BOOK 1
Chapter 1
My husband's older brother passed away suddenly, so our family went back to his hometown for the funeral. But then, my mother-in-law dropped a bombshell—she wanted my husband to help his sister-in-law have a baby.
"Your brother loved you so much. Can you really stand by and watch him leave no one behind? We're all family here. All you need to do is help her have a child. After that, she and I will take care of everything."
I was so furious I couldn't stop shaking. I grabbed Alexander's hand, trying to leave on the spot, but he yanked his hand away forcefully.
"Emily, it's just a small favor between brothers, why are you being so petty?"
Afraid I'd make a scene, my mother-in-law and Claire locked Daisy and me inside the woodshed.
Through a crack in the wooden door, I saw Alexander holding his sister-in-law's hand, the two of them walking side-by-side into the bedroom that still had mourning curtains hanging.
I couldn't hold back my tears. They just wouldn't stop...
"Mommy, you haven't eaten anything since lunch. Please eat a little," Daisy said, holding out two cold steamed buns thrown through the window. She ran over with them, her little hands offering one to me.
I just shook my head, pulling her into my arms with tears rolling down my face.
From not far away, I could hear those unbearable noises again.
A man grunting with effort. A woman moaning softly. I didn't even need to see to know what was happening.
"Mommy! That's Daddy's voice!" Daisy exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
Fighting back more tears, I quickly covered her ears. I couldn't let her hear those filthy sounds.
"Didn't you say Daddy was helping Auntie feel better? Helping people's a good thing, so why are you crying then?" she asked tiredly, peeling her bun, "I miss Grandpa and Grandma. When is Daddy taking us back home?"
It felt like someone was ripping my heart apart. I shut my eyes, not able to say a word.
Back when we were thinking about getting married, my parents had warned me. They said Alexander's family was poor, and his side valued sons way too much. They were scared I'd get hurt.
But I was too in love to listen, thinking naïvely he'd give me happiness.
When they found out Daisy was a girl, Julia's face changed the second she saw me wheeled out from the delivery room. She snapped, "She gave birth to a useless girl," and stormed off carrying a basket of a hundred eggs, never once looking back.
It was Alexander who had knelt by my hospital bed, swearing up and down that he'd never let his family treat us like that again. That's the only reason I didn't divorce him right then and there.
For six years, it was always my parents who helped raise Daisy. His family didn't visit once.
If Alexander hadn't begged me to attend his brother's funeral for the sake of "family," I swear, I never would've stepped into Julia's house again for the rest of my life.
And look where that got me—this might've been the biggest mistake I ever made.
That night, Daisy fell asleep in my arms.
Click. The woodshed door creaked open from the outside.
Alexander slipped in, wearing some sky-blue pajamas I didn't recognize. He walked in quietly, still looking ridiculously pleased with himself.
"Babe, you've had a tough day. I talked to Mom—since it's already done, there's no point keeping you and Daisy locked up. I hate seeing you suffer."
He spoke so gently, smiling like we were still a loving couple. But he reeked of someone else's perfume.
I swallowed my disgust and held back my rage.
My phone and everything I could use to contact the outside world had already been taken by Julia. We were in the middle of nowhere. Even if I escaped with Daisy, without Alexander guiding us out of these mountains, we'd never make it back to the city.
Right now, I had no choice but to play along.
After getting back to the room and settling Daisy down, Alexander wrapped himself around me from behind before I even had a chance to lie down.
"Babe, not seeing you for a night was torture. Let's get cozy, just you and me."
As Alexander Morgan spoke, his hand started roaming across me in a way that made my skin crawl.
I moved away from him, eyeing his clothes. "That shirt..."
"Oh, it's my brother's," he said casually. "It's way too hot, the ones I brought were all soaked in sweat. Fiona grabbed one of his for me to wear."
That hit like a punch to the chest.
It had only been one night, and now he was calling my sister-in-law "Fiona" like they were that close.
I turned my head—my suitcase was wide open, several of my dresses and lingerie were just gone.
I shot him a look, confused. He just let out a chuckle and said, "At first we couldn't really get in the mood, so Fiona suggested she wear your clothes to try it out. I grabbed some for her. Don't worry, she'll wash them and give 'em back."
I nearly threw up right then and there.
Alexander leaned in closer again, his hands sneaking under my skirt.
"Big bro left in a hurry. Mom said Fiona has to get pregnant this month or people will start gossiping."
"We're staying here this whole month. I already asked for extended leave from work for both of us. Told the folks we're taking Daisy on a family trip overseas. They bought it."
His breath was hot against my ear, and his hands got bolder.
"Honey, I've gotta head to Fiona's room soon. If we don't get busy now, there won't be time."
I slapped his hand away and stepped back, blurting out, "If you're so set on knocking up Fiona in a month, stop wasting your energy on me. You better save it for your brother's legacy."
