My Billionaire Brother-In-Law Trapped Me

At the far end of the bar, seated alone on a long sofa, is Alonzo Holland. Over the past year, he's been consumed by work to the point of neglecting his own well-being. Preferring the solitude of their office to the unsettling atmosphere of their mansion, he's become a familiar figure in the dimly lit bar. Dressed in a white button-down shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows and a few buttons left undone, Alonzo appears disheveled yet undeniably attractive. The casual way he wears his shirt exudes a laid-back confidence, while the slight disarray adds to his rugged charm. Despite his unkempt appearance, there's an undeniable magnetism about him, earning him the label of a "hot mess." In the dim and cacophonous atmosphere of the bar, Alonzo found solace. The dim shadows offered him temporary respite from the woman who had occupied his thoughts and heart for nearly a decade. He took a measured sip of his drink and leaned back against the sofa's headrest, closing his eyes with a sense of weariness. Each visit to the bar served as a stark reminder of his repeated mistakes. "Brother Alaric and Mera are expecting a baby! Oh my God! I can't wait to meet my first nephew, but I would love it even more if it's a girl! Whatever it is, as long as the baby is healthy!" Alonzo winced as he felt the familiar ache in his heart resurface by the news delivered by his younger sister, Amelia, the month before. It was this revelation that had rendered him unable to concentrate or function effectively within his own company. "What other heart break do I have to endure for you?" he whispered into the air. Despite the attention he received from many women, his heart still yearned for the one who couldn't reciprocate his feelings. Why did he continue to pine for someone who only led him on? As much as he hated to admit it, he knew that he had fallen for her the moment he laid eyes on her. Stuck in this emotional turmoil for almost a decade, he struggled to define his feelings. Was it loved? If not, he couldn't fathom what else to call it. Alonzo abruptly opened his eyes when he felt a hand brushing against his thigh. He sat up, shooting a questioning glance at the woman before him, Valerie Miller. Valerie was dressed in a striking red fitted dress that complemented her complexion. Her attire emphasized her figure without being overtly revealing, and her jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders with a glossy sheen. With every movement, she exuded confidence and allure, effortlessly capturing the attention of those around her. There was an undeniable magnetism about her, radiating charm and grace in every glance and gesture. The woman chuckled at his reaction. "Irritated, again?" she teased. His jaw clenched. What he disliked the most was being suddenly touched in a way that felt invasive, especially when caught off guard. “You know what I dislike the most, Valerie,” he said firmly to the woman. Ignoring his words, she snatched the glass away from him and poured herself some drink, drinking it straight. Alonzo watched her closely. How many women had he faced? Kissed? Touched? But none of them, not one, bore any resemblance to her. After the love of his life married someone else, he spent his whole life searching for her in every woman he met. "Why haven't you been calling me?" Valeria spoke softly. She had an innocent and pure façade, but beneath it lay a seductive and manipulative side. "If Fritz hadn't told me that you've been coming back here for three nights now, I wouldn't have known when I would see you again." Valeria and Alonzo had been seeing each other for three months. She was the only woman who lasted with him because he thought she wasn't demanding, annoying, or trying too hard to insert herself into his life... but as time went on, the traits he liked about her began to fade. She had been increasingly bothersome for the past few weeks. Alonzo sighed before he shook his head. “I want to be alone. Can’t you read between the lines-” “Is it about her again, Alonzo?” Due to her question, Alonzo turned to the woman, his jaw clenched. Wasn't he here precisely to momentarily forget? Yet the woman in front of him brought her back to his mind. While spending time together, Valerie had been his confidante, but of course, he only shared what he chose to share. He licked his lips, a smirk playing on his face. "Always her, Valerie. You know it," he said with a hint of resignation. Without a word, Valerie leaned in and kissed him passionately, pushing aside her own internal turmoil. Their intimate moment led them to one of Holland's hotels. Alonzo lost track of time as they surrendered to passion until the early hours of dawn. Yet, even in the aftermath, his mind wandered to another, imagining her presence instead. Alonzo woke up to the warmth hitting his face from the sunlight streaming through the window glass of the presidential suite. The first thing he reached for in the morning was his phone, but it was nowhere to be found on the