewhere in this mansion, was Alicia. Sleeping. Breathing. Existing in the same space but completely unreachable.

"No. I’m staying here."

"Sir, with all respect, Mavis can handle things here. You’re needed in Dark City to—"

"I said I’m staying." My voice came out harsher than intended. "Mavis knows what to do. He doesn’t need me there."

But Alicia needed me here. Even if she didn’t know it. Even if she’d never admit it.

Because leaving now would only make things worse. Would give her more reason to hate me. More proof that I put business above her.

I couldn’t risk that. Not when I was already hanging by a thread.

"As you wish, sir."

I ended the call. Sat there for a moment. Trying to process.

Zhao Wei was coming for everything. Mario was betraying the family. War was brewing on multiple fronts.

And all I could think about was the woman sleeping two doors down who wouldn’t even look at me.

Pathetic.

I forced myself up. Shower. Dress. The routine of preparing for another day in hell.

Black suit. White shirt. The armor I wore to face the world. To hide the fact that I was barely holding it together.

When I stepped into the hallway, I wasn’t expecting to see her.

But there was Sophie. Walking hesitantly. Looking around like she was afraid of being caught somewhere she shouldn’t be.

She saw me. Froze. Her eyes went wide with fear.

I stopped. I didn’t want to scare her more than I already had.

"Be careful," I said quietly. "These hallways can be confusing when you’re new here."

She nodded. Didn’t speak. Just pressed herself against the wall like I might hurt her if she got too close.

Alicia must have told her. Must have painted me as the monster I was. Warned her to stay away from me.

The thought shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did.

I walked past Sophie without another word. Down the stairs. Toward the dining room where breakfast would be served.

The family was already gathering. Layla perched on her usual chair. My father by the window. Pa Blackwood at the head of the table.

And Travis. Smiling like he hadn’t spent weeks in a medically induced coma. Like everything was normal and perfect.

I took my seat. Waited.

Alicia entered a few minutes later with Sophie close behind her. She looked tired. Beautiful but exhausted. Like she hadn’t slept any better than I had.

Our eyes met for a fraction of a second before she looked away. Found her seat across the table. As far from me as possible.

Sophie sat beside her. She still looked terrified.

"Good morning, family." Pa Blackwood’s voice filled the room. "Isn’t it wonderful to have everyone together again?"

Layla immediately started talking. Endless. "Oh, it’s so wonderful to have my son back. I missed him so much. Those weeks were torture. Absolute torture."

"I missed you too, Mother." Travis reached over and patted her hand. "And I missed this. Family breakfasts. The warmth of home."

Then his eyes shifted to Alicia. "I especially missed my wife. Waking up without her beside me was the hardest part."

My hands curled into fists under the table. Every muscle in my body went rigid.

He was doing this on purpose. Rubbing it in. Reminding everyone that she was his. That no matter what had happened, she still belonged to him legally.

Alicia stayed quiet. Didn’t react. Just stared at her plate like it held all the answers to the universe.

But I saw it. The way her shoulders tensed. The way her jaw tightened. She was suffering. And Travis knew it.

Pa Blackwood turned his attention to Sophie. "And how are you settling in, dear? Do you have everything you need?"

Sophie nodded. Still too scared to speak much.

"What about school?" Grandfather continued gently. "Where were you studying before?"

"I... I wasn’t." Sophie’s voice was barely a whisper. "Father said girls didn’t need education."

Silence fell over the table. Even Layla looked shocked.

Pa Blackwood’s expression darkened. "That’s unacceptable. Every child deserves education." He looked at Alicia. "We’ll enroll her in the best school in the city. I’ll handle all the costs. Tuition, books, uniforms. Everything."

"That’s not necessary—" Alicia started.

"It is necessary." Grandfather’s tone left no room for argument. "She’s family now. And we take care of family."

I watched Alicia struggle. Saw the war happening behind her eyes. She wanted to refuse. Wanted to maintain her independence. Wanted to owe us nothing.

But she couldn’t. Because refusing would hurt Sophie. Would deny her sister the education she deserved.

"Thank you, Grandfather," Alicia finally said. Quiet. Defeated.

Good. This was good. It meant she’d stay longer. Couldn’t just disappear with Sophie when Grandfather was investing in the girl’s future.

It gave me more time. More chances to fix what I’d broken.

"It’s settled then." Pa Blackwood smiled. "It’s so good to have our family complete again. Travis recovered. Malachi home. Young Sophie joining us. We’re whole."

Complete. The word was a joke. Half our family had been exiled. Banished for crimes Grandfather wouldn’t discuss. Tyson. Uncle Richard. Aunt Margaret. All gone.

Tyson especially bothered me. He wasn’t the type to go quietly. Wasn’t the type to accept exile without fighting back.

What had he done to earn Grandfather’s rage?

