The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 123 - One Hundred and Twenty-Three

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Three

Alicia’s POV

I skipped dinner.

The pile of work on my desk was massive. Contracts that needed reviewing. Schedules that needed coordinating. Emails that had been sitting unanswered for days.

Being Malachi’s assistant meant the work never stopped. Even when he wasn’t in the office, things needed to be handled. Managed. Controlled.

I made myself coffee. Settled into my home office. Started making calls.

First was the marketing manager. Confirming the presentation for next week. Making sure all the materials were ready.

Then the construction supervisor. Following up on the permits for the new building. Making sure everything was on schedule.

Then the head of HR. Discussing new hires. Benefits. The usual administrative details that kept the company running.

By the time I finished the last call, it was past nine. My eyes were tired. My shoulders ached from being hunched over my laptop.

I leaned back. Rubbed my temples. Thought about making more coffee.

That’s when my phone buzzed.

Unknown number. Again.

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to ignore it. Delete it. Block the number like I’d done with the others.

But curiosity won. I opened the message.

I miss your silver hair.

My blood went cold.

Silver. My natural hair color. The one I’d been born with. The one I’d had throughout my childhood in Dark City.

I’d dyed it burgundy years ago. Tried to hide it. Blend in. Be less noticeable. Less memorable.

Then recently, right before Travis’s wedding anniversary party, I’d changed it back. Let it return to its natural silver. A small act of reclaiming myself.

But not many people knew silver was my original color. Most people assumed I’d dyed it. That it was a choice. A statement.

Only people from Dark City would know the truth. Would remember the poor girl with the strange silver hair who couldn’t afford to dye it even if she wanted to.

Before I could process it, another text came through. Different number.

Prepare for my coming.

Two messages. Two different unknown numbers. Both threatening. Both personal.

What was happening? Who was doing this?

My hands were shaking. I set the phone down. Tried to calm my racing heart.

Someone from Dark City. Someone who remembered me. Someone who was coming.

Was it Robert? My father? He’d know about my hair. He’d seen it every day of my childhood.

But two different numbers? That didn’t make sense. Unless he was trying to confuse me. Make me paranoid.

It was working.

I stood up. Paced. Tried to think clearly.

That’s when I heard the scream.

High-pitched. Terrified. Coming from the hallway.

I ran. Burst out of my office. Saw Isabella collapsed on the floor. Her face was pale. Eyes rolled back.

"Isabella!" I dropped to my knees beside her. Checked her pulse. It was there. Weak but steady.

People came running. Layla. Tom. Sophie appeared at the top of the stairs.

"What happened?" Layla demanded.

"I don’t know. I heard her scream and found her like this."

"Call the family doctor," Tom said.

I pulled out my phone. But Sasha appeared before I could dial. She looked at her mother on the floor. Then at me.

"What did you do to her?" Sasha’s voice was sharp. Accusatory.

"I didn’t do anything. I found her like this."

"You were the only one here. The only one nearby."

"Sasha. I heard her scream and came running. That’s all."

"I don’t believe you."

"Enough." Tom’s voice cut through the tension. "Get the doctor. Now."

Sasha glared at me but pulled out her phone. Made the call.

The doctor arrived twenty minutes later. He examined Isabella. Checked her vitals. Asked questions.

By then, she was starting to come around. Her eyes fluttered open. She looked confused. Disoriented.

"What happened?" the doctor asked gently.

Isabella’s voice was barely a whisper. "Tyler."

The room went silent. Complete and utter silence.

Tyler. The name no one spoke. The son who’d been banished. The one Isabella never mentioned.

"Mom?" Sasha moved closer. "What about Tyler?"

"I saw him. He was here. In the hallway."

"That’s impossible. Tyler’s been gone for years."

"I saw him." Isabella’s voice was stronger now. More certain. "He was standing right there. Looking at me." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"You’re confused," Tom said. "You probably fainted and had a hallucination."

"I know what I saw."

Sasha knelt beside her mother. "Did you take your medication today?"

Isabella frowned. "Yes. I always take it."

"All of it? The right doses?"

"Of course. I’m not senile, Sasha. I saw Tyler. Whether it was really him or his ghost or I don’t know what. But I saw him."

I stood back. Watched the exchange. Thought about Tyler.

I’d only known him briefly. The first year of my marriage. He’d been trouble. Always causing problems. Getting into fights. Disappearing for days.

Then one day, Pa Wood had called a family meeting. Announced Tyler was banished. Forbidden from ever returning. Forbidden from contacting the family.

Layla had called it bad luck. Said Tyler had brought shame to the family. Said good riddance.

But Pa Wood had refused to explain why. Had shut down any questions with a single look.

And Tyler had vanished. Like he’d never existed.

Now Isabella was saying she’d seen him. Here. In the mansion.

I glanced around the room. Everyone looked shocked. Confused. Except Malachi.

He was standing in the doorway. Arms crossed. Expression dark. His frown was deeper than mine. More troubled.

Did he know something? Something about Tyler that the rest of us didn’t?

The doctor gave Isabella something to calm her nerves. Helped her to her room. Told her to rest.

Everyone dispersed slowly. Muttering. Speculating. Wondering if Isabella had really seen Tyler or if she was losing her mind.

I went back to my office. Sat down at my desk. Stared at my phone.

Two texts. Two threats. And now Isabella seeing a banished family member who shouldn’t exist.

Everything felt wrong. Dangerous. Like something was building. Something I couldn’t see yet.

I opened my phone again. Reread the messages.

I miss your silver hair.

Prepare for my coming.

Whoever sent that first message knew me from Dark City. Knew what my real hair looked like before I’d tried to hide it. Before I’d become someone else.

The number of people who’d know that was small. Very small.

Robert. My father. Definitely.

But who else? Old classmates like Madison? Neighbors from that terrible neighborhood?

Or someone I’d forgotten? Someone who remembered me when I wanted to forget?

I wanted to call Malachi. Ask him what he knew about Tyler. Ask him if he thought the texts were connected.

But I couldn’t. Not without explaining why I was so worried. Not without admitting I was scared.

I set my phone down. Tried to focus on work.

But I couldn’t stop staring at those messages. Couldn’t stop wondering what was coming.

And whether I’d be ready when it arrived.