125

125

Shabila ended the call, placed her phone on the nightstand, and went to the wardrobe. There, she took out a thin nightgown. It was only a few centimeters longer than her waist. Just a slight misstep, and everything would be visible.

"Darling, can you please send this to my friend's house? It's her birthday, and I'm not feeling well. I want to sleep early tonight."

Shabila handed a box to Bryan, who had just come out of the bathroom.

"Put it there, I'll find an online courier later." Knowing Shabila's weaknesses, Bryan wanted to use this opportunity to turn the situation around. While Alesya was still innocent and seemed easy to manipulate into making Shabila jealous and bend to his will.

"Have you had dinner?"

Once ready with her outfit, Bryan threw the question. It was already dinner time, but Shabila was lying on the bed, flaunting her beautiful body, tempting Bryan to come closer.

Shabila sat up abruptly, hugging Bryan. "I haven't eaten yet. If you don't mind, I'd like to eat here. Can you please get it for me? I also want to take a quick shower; I'm feeling hot."

"How about we eat downstairs? It's inconvenient to go up and down."

"I don't want to, I'm tired, Yan."

"Alright." Bryan stroked Shabila's hair. "You shower, and I'll bring dinner here."

"Thank you, dear." Shabila pecked Bryan's lips briefly before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

Bryan did the same, leaving the room at the same time as Nicholas and Alesya. His second wife and his younger sibling also emerged from their rooms. Like a married couple, Nicholas had his arm around Alesya, descending the stairs together, chatting playfully.

Dinner was already set on the table. So, Alesya didn't have to cook anymore. She just sat in front of Nicholas, enjoying the food.

Meanwhile, Bryan sat in front of them, savoring the grilled chicken, which suddenly tasted bitter. Oddly, Bryan's aunt's grilled chicken was usually one of his favorite dishes. But eating it in front of Alesya and Nicholas made it as bitter as gall.

"Al, I'll go to the bedroom first, okay? My housekeeper wanted to discuss Devin's catering. She said there are some menu changes."

Alesya, who was washing dishes at the kitchen sink, simply nodded.

"Al, tell her not to do this," Nicholas protested, slightly annoyed because Alesya insisted on cleaning up after dinner.

Nicholas had already forbidden it and said the housekeeper would handle it tomorrow morning. But Alesya insisted on cleaning up after the meal.

As a result, now Nicholas had to go to the room alone because there was work that couldn't be left behind. Alesya shook her head, smiling as Nicholas returned to the room with his handsome face sulking, like a child sulking because he didn't get candy.

Not long after, Bryan, who was still sitting at the dining table, suddenly came over to Alesya in the kitchen when he saw Shabila's silhouette in the distance.

"Let me help you." Bryan held Alesya's hand, still covered in soap.

Alesya turned her head, her eyebrows furrowing in surprise because Bryan suddenly appeared, behaving erratically in her opinion.

"I don't want you to get tired."

"Huh?" Alesya shivered now.

"Here, you must be tired after a long journey." He took the dishwashing sponge from Alesya's hand.

"Is this Bryan possessed after cutting trees or something?" Alesya protested in her heart, unable to blink at all.

"What's wrong with you?" Bryan touched Alesya's forehead. "Are you sick? Why are you staring blankly?"

Alesya shook her head. "I'm confused about which one of us is sick," Alesya replied innocently. Unbeknownst to her, Shabila at the kitchen door was burning with jealousy, making Bryan tug at both corners of his lips, satisfied to see Shabila restraining her anger at their closeness.

Alesya shivered, rubbing her arms as if she had just encountered a ghost. Her mouth mumbled incomprehensible words after her brief encounter with Bryan.

"What's wrong with you? You came back from the kitchen like this? Did you drink the dishwashing soap?" Nicholas interrogated, leaving his work momentarily to follow Alesya to the bedroom.

Alesya shook her head. "Your brother got possessed."

"Possessed?"

"Yes. Imagine." Alesya took a deep breath. "When I was washing the dishes, he suddenly came up to me. He wanted to help me wash the dishes, touched my forehead as if trying to figure out my condition, whether I was okay or..."

"He touched your forehead?"

Alesya nodded quickly.

"Here." Nicholas wiped Alesya's forehead, as if erasing traces.

Again, Alesya nodded.

Nicholas pulled both corners of his lips. He cupped Alesya's cheeks and planted a long kiss there. "It's gone."

Alesya blinked.

"Go on."

"He... he gave me more attention. Not like usual."

Nicholas nodded. "What kind of attention?"

"Umm..." Alesya bit her lower lip. Recounting the recent incident to Nicholas.

Earlier, to cheer up Shabila, Bryan...

"Have you eaten yet?"

"E-eaten?"

Alesya stammered. "Didn't you see me eating with Nicholas earlier?"

"Ah, yes." Bryan rubbed his neck. "Oh, yeah, after this, I want to ask for a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"Make me coffee like you did last time. Can you?"

Alesya nodded quickly. "Okay, sure." Alesya rinsed her hands free of soap suds and quickly made Bryan the coffee he wanted.

After making the coffee, Alesya hurried back to the room, without saying goodbye or informing Bryan that the coffee was on the dining table. Alesya was genuinely creeped out by Bryan's complete change in behavior.

Furthermore, she wanted to avoid Shabila, who clearly didn't like her presence. Instead of becoming the subject of a quarrel, Alesya chose to avoid it.

"Why didn't you ask me?" Shabila protested, hitting Bryan's chest. Annoyed with Bryan for approaching Alesya.

"You were in the room earlier, and I couldn't make coffee. The housekeeper wasn't available, so I had to ask her."

Bryan replied nonchalantly, testing whether Shabila would try to be a better wife than Alesya.

"Your excuses."

"No, really, I'm being honest."

"Alright, dear." Bryan held Shabila's hand, leading her to the dining room. Since he had already finished his dinner, Bryan was there just to accompany Shabila. In his heart, he was so delighted to have discovered Shabila's vulnerability. With that, Bryan could take over the role of the head of the household as it should be.