The temptation of my brother-in-law-Chapter 169 - One Hundred and Sixty-Nine

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Nine

Alicia’s POV

The mornings were the worst.

I’d wake up with my stomach already churning, that familiar wave of nausea hitting me before I even opened my eyes. I’d lie there for a few minutes, breathing slowly, trying to convince my body to cooperate for just a few more hours.

It rarely listened.

I made it to the bathroom just in time. Knelt on the cold tile floor and emptied whatever was left in my stomach from the night before. Which wasn’t much. I’d been eating less. Partly because the nausea made everything unappealing. Partly because I was trying to hide the fact that anything was wrong.

When I finally stood up, my reflection in the mirror looked pale. Tired. I splashed water on my face and brushed my teeth, then stared at myself for a long moment.

You can do this. Just get through today.

I got dressed in the simple uniform Alessandro had provided. Black pants. White blouse. Nothing fancy. Nothing that would draw attention. I pulled my hair back into a tight bun and checked my appearance one more time.

Professional. Unremarkable. Exactly what I needed to be.

The walk from my room to the kitchen took about five minutes. The Moretti estate was massive, and I was still getting used to the layout. Still finding myself taking wrong turns and ending up in parts of the house I hadn’t seen before.

The kitchen was empty when I arrived. It was barely six in the morning. The family wouldn’t be up for at least another hour. That gave me time to prepare breakfast and get my bearings before anyone started asking questions.

I started with coffee. Not for me. I couldn’t stomach the smell anymore. But the family would want it. I measured out the grounds and started the machine, then turned my attention to breakfast.

Alessandro had left me a note the night before. Simple instructions. Fresh fruit. Toast. Eggs if anyone wanted them. Nothing complicated.

I could handle that.

I moved through the kitchen mechanically. Sliced fruit. Arranged it on platters. Put bread in the toaster. Cracked eggs into a bowl just in case.

My stomach protested every smell. The citrus from the oranges. The yeast from the bread. The coffee that was now brewing and filling the kitchen with an aroma that made me want to gag.

I gripped the edge of the counter and breathed through my nose. Slow. Steady.

This was fine. I was fine.

"You’re up early."

I jumped. Turned around. Alessandro stood in the doorway, already dressed for the day. He looked concerned.

"I wanted to get a head start," I said. My voice sounded normal. Good.

"You didn’t have to. I told you, six-thirty is fine."

"I know. I just... I wanted to make sure everything was ready."

He walked closer. Studied my face. "Are you feeling alright? You look pale."

"I’m fine. Just didn’t sleep well."

"The room isn’t comfortable?"

"No, the room is perfect. I just... new place. Takes time to adjust."

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push. Instead, he poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter.

"You don’t have to be nervous, you know. My family can be overwhelming, but they’re good people. They won’t make your life difficult."

I thought about yesterday. About Signora Moretti calling me by a dead woman’s name. About the way they’d all stared at me like I was a ghost.

"They think I look like her," I said. "Your sister."

Alessandro’s expression tightened. "The resemblance is striking. I won’t lie about that. But my mother understands you’re not Giuliana. She won’t confuse the two again."

"And the others?"

"Marco is practical. He’ll treat you like any other employee. Francesca..." He paused. "Francesca might take longer. She and Giuliana were close. Seeing you is hard for her."

"Maybe I should leave. Find another job. This feels too complicated."

"No." His response was immediate. Almost forceful. "Please don’t. We need you here. And honestly, maybe this is what we all need. A reminder that life goes on. That we can’t live in the past forever."

I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I said nothing. Just turned back to the fruit I’d been arranging.

"Besides," Alessandro added, his tone lighter now, "you’re an excellent worker. Everything you’ve done this week has been perfect. I’d hate to lose you."

"I’ve only been here a week."

"And you’ve already made an impression. That counts for something."

The toaster popped. I pulled out the bread and started buttering it, grateful for something to do with my hands.

"Is there anything specific you need me to do today?" I asked.

"The usual. Breakfast. Light cleaning in the main rooms. Lunch is at one. Dinner at seven. Francesca’s daughter has a piano recital this afternoon, so everyone will be out of the house from three to six. That’ll give you some quiet time."

Quiet time sounded perfect. Quiet time meant I could rest. Could deal with the nausea without having to hide it.

"Understood."

Alessandro finished his coffee and set the cup in the sink. "I have some calls to make this morning. If you need anything, I’ll be in my office."

He left, and I was alone again.

I made it through breakfast service without incident. Signora Moretti came down first, dressed elegantly even at seven in the morning. She smiled at me. Warmly, but with a sadness behind it that made me uncomfortable.

"Good morning, Alicia."

"Good morning, Signora. Coffee?"

"Please."

I poured her a cup and set it in front of her. She thanked me and picked up a piece of fruit.

"You don’t have to be so formal, you know. You can call me Isabella."

"I prefer to keep things professional."

"As you wish." She took a sip of her coffee. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you."

It was a lie, but a necessary one.

Marco came down next with his children. Matteo was twelve, all awkward energy and messy hair. Isabella was nine, quieter than her brother, watching everything with serious eyes.

