CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

Chapter Forty-Seven

Alicia’s POV

I woke before dawn. Couldn’t sleep anymore. My mind wouldn’t quiet. Kept replaying everything. Travis’s strange behavior. Malachi’s eyes on me. The impossible situation I’d trapped myself in.

I needed to do something. Anything. Couldn’t just lie there drowning in my own thoughts.

So I got up. Dressed quietly. Made my way downstairs while the house was still sleeping.

The kitchen was empty. Peaceful. I moved through it on autopilot. Gathered what I needed to make tea for Pa Blackwood.

He hadn’t asked for it. Didn’t expect me to bring him morning tea. But I’d been doing it for two years. One of the few routines that made me feel useful in this house.

And maybe. Just maybe. Part of me hoped I’d run into Malachi in the hallway. That we’d have one of those accidental meetings that forced us to acknowledge each other.

But when I carried the tea tray upstairs, the hallways were empty. Silent. No sign of him.

The disappointment that washed over me made me angry at myself. I shouldn’t want to see him. Shouldn’t hope for it.

But I did. God help me, I did.

Pa Blackwood was already awake when I knocked. Sitting in his chair by the window. Reading the morning paper.

"Alicia." He smiled warmly when he saw me. "You didn’t have to, dear. But thank you."

I set the tray down. Poured him a cup. "It’s no trouble."

"Sit with me a moment. Keep an old man company."

I sat. Uncomfortable but unable to refuse.

He talked about the company. About quarterly reports and board meetings.

I nodded at the right moments. Made appropriate sounds of agreement. But my mind was elsewhere.

On Malachi. Always on Malachi. No matter how hard I tried not to think about him.

"You seem distracted," Pa Blackwood observed. "Is everything alright?"

"Just tired. Adjusting to having Sophie here."

"She’s a lovely girl. Reminds me of you at that age. Quiet. Watchful. Trying to figure out where she fits."

The comparison made my throat tight. Because he was right. Sophie and I were more alike than I’d realized. Both trying to survive in situations we never asked for.

"She’ll be fine," I said. "She’s stronger than she looks."

"Like her sister."

I didn’t know how to respond to that. Didn’t feel strong. Felt like I was barely holding myself together.

Breakfast came too soon. The dining room already filling with family members. Layla in her usual spot. Travis looking far too pleased with himself. My father-in-law by the window.

And Malachi. Taking his seat. His eyes finding me immediately before I looked away.

I sat as far from him as possible. Sophie beside me. Safe. Protected.

Pa Blackwood took his place at the head of the table. "Good morning, family. Isn’t it wonderful to have everyone together again?"

Layla immediately launched into her speech. "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 squeezed her hand. Then turned to me. "And I missed this. Family breakfasts. The warmth of home. I especially missed my wife. Waking up without her beside me was the hardest part."

Wife. The word made my stomach turn. Made me want to scream that I wasn’t his. Would never really be his.

But I stayed quiet. Kept my eyes on my plate. Tried to disappear into myself.

"And how are you settling in, dear?" Pa Blackwood addressed Sophie. His voice gentle. Kind.

Sophie nodded. Still too nervous to say much.

"What about school? Where were you studying before?"

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

The silence that followed was heavy. Even Layla looked uncomfortable.

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

My first instinct was to refuse. To maintain some independence. To not owe this family anything more than I already did.

But I couldn’t. Because this wasn’t about me. It was about Sophie. About giving her opportunities I’d never had.

"That’s very generous, but—"

"It’s not up for discussion." Pa Blackwood’s tone was firm but not unkind. "She’s family now. And we take care of family."

I swallowed hard. "Thank you, Grandfather."

The weight of his generosity pressed down on me. Another tie binding me to this family. Another reason I couldn’t just leave.

"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."

Whole. The word felt wrong. This family had never been whole. Just a collection of people bound by blood and obligation. Pretending to care about each other.

"There will be celebrations," Pa Blackwood continued. "Travis and Alicia’s third anniversary is coming up. We’ll have a grand party. Invite everyone important."

My heart dropped. Third anniversary. Three years of being trapped in this marriage.

And he wanted to celebrate it.

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

I felt Travis’s hand cover mine on the table. Possessive. Claiming. I wanted to pull away but couldn’t. Not with everyone watching.

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

I barely heard the rest. My mind was spinning. Anniversary party. Hunting trip. Everything tightening around me like a noose.

"Malachi, could you pass the side dish?" Pa Blackwood’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I reached for what I thought he was asking for. At the same moment, Malachi reached for the bowl.

Our hands collided.

The touch was brief. Electric. His skin warm against mine for just a second.

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

Our eyes met. His dark and intense. Searching mine for something I couldn’t give him.

I jerked my hand back. Like I’d been burned.

Sophie giggled softly beside me. Quickly covered it with a cough.

Heat flooded my cheeks. I couldn’t look at anyone. Couldn’t acknowledge what had just happened.

Malachi passed the dish to Pa Blackwood. His expression unreadable.

