Love Story With My Brother-in-law

CHAPTER 5 | You can talk?!

*ZACK HIGHTOWER*

My eyes were focused the ‘bride’, watching as she pulled out a notepad, quickly write down the down the treatment plan for Alex. Meanwhile, my eyes couldn’t help but wonder around the room. I didn't know Alex had been living in a place like this. Indignantly, I gritted out to Alex, ''Jason Morgenstern is such a bastard. I'm pretty sure he was the one who caused your grandfather to suffer a heart attack...''

Alex raised one hand to me, making me lower my voice as he spoke quietly, ''I know. But you shouldn't show up here too frequently. I'll try to keep in touch with you on the phone.''

''Okay sir. By the way, I've contacted Brian.'' Brian was another former employee of Alex; we both had worked side by side in helping Alex. ''Thank you,'' Alex nodded.

''I have to go if nothing else, sir.''

''Wait, Zack,'' Alex called out.

''Yes?'' I turned around.

''Grandpa's funeral will be two days later. I must be there to see him.''

''Yes, sir,'' I nodded, fully understand that he want to attend, even if the rest of the family would be there. ''I'll see to it.''

As I left the room, I saw the bride ‘Esme’ was still writing the plan with Alex by her side, hugging her gently from behind all morning. I sincerely hope that she could cure him.

*CRYSTALLINE*

Alex’s blindness was a sudden but temporary situation. I had remembered several similar cases in my grandfather's notebook. I was 100% sure that I could help him recover. When I looked up from my notebook, I didn’t notice how much time passed, finally realizing that I spent the whole morning writing the plan while neglecting Alex. I hugged him back, my heart remorseful for ignoring him.

''Is the sun very bright today?'' Alex asked, smiling at me, looking at nothing.

I looked out of the window and squeezed his hand, yes I wrote on his hand with my finger.

''Would you mind taking me out so I can enjoy the sunshine a little bit, my beautiful wife?''

I blushed at his complement as I took his arm and guided him out to the backyard.

*ESMERALDA MATTHEWS*

It was early morning when I sneaked into the old house, passing by I saw my sister, Crystal and Alex sitting on a bench, bathing in the sunshine while Alex had his arm around her. I took this moment to study Alex; I haven’t seen him since the accident. Alex looked a bit paler than before, but he still looked like a Greek God. I swallowed as I saw his perfect side profile.

What a gorgeous man. If he hadn't lost his power or become blind, that he would be my man. No. Just forget about it... He is no better than a beggar right now. He is not that powerful business tycoon anymore, but a disabled man. I deserve someone better.

I tried to persuade myself despite myself still eying him, drinking in his beauty. I stopped myself from staring at the man but I still sneaked into his room in the end. Covering my nose and mouth with my long sleeve, I frowned in disgust. How can anyone even survive in this shitty place? Gladly, I am not the one who ended up marrying him...

Looking around and not finding anything noticeable until a familiar notebook caught my attention. It was peeking out from under the pillow and I immediately realize that it was Crystal’s notebook. She dearly cherished the book as it was from her grandfather, she always carried it with her. I had always wondered what my sister had scribbled on it.

Pulling the notebook out, I flicked through from page to page and my eyes widened at the what I had discovered. The notebook was all about curing Alex's eyes… I had personally saw Crystal saving people's lives before, from our grandfather’s clinic to some emergency situation. I knew my little sister was a great doctor. If Crystal said his eyes could recover, there was definitely hope. I was so excited as over the fact, but my thoughts were interrupted by the clacks of cane tapping against the floor. I turned around only to see Alex exploring his way inside the room.

I had stopped seeing Alex since he was kicked out of his family, and after the accident. I honestly expected that he would be sagging in despair and defeated after falling from grace. But he looked fine for a man who just went through all sorts of difficulties.

“Esme?'' Alex frowned, asking outloud to the room, startling me as he called out my name. ‘Was I discovered?’ I began to panicked only to freeze when Alex grabbed my hand, his eyes were warm and gentle, even if it was still fogged by his blindness. ''I thought you went to get the herbs you need. Why are you still here?''

Then a sudden realization came through me, in Alexs mind, I am still his wife, Esme Matthews and not my sister, Crystal. Of course, Crystal was a mute, she couldn't explain it to Alex anyway. A new plan suddenly generated in my brain as a wide smile broke my face.

‘If Alex’s eyes could be cured, surely he could take back what had belonged to him. He would become that powerful man he used to be.’ And that would make him my dreamy husband again, the man of my dreams. Besides, it’s not like I stopped liking him, or else I wouldn't have pretended to be a mute before him for half a year.

I felt Alex grabbed my arms gently, his cold hand travelled up to my neck as his finger touched the necklace. I had deliberately pulled the necklace out and let Alex feel it. A gentle smile played across Alex's lips as he felt the unique shape of the exquisite pendant, ''You didn't wear the necklace yesterday. I thought that you took it off. Thanks to the necklace, I eventually found you half a year ago.”

On Alex neck was a necklace identical to mine. When I had taken the necklace from Crystal, I only thought that it was lovely even if I didn’t know where Crystal had gotten it, so it had to be mine. What a boon it was when I realize it was to be a token of love between these two. It was during their time together that Alex explained that he had given it to Crystal, or me in his mind, when they were both kids. No one in the world wouldn’t recognize Alexander Morgenstern, for that and all the benefits of a gorgeous man with wealth and power, I decided to play the little mute in front of Alex.

But time is running and I didn’t want to be caught by Crystal, so I grabbed Alex’s hand and tugged it lightly, hinting at him with reluctance. Luckily he didn’t ask any questions as he let me go, and I hurriedly left the room only to run into the maid, Greta on my down the steps.

I saw her eyes widened in surprise as she hurried spoke in a low tone, “What are you doing here? I thought you were unwilling to marry Mr. Morgenstern, so you found yourself a substitute. When Mr. Morgenstern call that mute girl Esme yesterday, I was shocked. ”

''May, I believe you're a smart woman and I don't need to waste my breath with you.'' I retorted subconsciously, no mood for her whining or gossiping, forgetting that I was supposed to be mute. Her reaction was instant.

“Oh my god! You can talk?! So you are not a mute at all? Why did you pretend to be mute? You rich girls in the big families are really hard to read.” She began to bombard me with many questions, but I need to leave quick before Crystal comes back. I reached into my bag and fished out a pile of bills, amounting to hundreds if I had counted them, and threw it into her hands. “Keep my secret and keep your big mouth shut! Or else, I won't let go of you.” I threatened her viciously, my tone meant that I was not to be mess with.

Even so, I knew Greta’s greed and as expected she took the money and beamed up at me, ''Don't worry, Miss Matthews. I didn't see anything today. Your secret is safe with me.''

With that, I left the house, my mind already determined on what to do next.