The silent war

The silent war

The Next Morning – Dining Table, Knight Mansion

The golden rays of morning sunlight spilled through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the polished mahogany dining table. Alina sat quietly at the end, her spine upright, hands folded in her lap, hiding the soreness in her joints and muscles from the night before.

Every step she had taken since dawn had been a painful reminder of what had happened. of Aaron keeping his promise in the most sinful, possessive way possible.

But she didn’t allow the aching of her body to interfere with her duties. Before anyone had risen, she had quietly gone about her responsibilities like the perfect daughter-in-law.

serving tea for Merlin, arranging the flower vase, even placing the daily newspaper at the precise angle Lucas preferred. Everything seemed like a routine day. Except, it wasn’t.

Merlin's eyes narrowed sharply as she lifted her teacup.

“Where’s your wedding ring, Alina?” Her tone was calm, but the icy edge behind it sliced through the morning silence.

Alina froze, her spoon halting mid-air. Her breath caught in her throat. For a second, she thought of lying. making up some excuse about sending it for polishing or it slipping into the drain. but her lips betrayed her.

“I... I took it off last night,” she mumbled, eyes fixed on her tea.

The silence that followed was deafening. Merlin’s stare hardened, as if trying to read between the lines. “You removed your wedding ring? Why?”

Before Alina could respond or embarrass herself further, as God sent an angel, Emma jumped in, flipping her toast dramatically.

“Oh come on, Mama. You’ve been young once too. Rings are hindrances when you're in the mood for... romance,” she smirked, emphasizing the word just enough to make Alina choke on her tea.

Alina’s face flushed a deep red. She wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

Merlin's brows twitched, her eyes flickering with confusion and then... understanding. though misdirected.

“Hmph. Well, fine. As long as it's for the process of giving my grandchild.” She sipped her tea slowly while telling her with a hint of teasing tone. clearly satisfied with the assumption that Lucas was responsible.

Only God knew that the ring now rested in the pocket of the elder son, not the younger one.
…

Later – Knight Mansion Entrance

As Alina was adjusting the soft collar of her blouse, readying herself for her first day at Aaron’s office, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to find Lucas watching her from the hallway.

His gaze dipped. not to her eyes, but to the faint bruises circling her wrists.

He smirked. “Rough night, wasn’t it?” he asked as a sly smile played on his face.

“Too bad I left halfway.”

His voice was dark, laced with a sadistic pride. as if assuming he was the one responsible for those marks. He hadn’t even noticed the hickeys creeping down her neckline, peeking from beneath her scarf.

Alina clenched her fists, anger flaring in her chest. But she took a deep breath. He didn’t deserve a reaction. Not anymore.

Just then, Aaron descended the stairs in his tailored black suit, confidence oozing from every step. His eyes flicked to Lucas, then softened as they landed on Alina.

“She’s coming with me,” he said simply.

Lucas's jaw clenched, but Aaron didn’t even glance his way again. He had already planned to settle the debt of last night later on. Emma chirped from behind, “Good luck, Alina! First day, first impression!”
…

The world outside passed in a blur of city traffic and bustling streets, but inside the luxury SUV, there was a strange peace. Alina sat beside Aaron, her fingers interlocked with his as he drove one-handed — his thumb occasionally brushing her skin, making her heart flutter all over again.

“So how's my sugar lips doing down there?” he asked as he stroked her valley gently above her dress.

“Aaron, stop it.” She slapped his hand lightly when she felt his hands were going there again.

“What? I just want to know how my sugar lips are doing after enduring me the whole night. Poor thing, almost went numb with continued slap. I didn't even get to give her aftercare.”

He said as he almost cupped her Sugar lips above her skirt.

Suddenly the SUV felt too small to take breath. She was getting suffocated with his naughty antics. Additionally he gave a name to her vagina last night. Now hearing in the daylight makes her feel flushed.

He seemed unusually lighthearted, a soft smile playing at the corner of his lips. Alina stole glances at him, how the morning light kissed his chiseled jawline, how effortlessly masculine he looked even in silence.

“I was thinking,” he finally spoke, his voice low, “Maybe tonight—"

BZZZZT

His phone vibrates violently against the dashboard. He glanced at it, and the smile instantly vanished.

His entire body stiffened, jaw tightening. He kept a calm expression before answering the call. Whatever he heard on the other end wasn’t good news. and Alina could sense it immediately.

“Is everything okay?” she asked gently, watching how his eyes darkened and his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Yeah, just a work thing,” he replied with a soft tone, masking the storm brewing inside him. But Alina knew it was a lie. A white one. Still, she didn’t press him for more.