nightstand where he had left it. He furrowed his brow and sat up, only to find Valerie at the end of the bed, holding something in her hand... his phone. Alonzo snatched the phone away from Valerie. Valerie remained unfazed by Alonzo's action; she had anticipated his reaction. Alonzo's breath grew heavier with irritation slowly creeping into his system. He struggled to restrain himself; if it were any other woman doing this, he might have already dismissed her, but Valerie Miller, daughter of one of his biggest investors, stood before him. "Valerie, I told you that I don’t like someone invading my personal things-" Alonzo couldn’t finish his sentence when Valerie suddenly stood up and shouted at him. "You shut up, Alonzo! From the beginning of this agreement, it's always been about you getting your way! I hate you!" Valerie shouted, her voice filled with anguish. This is the first time Valerie has acted this way. Alonzo glanced at his cellphone, unsure of what he was feeling. Valerie had already seen his wallpaper... “You, creep! Your wallpaper… is your brother’s wedding picture…” Valerie trailed off as if she had finally completed the puzzle that had long been forming in her mind. Alonzo's expression remained impassive. "So?" he replied evenly. Valerie laughed in disbelief. “Can you even hear yourself, Alonzo?! So, the woman you’re so fixated on is your brother’s wife? Can you believe in yourself? Alaric has already married her-" And that's when Alonzo snapped. Alonzo released his grip on his phone and forcefully grabbed Valerie's shoulder. He no longer cared about how she felt. "You don’t know anything, Valerie! So, don’t jump to conclusions on your own! I don’t need your opinion, so keep it to yourself-" “No, Alonzo! You need my opinion.” Valerie met Alonzo’s intense gaze with her own. “You need to wake up, Alonzo. You're fixated on your brother’s wife! What you're doing with her is wrong in His eyes, Alonzo! In everyone’s eyes!” Alonzo chuckled lifelessly. “Yeah, it wasn’t right. It never was. People will judge. They always do. But who the hell cares? Definitely not someone like me!” Valerie couldn't believe she was staring at Alonzo so intently. “You… You’re helpless, Holland.” “I don’t need help from anyone, Miller,” Alonzo stated as a matter-of-fact. He had loved the woman for almost a decade; did she think he hadn’t considered that perspective as well? Their gaze was abruptly interrupted by the loud ringing of Alonzo's cellphone. He quickly picked it up and answered the call, diverting his attention from Valerie to whoever was on the line. Alonzo sighed deeply, attempting to infuse his voice with reassurance as he spoke with his only sister over the phone. “Yes, Amelia? What's wrong?” Alonzo began, his tone softening with familiarity as he addressed her. Worry tightened Alonzo's chest as he heard Amelia's loud sobs and the indistinct voices in the background. The sound of an ambulance siren added to his concern. “What happened, Amelia? Where are you? Why the hell are you crying?” He fired off one question after another, his concern evident in his urgent tone. "Brother…" Amelia's words were choked by her sobs, struggling to convey what she wanted to say. Due to his frustration, Alonzo couldn't help but raise his voice at his sister. “Amelia, what is it! Just tell me straight." "Alaric… and Mera are in ICU right now, Brother, they got into an accident… T-They are both critical… Mera lost her baby…" The last words echoed in Alonzo's mind. It felt like a sudden cold splash of water at the end of his sister's sentence. “Not Mera, please…” Alonzo's mind raced with worry and fear for Mera, hoping desperately for her safety. Alonzo tried to ignore Valerie's silent scrutiny as he hastily dressed, his mind preoccupied with the impending eight-hour flight ahead. He couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort knowing she was watching him. Despite the urgency of getting ready, her gaze seemed to linger like an invisible weight on his shoulders. With a sigh, he pushed aside the unease and focused on the task at hand. A long flight awaited him, and he needed to gather his thoughts before facing it. "Ready the plane, I'm going home, right now." Alonzo's voice brimmed with authority as he spoke to his secretary on the cellphone. There was a sense of urgency in his tone, a determination to leave the current situation behind and return to the familiarity of home. As Alonzo reached for the doorknob, Valerie suddenly spoke up. He hesitated for a moment, feeling her presence like a weighty silence in the room. Despite the unspoken desire he sensed from her, he made a conscious choice not to face her. He knew all too well the consequences of giving in to someone's hopes only to leave them disappointed in the end. "Just a reminder, Holland…" Valerie's voice dripped with bitterness. "You may have all the women you desire, but you'll never have your brother's wife." Alonzo's grip tightened on the doorknob. The woman was speaking nothing but the truth. Alonzo left the room without uttering a word.