Chapter 34

I was trying to calm Xavier down, but he was still fuming from the confrontation with Marco. We were in our room, trying to collect our thoughts before the police arrived.

Suddenly, the door burst open and, Xavier's stepmother, rushed in. Her eyes were wild and pleading, and she looked like she'd been crying.

"Xavier, please!" she begged, rushing over to him. "You can't do this! You can't turn Marco in!"

Xavier's expression didn't change, but his voice was firm. "Ma'am, I've already called the police. It's too late."

But she just wouldn't give up. She grabbed Xavier's arms, her hands shaking. "You're being cruel and heartless, Xavier! Marco's your brother! Your own flesh and blood! You can't do this to me."

I felt a surge of anger at her words, but Xavier remained calm. "Ma'am, Marco's actions have consequences. And he needs to face them."

Her eyes turned to me, and I could see the desperation in them. "Lilith, please! You have to talk to Xavier! Make him see reason!"

But I shook my head. "Mother, I understand why you're upset, but Xavier's made up his mind. And I support him."

Xavier stepmother's face crumpled, and she began to sob. Xavier's expression softened slightly, but he didn't back down.

The sound of sirens outside signaled the arrival of the police. Xavier's eyes flicked to the door, and he nodded. "It's time, mother. The police are here."

We all went downstairs to witness Marco's arrest.

His stepmother's wails grew louder as the police came into the room, their handcuffs at the ready. Marco's fate was sealed, and she knew it.

She eyes locked onto mine, and she rushed over to me, her arms outstretched. She grabbed me in a tight embrace, her tears soaking into my shirt.

"Lilith, please!" she begged, her voice shaking. "You have to talk to Xavier for me! He'll listen to you! Beg him to stop this madness!"

I tried to pry her off me, but she held tight. "Mother, I can't-" I started, but she cut me off.

"You have to, Lilith! You're the only one who can save Marco now! He can't do this, Lilith! He's innocent, I know it!"

Her body shook with sobs, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her. But I knew Xavier had made up his mind, and I couldn't change it and Marco leaving would bring sanity and peace into the house.

"Mother, I'm sorry," I said gently, trying to calm her down. "But Xavier's mind is made up. And the police are here now. It's too late."

But she refused to accept it. She held me tighter, her tears streaming down her face.

"Please, Lilith! You have to try! For me, for Marco, for our family! Don't let Xavier do this!"

I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at her desperate face. But I knew I couldn't give in to her pleas. Xavier had made his decision, and I had to support him.

Xavier's expression turned cold as he stepped forward, his voice firm. "Mother, stop. This isn't Lilith's fault. It's Marco's actions that have led to this."

But her anger and desperation knew no bounds. She turned on me, her eyes blazing. "You!" she spat. "This is all your fault, Lilith! If you hadn't meddled in our business, Marco wouldn't be in this mess! I'm sure this is another plot to switch attention from you. You're the real thief not Marco."

Xavier's face darkened. "That's enough, ma. Lilith has done nothing but try to help. You're just trying to deflect blame from Marco's actions."

But she refused to listen. "You're just as bad, Marco!" she yelled. "You're always so quick to judge, never giving Marco a chance! And now you're ruining his life! Do you think everything would be okay if you send him to jail?"

Xavier's eyes narrowed. "I'm not ruining his life, ma. Marco's actions have consequences. And it's time he faced them."

The police officers, who had been watching the scene unfold, stepped forward. "Ma'am, we need to take Marco in now."

Her face crumpled, and she collapsed to the floor, wailing. Xavier's expression remained firm, but I could see the pain in his eyes. He knew this was hard on his family, but he also knew it was necessary.

The tension palpable. The police officers handcuffed Marco, who looked defiant but scared. Her wails grew louder as she tried to intervene.

"Stop! You can't do this!" she shrieked, trying to grab the officers' arms.

But they firmly held her off. "Ma'am, please step back. We have to take Marco in."

Her face twisted in anger and despair. She lunged at the officers, trying to fight them off. "You'll pay for this! You'll ruin our family's reputation!"

Xavier stepped forward, his voice firm. "Ma, stop. This isn't helping."

But she wouldn't listen. She kept screaming and struggling, her eyes wild. The officers tried to restrain her, but she kicked and clawed at them.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I watched the scene unfold. This was a family in crisis, torn apart by Marco's actions and mother's denial.

The officers finally managed to subdue mother, but not before she landed a slap on one of their faces. They took Marco away, leaving us in a stunned silence.

Xavier's eyes met mine, and I saw the pain and sadness there. He knew this was hard on everyone, but he also knew it was necessary.

Her wails echoed through the house, a heartbreaking reminder of the devastation Marco's actions had caused. I felt a sense of relief that the truth had finally come out, but also a deep sorrow for the family's shattered dreams.

As the police took Marco away, her anger and despair turned towards me. She stormed over, her eyes blazing with accusation.

"You!" she spat, her voice venomous. "You're the reason for all this! You're the one who's been manipulating Xavier, turning him against his own brother!"

