Chapter two
Malachi's POV
Three years away from this cruel mansion,but yet it hadn't changed. The same furniture,the same people. I was careful enough not to let my footsteps give me away as I walked into the house. I stopped in my tracks as I heard sobs from the kitchen. It looked like a maid had been yelled at. When I moved closer,I saw the way she looked so tattered and abused.
Her shirt was torn,and her expression was cold. Minding my business,I walked up the stairs and went into my room.
It was dimly lit,just the way I liked it. I couldn't say it was good to be back as this place held too many dark memories. I had a quick shower and went to bed,not wanting to be disturbed.
A few minutes later,I heard the door open and someone walk in. My first thought was that Travis had found out about my arrival. But then I heard sobs.
All I wanted was to sleep,and she wasn't letting me. I couldn't take it any longer,so I pinned the culprit to the bed.
When I stared into her dark eyes,all I saw was emptiness and void. Her eyes were red and I could tell she'd been crying for a long time.
She looked really beautiful. The kind of beauty that men would literally kill for. How did a beauty like this end up with my complicated family?
My fingers slowly explored parts of her body and landed on a scar. It was about three inches. I found it really attractive,and I couldn't help but kiss it.
She was silent,and I could tell she was enjoying it, although she did try to run twice. My fingers found her lips. They were swollen and bruised. It looked like she'd been punched there days ago.
I frowned. Why would someone want to smudge such beauty. I got off her and left the room to grab a medical kit just down the hall.
By the time I returned,she had disappeared. I wondered who she was and how she was related to the family. From the dress she wore,I doubt she was just an ordinary maid here.
As I was about to close the door,I heard whispers from the maids nearby.
"Master Travis is beating up the young lady again."
"Madam Alicia has really suffered these two years."
"That marriage isn't going to last long,I'm telling you."
Alicia? Who was that? And when did Travis get married? He can't even place his life together.
It was none of my business,but his wife's name pulled me in. Alicia. I wonder who she was. I wanted to see the butterfly in my brother's den. I walked out of my room and went down the hallway.
I could hear muffled screams and yells as I walked closer. And then I saw it. My empty brained elder brother was beating up a woman. My eyes widened as I realized she was the woman on my bed just minutes ago.
I was about to intervene when they both passed out. I walked into the room and kicked Travis off of her. He didn't deserve such a delicate flower like Alicia. She had really married the wrong guy.
I scooped her up in my arms and walked away. The maids and servants were shocked to see me as I passed by them. I hadn't been in the house for three years,so it was understandable.
I gently placed Alicia in the backseat before driving off to the nearest hospital. Luckily,she only had minor injuries.
It was dark outside,and something in me didn't want to leave her there overnight. So I stayed up all night watching her as she slept.
I kept wondering how she met that demon brother of mine to the point of falling for him. Unless…the marriage was an arranged one.
I blinked as sleep came over me. My eyes closed.
It was the doctor's knock that woke me up the next day. After checking up on her,the doctor left us alone in the ward. I looked at her sleeping figure. The blow she had given Travis was such a bold move,and he did deserve it.
Some minutes later,her brows twitched and she opened her eyes. She was shocked at first and she quickly sat up.
"Where's Travis?" She asked.
I felt disgusted when I heard his name on her lips. "Relax,he's not dead."
She was about to say something when the door was suddenly kicked open and my mother walked in. She was angry,and looked like she would bring the whole world down.
"You this bitch. You almost killed my son!" She walked in, fuming like a volcano about to explode. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me.
She blinked twice. "Malachi? Is that really you?"
I didn't talk or flinch,I just looked at Alicia again.
"Take care of yourself." I said before walking out. I could see her give Alicia a cold stare before following me outside.
"You…you didn't say you were coming." She started. I wasn't even in the mood for small talk like that. All that mattered was Alicia's well being.
"Can you believe that vixen almost killed your brother?"
I stopped in my tracks and turned my head. "I wasn't invited to his wedding,and I want nothing to do with it. Is that clear?"
She took a step back and nodded her head before leaving. I took my phone and contacted Maurice to come pick me up. The air in the hospital was starting to feel stale. He arrived about ten minutes later.
"Did something happen boss?" He asked me,his face carrying concern. "I need you to get all the information you can about Travis' wife." I said as I sank into the seat.
"He's married?" Maurice's eyes widened. He was just as surprised as I had been. "Apparently," I sighed.
As we drove,I kept my gaze outside. I had spent the whole night watching over that strange woman,and I hardly got any sleep.
Travis was a wrecked soul,why would they give him a bride to take care of. Something about her had pulled me in. The thoughts I had whenever I looked at her were unholy and forbidden. But it didn't matter.
Maurice dropped me off at the mansion. When I walked in, everyone was surprised. Sasha almost choked on her tea.
"Malachi?" Her eyes widened as she looked at me. I took my time to sweep around their faces. Then my eyes landed on Mario,my cold and calculated uncle. Memories resurfaced in my head and my hatred only spiked. His eyes looked unfocused as he looked at me.
Good. He should be scared.