"There will be celebrations," Grandfather continued. His voice filled with excitement. "Travis and Alicia’s third anniversary is coming up. We’ll have a grand party. Invite everyone important. Show the world that the Blackwoods are strong. United."

Third anniversary. Three years of Alicia being trapped in this family. Three years of suffering.

And Grandfather wanted to celebrate it.

I looked at Alicia. Saw the color drain from her face. Saw her hands tremble slightly as she reached for her water glass.

She didn’t want this. Didn’t want to celebrate being bound to Travis for three years.

But she had no choice. None of us did when Grandfather made decisions.

"And of course, we’ll celebrate Malachi’s return," Grandfather added. "And Travis’s recovery. We have so much to be grateful for."

Travis smiled wider. Reached over and took Alicia’s hand. She flinched but didn’t pull away.

I wanted to break every bone in his hand. Wanted to reach across the table and remind him exactly what happened to people who touched what was mine.

But I couldn’t. Because she wasn’t mine. Not legally. Not publicly. Not in any way that mattered to this family.

"We should also plan a hunting trip," Grandfather said. "To the cabin in the woods. Good bonding time for the men of the family."

Great. Trapped in the woods with Travis and Mario. Perfect opportunity for one of them to shoot me and call it an accident.

"Sounds wonderful," Travis said. "I could use some time outdoors. Some fresh air."

Alicia stayed silent. Lost in her own thoughts. Not hearing any of this.

I watched her. Couldn’t help it. Even knowing I shouldn’t. Even knowing it made me look obvious.

"Malachi, could you pass the side dish?" Grandfather’s voice pulled my attention.

I reached for the bowl of roasted vegetables. At the same moment, Alicia reached for something else on that side of the table.

Our hands touched.

The contact was brief. Electric. Her skin against mine for just a second.

But it was enough to make my entire body react. To make my heart slam against my ribs. To make me forget how to breathe.

Her eyes met mine. Wide. Startled. Full of something I couldn’t quite read. Fear maybe. Or surprise. Or something else entirely.

I saw her pupils dilate. Saw her breath catch. Saw the flush creep up her neck.

She felt it too. This pull between us. This magnetic force that drew us together no matter how much she tried to resist.

Then she jerked her hand back. Like I’d burned her.

A soft giggle came from beside her. Sophie. Quickly covered with a cough.

I grabbed the dish and passed it to Grandfather. Tried to act normal. Like that brief touch hadn’t just rewired my entire nervous system.

"Thank you, Malachi." Grandfather took the dish. Then turned to me with pride in his eyes. "I must say, you’ve done excellent work managing the company while Travis was recovering. The board is very impressed with your leadership."

The compliment should have felt good. Should have validated all the work I’d put in.

Instead, I just watched Alicia’s cheeks turn red. Watched her stare at her plate like she wanted to disappear into it.

"Thank you, Grandfather."

"In fact," he continued, "I’d like you to continue in your role. Even with Travis back, you should remain co-CEO. Share the responsibilities."

I glanced at Travis. Saw the flash of anger in his eyes. Quickly masked but there.

He didn’t want to share. Didn’t want me anywhere near his company. His legacy.

Good. Let him be angry. Let him feel what I felt every time he called Alicia his wife.

But when I looked at Mario, I saw something worse. Pure hatred. Venom. The look of a man who’d been passed over one too many times.

He was dangerous. More dangerous than Travis. Because Travis was impulsive. Emotional. Easy to predict.

Mario was calculating. Patient. He’d wait for the perfect moment to strike.

And with Zhao Wei backing him, he had the resources to do real damage.

"I’d be honored to continue serving the family," I said. Keeping my voice neutral.

Even though what I really wanted to say was that I didn’t give a damn about the company. About money or power or prestige.

All I cared about was the woman sitting across from me. The one who wouldn’t look at me. Who hated me. Who I’d lost through my own stupidity.

"Excellent." Grandfather beamed. "Then it’s settled. You boys will work together. Like brothers should."

Brothers. The word was a mockery. Travis and I had never been brothers. Not really. We’d been competitors. Rivals. Enemies pretending to be family.

And now we were fighting over the same woman. Even if only one of us had any legal claim to her.

The rest of breakfast passed in painful normalcy. Conversations I didn’t care about. Food I couldn’t taste. All while being aware of Alicia’s every movement.

The way she pushed food around her plate without eating much. The way she kept glancing at Sophie. The way she carefully avoided looking in my direction.

Like if she didn’t see me, I wouldn’t exist.

But I did exist. And I was watching her. Always watching. Waiting for any sign that she might forgive me. That she might give me another chance.

Even though I knew I didn’t deserve one.

When breakfast finally ended, everyone scattered. Travis lingered near Alicia. Said something I couldn’t hear. She nodded without looking at him.

Then she was gone. Out of the room. Away from me.

And I was left standing there. Watching her leave. Like I always did.

Helpless. Desperate. Completely and utterly lost without her.