Chapter Six

Aliyah's Pov

I kept my trembling hands hidden at my back as my gaze moved from Ronald to Dominic. I felt a cold breeze over my ear, making it seem the heater in the room was broken. 

Ronald's presence suffocated the whole room. 

Dominic immediately stepped back, his hand falling from the document he’d just handed me. 

“What,” Ronald’s voice came low het rough, “did I just hear?”

My throat tightened. The paper trembled in my hand.

Dominic swallowed hard. Ronald, I was just.....

“You were just what?” Ronald’s gaze moved from between us, “Offering my wife a contract marriage?”

Dominic’s lips parted, then closed again. He tried to stay calm. “Aliyah deserves a choice, Ronald. You’ve trapped her long enough.”

“Choice?” Ronald’s tone was ice. “You don’t get to talk to me about choices in my house, about my wife.”

I drew a breath, my pulse racing. “Stop it. Both of you.”

Ronald turned to me, jaw flexing. “Do you think I am not aware of what has been going on? You think I wouldn’t have heard about this little fantasy of yours, leaving me, getting into my brother's car, running into my brother’s protection?”

What the hell was he saying? What fantasy? The only thing that seems like a fantasy right now is the fact that he refused to sign the divorce papers.

“ I don't know what you are talking about Ronald. You refused to sign the divorce papers. What else was I supposed to do? Keep living like a prisoner?

His eyes darkened. “You are my wife.”

“I am not...,” I snapped, the words escaped before I could stop them. At least not in your eyes, I said, fighting the tears that threatened to roll down my cheeks.

Dominic stepped between us. “Enough, Ronald. She’s not your property.”

“Move,” Ronald said authoritatively.

Dominic didn’t. You’ve controlled her long enough, and I am not going to stand here and watch you do it again! ”

With a venomous smile, Ronald looked at Dominic, “You’ve always wanted what’s mine, haven’t you?”

“This is not about that...”

“Oh, but it is,” Ronald sneered. “The younger brother with the golden heart is trying to play the hero. Tell me, Dominic, do you think she’ll love you if she hates me enough?”

“Ronald...”

“You want her, don't you Dominic?” Ronald roared suddenly. 

Dominic’s silence was his answer.

Struggling to breathe, I stuttered while speaking, “R-Ronald, this isn't about your b-brother, I—I want a divorce because I am tired of pretending to be the perfect couple the media portrays.”

Ronald turned to me, his face twisting in disbelief. “Oh really, I never knew. All I know is after everything I have given you, you can't walk away!”

“Given me?” I let out a bitter laugh. “You gave me fear. You gave me silence. You gave me nights of wondering if the man sleeping next to me was still human.”

Dominic tensed beside me. “Ronald, don't you dare raise your voice at her.”

“You stay out of this and keep quiet!” Ronald said.

“Not this time,” Dominic shot back. “You’ve treated her like she’s nothing, and you think no one will stand up to you? You’re wrong.”

Ronald’s nostrils flared. He took a step closer to his brother, the air between them as sharp as a knife. “You want to stand up for her? Fine. But don’t ever mistake my patience for weakness.”

Dominic’s voice lowered, steady. “And don’t mistake her silence for surrender.”

As the word left his mouth, none of us moved and Ronald turned to me instantly. “Aliyah, look at me.”

I didn’t.

He took another step forward. “Look at me.”

He lifted my chin, causing my eyes to meet his eyes. 

“What do you want from me, Ronald?”

I want you to remember who you belong to, his voice barely above a whisper.

Something in me snapped. “I belong to myself!”

Dominic reached out, gently pulling me behind him. “You heard her. Let her go.”

Ronald’s laugh was dark, humorless. “Let her go? Do you even understand what you’re saying?”

“Yes,” Dominic said firmly. “And if you had any decency left, you’d do it.”

“You really believe she’ll be safe with you? That she won’t regret walking out of the life I built for her?”

“She already regrets staying.”

Ronald’s expression changed and in a second was replaced. 

His eyes cut at me. Is that true?

I hesitated, my heart pounding. “You want honesty?” I whispered. “Yes, Ronald. I regret every moment I stayed hoping you’d change.”

Ronald exhaled slowly, the sound almost a growl. “You’ve grown bold.”

“I’ve grown tired.”

Dominic turned toward me, his voice low. “Aliyah, go upstairs. I’ll handle this.”

“No.” I shook my head. “This time, I will face him.”

Ronald smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. “Go ahead, wife. Say whatever you came to say.”

I met his eyes, forcing my voice to stay steady. “You think power means love. You think fear means loyalty. But all it’s done is make me see the truth: you don’t want a wife, Ronald. You want a reflection of yourself. And I’m done being that.”

Taking a step forward, close enough that I could feel the heat of his breath. “You’ll regret this rebellion.” Ronald said.

Dominic’s hand gripped his arm. “She said enough.”

Ronald turned slowly, his gaze sliding down to Dominic’s hold. “You dare touch me?”

Dominic didn’t flinch. “If it means protecting her, yes.”

The tension was unbearable. Ronald’s eyes darted between us before his lips curved into something cruel. “So this is it. My wife and my brother. A perfect betrayal.”

“You did this to yourself,” I said quietly.

He looked at me, his voice dripping venom. “No, Aliyah. You did, and you are about to regret this stunt you pulled.” He tore the contract from the table, ripped it in half, and threw the pieces onto the floor. “There will be no other man. No other contract. No divorce.”

Ronald turned toward Dominic, eyes blazing. “You think you can protect her from me? From my name? You’re still standing in my house, and living off my bloodline.”

“Of course I can, I’ll leave,” Dominic snapped. “With her.”

Oh, of course, you would leave, but without her! He smirked. Guards!

Three hefty security men came inside immediately as they bowed their heads to Ronald.

Throw him out of this house, and he is restricted from coming into my home again. And as for you, Aliyah, you are grounded.

He glanced at Dominic as he struggled with the guards, but I could see something darker in his gaze and my heart skipped. 

“You should better be ready brother, you just crossed a line!”

With a low yet cold voice, he turned to me, “And you, my wife, enjoy your little rebellion while it lasts. Because I promise you, there’s a price for defiance.”

He turned to one of the guards, lock her in her room until I say otherwise. 

With that, he stormed out.

For a moment, I just stood there, unable to breathe.

Dominic turned to me. “Are you okay?”

But just before I could respond, he was dragged out of the house.

I knew one thing in my heart: the battle line had just been drawn.