The days after his brother's arrival were a blur of laughter and camaraderie. Valérien reveled in his brother's company, the two of them spending hours reminiscing about their childhood and sharing stories of their recent exploits.
The mansion seemed lighter, filled with the echoes of their joy, but beneath it all, a tension simmered within Valérien, a darkness that refused to be dispelled.
It wasn't long before the first crack appeared in his carefully constructed facade.
He had walked into the courtyard one afternoon to find his wife speaking with his brother. She stood, her head bowed as she listened to his brother's gentle words.
His brother was smiling, his voice soft as he spoke to her, perhaps trying to ease the discomfort he sensed in her presence.
He froze in the doorway, watching her laugh softly to herself, her face lighting up in a way he hadn't seen.
That smile made his blood boil.
For a moment, Valérien was frozen in the doorway, a cold fury gripping his heart. He knew his brother meant no harm, that he was merely being kind, but seeing her with his brother—his beloved brother—ignited a rage in him that he could not control.
The image of her swollen belly, a silent testament to the life growing inside her, only fueled his anger. She looked so small, so weak, standing there with her hands folded over her stomach, her eyes downcast. Her figure, once delicate, was now dominated by the swell of her pregnancy, making her appear even more fragile and vulnerable next to his brother's towering presence.
The scene was unbearable.
Without thinking, Valérien crossed the room in long, furious strides. Before he could stop himself, he grabbed her jaw. A cry of pain escaped her lips as her eyes widened with shock and fear.
His brother stepped forward, alarmed.
"Valérien, what are you doing?" he demanded, but Valérien ignored him, his attention fixed solely on his wife.
He grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her close as he leaned down, his face inches from hers. The fury in his eyes, a storm that threatened to consume them both.
"How dare you...?" he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "You have no right."
"Valérien..." she tried to speak.
"You will never leave your room again," he ordered, cutting her off, his voice cold and final.
She nodded, too terrified to speak again, her body trembling under the weight of his fury. He let her go, shoving her back towards the door. "Go," he snapped.
"Valérien, What has she done? Why suddenly...?" his brother asked, confused.
Valérien didn't reply.
She fled from the room, her steps unsteady as she hurried to obey. Valérien watched her go. The sight of her retreating figure, her small, swollen form disappearing down the hallway, filled him with a twisted sense of satisfaction.
But as she disappeared from view, the reality of what he had done settled in, a heavy silence fell over the room.
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