The rest of the drive continued in a peaceful yet tense silence.
…

“What do you mean he changed his mind?” Aaron growled into the phone, barely restraining the urge to yell. His jaw was clenched, his voice low but filled with frustration. The only reason he wasn’t shouting was the professionalism demanded by the walls of his office.

“Dig further. I’m sure he’s plotting something new. Don’t let him step out of line.”

He ended the call sharply, slamming the phone onto his desk. This was the last thing he had expected to hear on a Monday morning.

Lucas was supposed to meet with the lawyer today to begin the divorce proceedings. Everything had been arranged. The time, the documents, the lawyer’s schedule.

But at the last minute, Lucas canceled. He told the lawyer he wouldn’t be coming. not today, not ever.

The news gnawed at Aaron’s mind. What made Lucas change his mind so suddenly? Was he planning a new scheme? Was there something Aaron had overlooked?

Did he get to know about Alina's relationship with him? There is a chance.

Running a hand through his hair in frustration, Aaron paced the office. His gaze darkened.

Whatever it was, he wouldn’t rest until Lucas signed those divorce papers. One single signature. That's all it would take. And once that was done… Aaron knew exactly how to handle his brother for daring to toy with Alina.

“Okay brother. You want to play dirty. Let's pray dirty.”

Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone and made another call. one that would start a different kind of war.

…

Alina felt alive for the first time in a long while, seeing herself back at a desk, fingers gliding across the laptop keyboard, flipping through documents, answering calls. Everything about it made her feel like she had stepped back into her old life. the one before the nightmare began.

She was already familiar with a few of the employees here, though all of them still saw her as Lucas's wife. That’s why she had almost begged Aaron the night before to have her desk arranged among the rest of the team. not in a cabin, not beside him. She didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention, not yet. She wasn’t here to enjoy privilege; she was here to work, to prove herself.

Aaron, as expected, had been buried in meetings all morning. They hadn’t even had a chance to exchange a smile. Now it was lunchtime, and she knew he had gone to attend a working lunch meeting. So she stepped out alone to a nearby restaurant, hoping to enjoy her meal in peace.

She was scrolling through her phone, waiting for her order to arrive, when an unexpected voice chilled her spine.

“Oh, there you are. My darling wifey,” came Lucas’s sly voice.

Alina’s head snapped up, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected to see him. at least not here.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, forcing a polite tone, masking the tension that gripped her body.

Lucas smirked at her attempt to stay composed. “Well, I thought I’d check in on how my beautiful wife is doing on her first day at work with my brother. Seems like you’re doing quite well.”

He sat down across from her without permission, like he owned the air she breathed. Alina didn’t like this version of him. calm, sarcastic, and calculating. There was something dangerous about the way he carried himself today.

“So… you and my brother, huh? Good choice, actually, Alina,” he said nonchalantly.

Her stomach dropped. Her eyes widened in shock. “Wha–t? What do you mean?”

He scoffed, waving his hand lazily. “Oh, come on, darling. Don’t play innocent. I know there’s something between you two. An affair. that’s the right word. There’s no denying it, especially after he took full responsibility for saving your dear sister from dying. He even spent lakhs on her treatment, didn’t he?”

His tone was too casual, but Alina could feel the venom laced beneath every word.

“He might be a pain in the ass, but Aaron has a good heart. Look at him. protecting you from my clients, saving your sister, bringing you into his company. I wouldn’t be surprised if he plans to marry you after our divorce is finalized. You should feel lucky.”

Alina said nothing, her throat tight. She knew Lucas was trying to get under her skin. and it was working.

Then came the blow.

“But tell me, Alina,” he leaned in, lowering his voice, “does my dear brother know why you really agreed to sleep with my clients in the first place? Sure, he knows it was for your sister’s treatment… But does he know the real reason? The truth you’ve been hiding from the world?”

Her breath hitched. Her vision blurred for a second. Color drained from her face. Lucas saw her reaction. the terror in her eyes, and smirked with vile satisfaction.

“Lucas… don’t you dare,” she whispered, her voice trembling, barely holding herself together.

“Oh, I know you don’t want that secret coming out. Ever. So, you know what to do if you want it to stay buried. Think wisely, darling.”

With that parting threat, he stood up and walked away, leaving her frozen in her seat, eyes locked on his retreating figure. She clenched her jaw, holding back tears. Not here. Not in public.

For a moment, she had almost believed she could live a life without chaos again. But it seemed God wasn’t done testing her. The old baggage she had desperately tried to leave behind was back. heavier than ever.

Now the question stood before her like a dark cloud.

Will she play Lucas’s sick game again… or is it time to reveal the truth to Aaron?

For the first time, Alina realized. This choice could change everything.