[BL] A Marriage Ruled by Family, Saved by Desire Chapter 6: An Unexpected Guest

~Alistiar’s POV~

There was a long silence as he listened to her response. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but from the way my husband was speaking, I could tell his mother was telling him not to bring to the conference.

Finally, he let out a sharp, weary exhale. "Fine. I hear you. I’ll know what to do."

I pulled my hand back from the handle for a second, taking a breath to steady my own frustration before I decided to walk in.

When I stepped inside, my husband was already on the bed, lying flat and facing the ceiling, quiet and still.

​I turned to drop the items I had fetched, along with my phone, onto the dresser. As soon as I turned back toward him, Alex murmured, "Co here."

I climbed onto the bed and slipped under the covers beside him, resting my head on his chest. I could feel the tension in his body. He stayed silent, and I understood why. He couldn’t bring himself to tell what his mother had just said, not after he had practically begged to go with him and I had finally agreed. It was too humiliating for him to admit that I was no longer invited.

But I couldn’t let it sit between us. If his mother didn’t want there, I had no intention of going sowhere I wasn’t welco. I decided to break the silence.

​"Babe?" I said softly.

​"Yes, honey?" he answered, his voice thick with unspoken stress.

​I chose my words carefully. "I was thinking... maybe it’s better if I spend the weekend at my parents’ house while you go to the conference. It might be easier."

Alex imdiately tensed up. "We already talked about this, Alis. You already promised you would co with . Why are you changing your mind?"

I looked up at him, realizing there was no point in dancing around the truth. Alex hated lies, and I wasn’t going to start now.

​"I heard your conversation with your mother, Alex," I said softly. I quickly added that I wasn’t angry, wanting to ease the guilt I saw swimming in his eyes. We talked it through, the awkwardness, the tension, and the reality of the situation.

Alex apologized profusely for his mother’s actions. "I don’t know why she’s like this," he muttered, looking defeated.

"I understand," I said softly, "but for everyone’s peace, let’s do it my way. You go there, and I’ll spend the ti at my parents’ place."

Alex hesitated, holding on to as though letting go would cost him sothing, but finally he agreed. Deep down, I knew it was the right choice. Staying back was a small price to pay to avoid the soul-crushing drama his mother always had waiting for .

Once everything was finalized, he pulled closer, wrapping his arms around in a tight, protective cuddle. He buried his face in my hair, holding as if he were trying to make up for his mother’s coldness.

Eventually, the exhaustion of the day took over, and we both drifted off to sleep, clinging to each other in the quiet room.

The next morning, we went through our usual routine and headed to work. I worked alongside Alex in one of his father’s companies, one that was conveniently close to ho. The week passed in a blur of work, eting up with friends, and going out together in the evenings.

Finally, the weekend arrived, and Alex packed his bags to visit his parents. That morning, he said he’d probably be back the next day and asked to return early from my parents’ place as well. Of course, I knew how these visits usually went. His mother always found a way to keep him longer. So I agreed and left it at that. After he left, I drove to my parents’ house to spend so ti with them.

That evening, Alex called to update on everything, how the conference went, how things were with his mother, and all the little details. We stayed in touch like that, and the next morning, I headed back ho early, expecting him to return before noon.

But when he didn’t show up, my friends invited out to relax and hang out. I decided to join them since I was just sitting at ho. I went out in the evening, figuring Alex might end up staying another night with his mother.

It was close to ten p.m. when Alex finally called, his na lighting up my phone. He asked where I was. I told him I was out with friends, then asked about him in return. He said he was already ho and waiting for .

"I’m on my way," I told him without hesitation. "You’ll see soon."

I turned to my friends. "I’m leaving. My husband is back."

A chorus of groans followed. They tried to convince to stay, to relax a little longer, teasing for rushing back just because Alex had returned. One of them laughed and said I was a lover boy.

I only smiled, shook my head, and stood up. I couldn’t bla them. Most of them weren’t married. So weren’t even in relationships. They didn’t understand what it ant to be committed.

I hurried ho.

When I arrived, the shock hit imdiately.

Alex wasn’t alone.

My mother-in-law was there too, an unexpected presence that made my steps slow as I crossed the threshold, my heart sinking with the quiet realization that the night was far from over.

The first thing she did was scold for coming ho late, demanding to know where I had been and why a married man would stay out so late. I stood there, stunned, not just by her words, but by her presence.

Alex hadn’t warned she would be there. I already knew the judgnt in her eyes, and a familiar wave of frustration washed over as I realized exactly how this night was going to unfold.

Alex tried to speak up for , but his mother cut him off before he could even finish a sentence, silencing him with a single look. He didn’t argue after that. He simply went quiet.

I was just about to apologize, already forming the words in my mouth, when the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs stopped cold. I looked up, confused. The few staff mbers who lived with us all had their rooms downstairs.

Then I saw her.

Clara.

She was coming down from the upper floor.

The shock hit so hard I turned imdiately to Alex. He couldn’t et my eyes. He looked away, his silence suddenly heavy with aning.

That was when his mother spoke again, her tone calm and deliberate.

"Have you settled your things?" she asked, turning her attention to Clara.

For a second, I thought I had misheard her.

Settled... where?