My Ex Husband The Alpha His Brother The Rogue novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

-Laila

* You har

The car pulls up at the lake house. I exhale a breath of relief as the driver quickly gets the door and I step out.

I glance at the entrance, my hands clutching my dress. Hesitation creeps underneath my skin.

I want to take a step forward, and at the same time I don’t. I’d asked the driver to take me home and this is where he brought me.

Home…if I can even call it that.

“I’ll head back and return with Mr Blackwood at the end of the event.” Kael’s driver relays to me as he gets back into the car. “You should hurry in, Ma’am. It’s cold out here.”

He’s right. The night air is chilly against my skin, and I resist the shiver crawling down my spine.

It’s a cold night. Even the driver knows that. If only my husband cared.

Kael didn’t come back home with me. It’s unlike him to ever let me return alone, even if I left in the middle of the extremely important event he’s prepared for, for years.

It could have been to keep up the image of a loving couple, or just to avoid gossip, but no matter how angry Kael is…no matter how big of a fight we have,

He never lets me leave an event alone. Not even once.

This time, he sent me off on my own. I wanted to leave, that is true. But somewhere deep down, I hoped…

Hoped what exactly? I’m not sure I know anymore.

My fists clench tighter as the memory of his back turned to me creeps up in my mind again. His crushing grip on my jaw.

The look in his eyes…they were so feral. Deranged. Like staring into the eyes of a monster, not a human.

I’ve always known Kael’s dark side. And in moments I let myself forget, Cameron was there to remind me.

But I told myself that everyone has a dark side. There are no perfect men. Kael isn’t…Cameron sure as hell

wasn’t.

And it worked. Until that moment.

Until all the excuses I’ve made for him faded away in light of his murderous glare.

Now, I wonder, how exactly did I ever see some good in him? What was I thinking staying by his side for this long?

Will my son and I be able to leave him…in one piece?

18:27 Wed, Oct 15

Chapter 86

It rings. But no answer.

She finally picks on the third try She’s quiet on the other end, all I can hear are her twreaths And mine. But f know she’s there waiting for me to speak

“Lails… I trail off, suddenly unsure of what to say.

How do I ask my ex–wife if I’m the father of her son? Rather than her current husband?

I’d been the one to toss her out of my home. Banished her from my city.

If through all of that, she was pregnant with my child, how can I ever make up for the wrongs fve done to

her?

But I have to know. Even if she’s not willing to have me as Liam’s father, I deserve to know.

“Liam…is mine, isn’t he?” The words shatter the silence.

She doesn’t respond. But for a moment, her breathing speeds up. It’s subtle, and she regains her composure faster than I can tell if that moment was real.

“No.” Her response is cold, her tone flat. “If this is your way of getting back at Kael for what happened today. then it’s low… even for you.”

My hands tighten around the phone. “You forget, we were married for three years. I know when you’re lying. Lails…”

“I’ll find out the truth. And then, I’ll take back everything that’s mine.”

The other end of the line goes dead. I draw in a sharp breath, but it does nothing to ease the anger surging through my veins.

I’m about to head back into the hall, when a text pops into my phone. It’s from Vincent.

The text is a single attachment file titled; Report on Kelly’s unverifiable hospital visits.

Reading through the contents of Vincent’s report, my blood runs cold. I shake my head in a mix of disbelief and disappointment.

My daughter Kelly…the report says she’s perfectly healthy… placed on a regimen of wolfsbane to induce

anemia.

All this while, Kelly wasn’t truly ill. Someone was making her sick… someone…

The bottom of the report is signed with S.II.

Sarah Heath.

My chest feels tight. And my hands grip the phone tight enough, my knuckles are white.

Sarah… she’d left in a rage. And a part of me felt guilty to her.

18:27 Wed Oct 15

Chapter 86

Guilty that my thoughts were on something else someone else while my wife was possibly about to lose

everything she holds dear

Plan Vincent’s report nips all traces of guilt. I feel my wolf retreating deeper into my mind as our bond goes quiet and all that’s left is rage

I’ve wasted three years on that woman. And not only was she concealing her ties to Bluewater Park, she als intentionally harmed our daughter.

Just then, it clicks.

The poisoning incident from three years ago. My eyes go wide, a chill running down my spine.

I whirl around, heading out to the entrance.

I have to see Laila.

The varlet is quick to bring my car around and I get in while dialing Laila’s number again.

This time, she picks on the second call.

“Cameron… that’s enough.” She’s saying but I cut her off.

I’m coming to you.” I say firmly, “I… I know it wasn’t you.”

She’s quiet, but her breathing quickens again.

“I know you didn’t poison Kelly.” I clarify,

Still, no response.

“I already told Granddad, I’ll make you my Luna.”

She laughs this time, but there’s no amusement in her tone.

“It’s too late now, Cameron. Don’t you see?” Her voice is heavy with exhaustion. “You can’t change the past. And to pretend that there’s even a chance for that is lying to yourself.”

“Our story ended on that rainy night, Cameron Blackwood.”

I shake my head firmly, even if she can’t see me. I don’t believe I’ve lost. Not yet…not to Kael.