I stood my ground, despite the hurt and shock her words caused. "Mother, that's not true," I said calmly. "Xavier made his own decisions. He saw the evidence and knew what was right."

But she wouldn't't listen. She kept ranting, her words cutting deep. "You're a poison, Lilith! You're a toxic influence on this family! You've ruined everything!"

Xavier stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "Stop ma. That's enough."

But she refused to back down. "No, Xavier! You need to see the truth! Lilith's been using you, playing you against Marco!"

I felt tears prick at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I knew mother was lashing out in pain, but her words still hurt.

Xavier's face darkened. "Ma, I warned you. Lilith's done nothing but help me. You're just trying to deflect blame from Marco's actions."

But her anger had reached a boiling point. She turned on Xavier, her eyes wild. "You're just as bad, Xavier! You're blind to the truth! Lilith's manipulated you, and now look what's happened!"

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. I knew her words had hurt Xavier, but he stood firm, his eyes never leaving hers.

My Father-in-law stepped forward, his voice firm but calm. "That's enough. Your accusations are unfounded and unfair."

Her eyes flashed with anger, but Father continued, his words cutting deep. "You've been so blinded by your love for Marco that you've ignored his flaws and enabled his behavior. You've done a bad job raising him. You've spoiled him rotten and now he's paying the price."

Her face reddened with rage, but my Father-in-law's words struck a chord. I could see the guilt and realization dawn on her face.

Xavier's expression was somber, his eyes fixed on his father. "Dad's right, ma. Marco's actions are his own, but you've definitely contributed to his entitlement and lack of accountability."

Her eyes dropped, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I...I didn't mean to," she whispered. "I just wanted to protect him."

My Father-in-law expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "Protect him from what? From facing the consequences of his actions? That's not love. That's stagnation."

The room fell silent again, the weight of my father-in-law's words hanging in the air. I could feel the tension between Xavier and his stepmother the hurt and anger still simmering beneath the surface. But my Father-in-law's words had struck a chord, and I knew that this was a turning point for this family. They had to confront the truth and face the consequences of their actions.

I gently took Xavier's arm and led him upstairs, trying to calm him down. But he shook me off, his anger boiling over.

"Stay away from me!" he yelled downstairs, his voice echoing off the walls. "Stay away from me and my wife! You've done enough damage!"

I winced at the hurt and anger in his voice, knowing that his words had struck a deep chord in mother.

"Xavier, please," I tried to calm him down, but he was having none of it.

"No, babe! She's had years to manipulate and control me, but it ends now! I won't let her ruin our marriage or our future! I won't let her talk down on you."

I nodded, understanding his pain. "I'm here for you, Xavier. We'll get through this together."

But Xavier was still fuming, his eyes flashing with anger. "She needs to stay away from us, babe. Forever."

I knew that Xavier's words would hurt my mother-in-law deeply, but I also knew that he needed to set boundaries to protect himself and our marriage. As we reached the top of the stairs, I wrapped my arms around Xavier, holding him close.

"I love you, Xavier," I whispered. "We'll get through this together."

Xavier's arms tightened around me, his body still tense with anger. But slowly, he began to relax, his breathing calming.

"I love you too, babe," he whispered back.

As we reached our room, Xavier's anger was still palpable. He paced back and forth, his mind racing with thoughts of his brother's betrayal.

"Marco has no idea what she's done," he fumed, his voice low and dangerous. "He has ruined everything."

I tried to calm him down, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Xavier, please. Let's talk about this."

But he shook me off, his eyes flashing with anger. "No, babe. You don't understand. He has manipulated me my whole life. Used me for his own gain. I need to get all of the company money back."

I nodded, trying to understand. "I know, Xavier. But you're not alone. I'm here for you."

Xavier stopped pacing and looked at me, his eyes searching. "You believe me, don't you?"

"Of course, I do," I said firmly. "I know you're telling the truth and you're doing all this for me. Thanks for finding evidence to prove I'm not the thief babe."

Xavier's expression softened slightly, his anger dissipating. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"It's nothing babe. Anything for you." he said, his voice cracking. "Just being near you calms me down."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him. "That's what wives are for," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Xavier chuckled and pulled me close. "I don't know what I'd do without you," he whispered.

I held him tight, feeling his tension ease. "You'll never have to find out," I said, my heart full of love for this man.

As we embraced, Xavier's tension melted away, replaced by a sense of calm and comfort. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close as he buried his face in my neck. His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, and I felt my heart race with love for this man.

Xavier's lips brushed against my skin, sending sparks flying through my body. I tilted my head, inviting him to kiss me deeper. His mouth claimed mine, and we shared a passionate, tender kiss.

Our lips moved in perfect sync, our tongues dancing together in a gentle, loving rhythm. I felt Xavier's stress and anxiety melt away with each passing moment, replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility.

As we broke apart for a moment, Xavier gazed into my eyes, his own shining with love and adoration. "Babe," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Xavier," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

We shared another soft, sweet kiss, our hearts overflowing with love and devotion. In that moment, everything else faded away, leaving only the two of us, lost in our own little world of love and happiness.