"Good morning," Marco said, nodding at me.

"Good morning. What would you like for breakfast?"

"Whatever’s easiest. We’re running late."

I made scrambled eggs quickly. Served them with toast and fruit. The children ate without really looking at me, which I appreciated. Marco kept checking his watch.

"We’ll be gone by eight," he said. "Back around six."

"I’ll have dinner ready."

"Thank you."

Francesca was the last to appear. She had Camila with her, the little girl still in her pajamas.

Francesca looked at me and quickly looked away. Like she couldn’t quite bear to make eye contact.

"Just coffee," she said quietly.

I poured it and set it down in front of her.

Camila stared at me openly. "Mamma, why does she look like the lady in the picture?"

"Hush, baby. Eat your breakfast."

"But she does. She looks exactly—"

"Camila." Francesca’s voice was sharp. "Enough."

The little girl went quiet, but she kept watching me. I turned away and busied myself with cleaning up.

By eight-thirty, they were all gone. The house fell into silence.

I leaned against the counter and closed my eyes. The nausea was back. Stronger now. I grabbed a glass of water and sipped it slowly.

I had work to do. Cleaning. Laundry. Meal prep for lunch and dinner. But first, I needed to sit down. Just for a minute.

I made it to a chair in the dining room before my legs gave out. Sat down heavily and put my head in my hands.

This was harder than I’d expected. Not the work. The work was fine. But hiding this pregnancy. Pretending everything was normal. Acting like I wasn’t terrified and exhausted and completely out of my depth.

I’d planned to find a doctor. To get a proper checkup. Make sure everything was progressing normally. But I didn’t know how to do that here. Didn’t know the language well enough. Didn’t have proper identification. Didn’t have money to pay for it.

Maybe Cassie could help. She was resourceful. She’d figure something out.

I needed to schedule it soon. Before I started showing. Before anyone could tell just by looking at me that something was different.

The nausea hit again. I got up and made it to the bathroom just in time.

Afterward, I sat on the floor with my back against the wall. This wasn’t sustainable. I couldn’t keep doing this. Couldn’t keep working ten-hour days while dealing with morning sickness and fatigue and the constant fear of being discovered.

But what choice did I have?

I pushed myself up. Rinsed my mouth. Looked at my reflection again.

Pull yourself together. You’ve survived worse than this.

Had I though? I wasn’t sure anymore.

I went back to the kitchen and started on lunch prep. Chopped vegetables for a salad. Prepared a simple pasta dish that I could heat up later. Moved through the tasks automatically, not really thinking about what I was doing.

Around eleven, the nausea faded. Replaced by exhaustion so deep I could barely keep my eyes open. I sat down at the kitchen table with a glass of water and let my head drop forward.

Just five minutes. I’d rest for five minutes, then get back to work.

I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Alessandro was shaking my shoulder gently.

"Alicia? Are you alright?"

I jerked awake. Disoriented. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon. I came to check on you. You weren’t responding when I called your name."

"I’m sorry. I just... I closed my eyes for a second."

"You’re exhausted. When’s the last time you had a full night’s sleep?"

"I’m fine. Really. I just need some coffee."

"You hate coffee. You haven’t touched it all week."

I hadn’t realized he’d noticed.

"I’m going through a phase."

"A phase where you fall asleep in the middle of the day?" He pulled out a chair and sat down across from me. "Talk to me. What’s really going on?"

"Nothing. I’m just tired."

"Is it the family? Are they making you uncomfortable? Because I can talk to them—"

"No. It’s not them. It’s me. I’m just... adjusting."

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push. "Take the afternoon off. Get some real rest. I’ll handle lunch."

"I can’t. You hired me to work, not to sleep."

"I hired you to work at a sustainable pace. Not to run yourself into the ground." He stood up. "Go to your room. Sleep. That’s an order."

I wanted to argue. Wanted to insist I was fine. But the exhaustion was overwhelming.

"Okay. Thank you."

I made it to my room and collapsed on the bed fully clothed. Sleep came immediately.

When I woke up, it was dark outside. I checked my phone. Seven-thirty.

I’d slept through lunch. Through the family coming home. Through dinner prep.

Panic hit me. I threw off the covers and rushed downstairs.

The kitchen was clean. Dinner had already been served. Alessandro was loading the dishwasher.

"I’m so sorry," I said. "I didn’t mean to sleep that long. I should have—"

"You should have rested. Which you did. So everything worked out perfectly."

"But dinner—"

"I ordered takeout. Everyone survived." He smiled. "You needed the sleep. Don’t apologize for taking care of yourself."

I felt tears prick my eyes. I didn’t deserve his kindness. Didn’t deserve any of this.

"Thank you," I managed.

"You’re welcome. Now go back to bed. Tomorrow’s a new day."

I nodded and turned to leave.

"Alicia?"

I stopped.

"Whatever you’re running from," he said quietly, "you’re safe here. I hope you know that."

I didn’t know how to respond. Didn’t know if it was true.

So I just nodded again and went back to my room.

Tomorrow I’d find a doctor.