“I’m not giving up on you, Laila.” I enunciate the words clearly so she understands it as deeply as I mean it.

I don’t wait to hear her response. I toss the phone to the back seat and just drive.

I’ll go to her, I’ll look her in the eyes and ask her to be mine again.

And this time… I won’t ever let her go.

18:27 Wed, Oct 15

Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Laila

:

The car pulls up at the lake house. I exhale a breath of relief as the driver quickly gets the door and I step out

I glance at the entrance, my hands clutching my dress. Hesitation creeps underneath my skin.

I want to take a step forward, and at the same time I don’t. I’d asked the driver to take me home and this is where he brought me.

Home…if I can even call it that.

“I’ll head back and return with Mr Blackwood at the end of the event.” Kael’s driver relays to me as he gets back into the car. “You should hurry in, Ma’am. It’s cold out here.”

He’s right. The night air is chilly against my skin, and I resist the shiver crawling down my spine.

It’s a cold night. Even the driver knows that. If only my husband cared.

Kael didn’t come back home with me. It’s unlike him to ever let me return alone, even if I left in the middle of the extremely important event he’s prepared for, for years.

It could have been to keep up the image of a loving couple, or just to avoid gossip, but no matter how angry Kael is…no matter how big of a fight we have,

He never lets me leave an event alone. Not even once.

This time, he sent me off on my own. I wanted to leave, that is true. But somewhere deep down, I hoped…

Hoped what exactly? I’m not sure I know anymore.

My fists clench tighter as the memory of his back turned to me creeps up in my mind again. His crushing grip on my jaw.

The look in his eyes…they were so feral. Deranged. Like staring into the eyes of a monster, not a human.

I’ve always known Kael’s dark side. And in moments I let myself forget, Cameron was there to remind me.

But I told myself that everyone has a dark side. There are no perfect men. Kael isn’t…Cameron sure as hell

wasn’t.

And it worked. Until that moment.

Until all the excuses I’ve made for him faded away in light of his murderous glare.

Now, I wonder, how exactly did I ever see some good in him? What was I thinking staying by his side for this long?

Will my son and I be able to leave him…in one piece?

18:27 Wed, Oct 15

Chapter 87

And then there’s Cameron. He said he was coming to me. But what exactly does that mean? What do I want it to mean?

The bridge creaks as I walk over to the porch, my mind clouded with thoughts

By morning. 171 be the first woman to head the Blackwood Corporation. But I know in reality f’m just a figurehead.

Kael doesn’t give a shit about Blackwood Co. All he cares about is ruining Cameron.

Meanwhile, Cameron’s suspicious of Liam… and knowing him, he won’t let go of it till he has irrefutable proof.

“Mommy!!!” Liam’s familiar cry of excitement echoes through the quiet night.

All the tension from the summit eases by a measure at the sight of the little bundle of energy dashing towards me the moment I step into the foyer.

“Hey buddy.” I crouch, allowing a small smile as I pick him up into my arms. “You should be asleep by now, Did you have a lot of fun out?”

He nods slowly. “Mawie get ice cream!” He exclaims, almost jumping in my arms.

I quickly secure his weight with a hand around his back, rubbing gently to calm him. “Sounds like you had a swell time.”

“He’s been restless since we got back in.” Marie turns the corner, looking apologetic. “He says he’s waiting for you to come tuck him in.”

I lift a finger to tap his nose lightly. “Is that so?”

Liam nods eagerly. “And reaaaddd to meee!” He sings excitedly, though his slurred words testify to his exhaustion.

A pang of guilt cuts through my heart.

“Well, I guess I’m just in time then.” I say, “Why don’t you tell me all about your day and then I read you a story?”

“I doubt you’ve had dinner,” Marie chips in, “I’ll fix you something light for later.” She offers.

I didn’t even realize I was hungry but my stomach grumbles in response before I can.

Marie giggles in amusement and I wince slightly, passing her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Marie. Truly.”

“I don’t know what I would do without you.” I say, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

Marie smiles in understanding. “Oh, don’t be silly, Laila. Go on. Get the little prince to bed.”

H

I nod and head for the stairs, cradling Liam in my arms. By the time we get to the room, his breathing is evened out and he’s already fast asleep in my arms.

18:27 Wed, Oct 15

Chapter 87

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I lay him down gently, tucking him in before taking a seat by the side. His hair is messy and falls over his forehead, and his lips are slightly parted as he snores gently.

“Guess you were just waiting to make sure at least one of us gets home.” I murmur knowingly, “I thought I was doing the right thing. Can you ever forgive me… for all of this?”

Tears sting my eyes and I tilt my head back, and blink them away rapidly.

My phone rings, but I ignore it. It’s probably Cameron again.

I’m done talking to him. There’s nothing else to say.

My eyes already feel heavy and my head aches. I’m not sure when or how I drifted off to sleep, but I wake up to a shrill sound.

My heart shrivels within me as I instantly recognize that sound. Even before I break into a coughing fit, regaining awareness to a lung full of smoke.

It’s… the fire alarm.

The lake house… it’s on fire!

AD