"Thank you, Malachi." Pa Blackwood took it. "I must say, you’ve done excellent work managing the company while Travis was recovering. The board is very impressed."

I kept my eyes down. Focused on my plate. Tried to ignore the way my hand still tingled where he’d touched it.

"I’d like you to continue in your role," Pa Blackwood continued. "Even with Travis back. Share the responsibilities as co-CEOs."

The rest of breakfast passed in a blur. Conversations I didn’t really hear. Food I couldn’t taste. All while aware of Malachi across the table.

When it finally ended, I grabbed Sophie’s hand. "Let’s go get you some proper clothes. And school supplies."

She brightened immediately. "Really?"

"Really. Pa Blackwood’s right. You need everything for school."

We escaped the mansion quickly. Before Travis could insist on coming. Before I had to face Malachi again.

The mall was busy but not overwhelming. I let Sophie pick out clothes she actually liked. Not the tattered hand-me-downs our father had forced her to wear.

She tried on jeans and sweaters. Dresses and shoes. Each item making her smile a little wider.

"Can I really keep all of this?" she asked. Her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes. All of it. Whatever you want."

We filled bags with clothes. School supplies. Books. Everything a seventeen-year-old girl should have.

By the time we got back to the mansion, it was late afternoon. We had lunch at a small café. Then decided to watch a movie in one of the mansion’s media rooms.

Sophie chose a comedy. Something light and silly. We laughed together. Ate popcorn. Forgot about everything else for a few hours.

It was the most normal I’d felt in years.

My phone buzzed during a particularly funny scene. I checked it quickly.

Lucas.

Lucas: How’s Sophie doing? Is she okay?

I typed back quickly.

Alicia: She’s doing great. Laughing. Happy. You don’t need to worry.

Lucas: And you? Are you okay?

Was I? I didn’t even know anymore.

Alicia: I’m fine. Thanks for checking in.

Lucas: Let me know if you need anything. I’m here.

I set the phone down. Focused back on the movie.

After it ended, Sophie stretched. Smiled at me. "That was fun. Can we do this again?"

"Of course. Anytime you want."

"Ali?" She hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"This morning. In the hallway before breakfast. I ran into Malachi."

My heart jumped. "What happened? Did he say something to you?"

"He just told me to be careful. That the hallways can be confusing." Sophie looked at me. "He seemed sad. Really sad."

I didn’t want to hear this. Didn’t want to think about Malachi being sad.

"He’s fine. He’s always fine."

"But he looked at me like... I don’t know. Like he was hoping I was you."

The observation hit me harder than it should have. Made something in my chest ache.

"Sophie—"

"Do you like him?" she asked suddenly. "Malachi?"

"No." The lie came quick. Automatic. "He’s my brother-in-law. That’s all."

"But the way you looked at each other at breakfast. When your hands touched. It didn’t look like nothing."

I stood abruptly. "It was an accident. Nothing more."

"Okay." Sophie didn’t push. Just watched me with knowing eyes.

I couldn’t stay in that room anymore. Couldn’t face her questions. Couldn’t admit the truth even to myself.

"I need to check on some things. You should rest. Tomorrow we’ll register you for school."

"Ali, wait—"

But I was already leaving. Escaping again. Like I always did when things got too real.

I walked through the mansion aimlessly. My mind racing. My heart confused.

Sophie had asked if I liked Malachi. Such a simple question. With such a complicated answer.

Because yes. Of course I liked him. More than liked him.

I’d given myself to him. Let him see me vulnerable. Let him touch places no one else ever had.

And then he’d broken my trust by controlling things behind my back.

But even knowing that. Even hating what he’d done. Part of me still wanted him.

Still thought about him constantly. Still felt that pull whenever he was near.

It was wrong. Forbidden. Impossible.

He was my brother-in-law. I was still married. And even after the divorce, being with him would destroy what little reputation I had left.

The Blackwoods would never accept it. Society would condemn me. I’d be labeled as so many terrible things.

And yet.

When our hands had touched at breakfast. When our eyes had met. For just that moment, I’d wanted to forget all of it. Wanted to reach across that table and tell him I forgave him.

But I couldn’t. Couldn’t let myself be vulnerable again. Couldn’t trust that he wouldn’t hurt me.

Even if every fiber of my being wanted to.

I found myself in the library. Quiet. Empty. Safe.

I sank into one of the chairs. Buried my face in my hands.

This family was going to destroy me. Travis with his games. Malachi with his intensity. The whole twisted dynamic of this house.

I needed to leave. Take Sophie and disappear before I lost myself completely.

But Pa Blackwood’s generosity. Sophie’s school. The anniversary party.

Everything was tying me down. Making it harder to escape.

And the worst part? A small, traitorous part of me didn’t want to leave. Didn’t want to never see Malachi again.

Even knowing it was wrong. Even knowing it could never work.

I whispered his name into the empty library. Let myself feel the weight of it.

"Malachi."

And hated myself for still caring.