Chapter 3 2

He quickly closed the website and deleted it from his laptop's history, then stared at the invitation he was still holding.

"Who invited me to go to that island?" He wondered to himself.

Was she randomly picked?

Pham sighed. Who cares? he won't go there.

It was nighttime when Pham got home to their house. When he entered the house, his mother greeted him. He immediately prepared himself for what would happen next.

"Oh, why only now?" Martin's mother, who is now his mother, opened up to him even though she didn't want to. "I thought you were overshadowed by your flowers in the shop. Why do you continue to finance that shop of yours when it doesn't make any money?"

He fought the pain that pinched his heart. After three years, he should get used to it, but it still hurts.

"There have been as many clients, Ma." he answered politely.

It snorts. "I don't care. I told you to close that shop, and it doesn't make any sense. "Why don't you just work in the company so that you can have something to use, so that you can be of use to the family?"

He fought back the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "Mom, we talked about it. My flower shop is okay."

"But I didn't agree," he responded flatly while staring at her. "Pham, you can't even leave the house, so you're going to say that your business is going well?"

He took a deep breath and then carefully released it. "Mom, it's not like that."

"Why didn't you leave the house?" Martin is no longer here.

His chest is tight. "Mom, you know the reason why."

"I don't care about your reasons. It's been three years, Pham, but you're still here." He tormented her, then marched away.

pham bit his lower lip, then freely released the tears that wanted to escape from his eyes. If it were him, he would have left a long time ago. But he still can't let go of his memories with Martin in this house. He still can't lose that. He still can't sleep in another room or in another bed.

after three years, she still can't move on. He can accept all the hurtful words from Martin's family as long as he stays in the house where he and his wife fell in love.

Her eyes immediately focused on her and Martin's wedding picture in the living room. They look happy together. So in love. so blessed And she felt her heart clench in pain.

He quickly dried the tears that fell from his eyes. She should really stop crying. It's been three years since it happened.

Pham took a deep breath again and steadied her emotions by touching her wedding ring. when he calmed down, he walked towards the stairs.

"I'm wounded, Fatima."

Pham jumped in shock at the baritone voice that filled the silence of the house. He felt his heart pounding in shock.

Pham turned to face the speaker and seemed to catch his breath when he saw Marcus comfortably leaning against the door leading to the kitchen. He was holding a bottle of whiskey, and one of his hands was clenched.

Was it still there? Did you hear what Mama said?

"Why don't you use the money I gave you?" Marcus asked him again.

He didn't answer. Her head was still wrapping up the fact that Marcus was here, in the house. In front of her.

This is his wife's brother, but he can't even see Martin in person. They are so different. from the way they dress to the way they walk. Marcus walked like he owned everything. He walked with confidence, even in his rugged jeans and white t-shirt. Martin is different. His wife is shy and would rather stay at home with him than attend fancy gatherings.

"Brother..." he stammered.

he's not used to calling him brother because he's only seen him once, but out of respect, he has to call him brother.

The disgust on his face was obvious as he looked at her from head to toe. What's new? They all find her disgusting. In the Dela Cruz family, Martin is the only one who accepts him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked bravely, but the truth was that he was nervous.

Its presence is very intense. It was a few meters away from him, but he was still affected. She felt intimidated by his presence.

"Why are you asking?" He slowly walked towards him. "Am I not welcome in my parent's house?"

She gulped at the intensity of his stare. It's a boring hole in her face, and her heart won't stop beating so fast.

"That's not what I meant." He said it boldly.

"Hmm..." he hummed and stopped in front of her. "Did you receive the deposit slip I sent?"

he nodded. He didn't look away from her. "I don't need that. I already told you that, remember?"

"I don't take no for an answer, Fatima."

His hair stood on end at the way she called his name. Only her husband calls her that. hearing her full name again coming from Marcus lips sent her down memory lane again.

"Okay." He won't gain anything if he stubbornly fights with Marcus. "I'm going to rest." He could no longer connect with his brother.

"I'll lock the door then."

He just nodded and went up to the second floor. he didn't have to wait for her to leave; he knew he couldn't stay in this house for long. He's irritated by her, and the feeling is mutual.

Upon entering his room, he immediately took off his clothes and went into his walk-in closet to get dressed. he faintly cursed as he remembered that he had left the bag on his bed. In his bag was the deposit slip that he would keep in the vault.

Pham lazily came out of the walk-in closet and stopped walking when he saw Marcus inside his room, holding the gift he received earlier.

Her heart thumped. she felt suffocated.

"Brother."

His eyes held hers. He raised the hand that held the invitation. "What's this?"

He swallowed. "Nothing."

It inspects the front of the interior. His fingers sexily trailed the edge of the card as his eyes held her gaze.

"You're invited to Temptation Island." it swept the tongue from the right side of the lip to the right. "Are you going?"

He quickly shook his head. "No."

He dropped the invitation card. It fell to the floor.

"Pity." He then roamed his eyes around her bedroom. Then his eyes stopped at her naked clothes on top of the bed.

his cheeks warmed when he saw her bra on top. And that's where Marcus' eyes were focused.

He wanted to sink into shame.

"Brother!" She couldn't help but feel ashamed and angry at the same time. "Take your eyes off my personal stuff!"

How dare he do that! His brother is his wife! just a little respect.

He was about to reach for her bra in anger when he shouted her name.

"Marcus!"

He chuckled. A small smirk made its way to his lips.

"My name sounds good when you say it." He rolled his tongue over his lips. "Your calling me 'brother' is ridiculous." His gaze was fixed on her. "Annoying."

"Get out," he said in a cold voice.

The corner of his lips rose before he left his room.

Pham leaned against the door jamb of the closet and took a deep breath. Thank God he's already left. And thank God, because he'll be counting the months before it shows up again.

she can stand Martin's parents' bad attitude towards her, but her brother Marcus is a different story.

That man always has this different effect on her. and he could honestly say that even though it had such an effect on him, he never let it enter his system.

pham woke up early to take care of the flower deliveries that will arrive today at his shop.

When he came down the stairs, Martin's mother was there in the living room, reading the newspaper. It seems that he felt her apology because he put down the newspaper he was reading and then looked at her.

"Your morning, ah." This is it.

"Because I have something important to take care of." He answered.

He just snorted, then went back to reading the newspaper.

Pham carefully walked out the door. And he almost fell over in shock when he saw Marcus leaning against the side of a fancy car.

his eyes widened. "You're still here? Where did you sleep last night?"

He usually left the same day he arrived.

"Here is the spy, probably." It got stuck. "Are you leaving?"

He nodded hesitantly. "Why did you ask?"

"I'll take you."

He was shocked to see it. "Are you sleep deprived?"

the corner of his lips just rose as he got into his car. Pham, on the other hand, had no choice but to ride in the open passenger seat.