To Have, To Hold

Chapter 9

### **Chapter Nine: The Breaking Point**

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The tension that had been brewing between **Marcus** and **Alexander** finally came to a head one evening after dinner. Alexander, with his usual calm demeanor, casually announced his plans to move his business headquarters to the States.

"I've decided it's time," he said, swirling the last of his wine in his glass. "It makes sense to have my base here now. I'll be closer to family, to Liam, and it'll give us more opportunities to collaborate, Marcus."

At the mention of family, Marcus's grip on his fork tightened. His jaw clenched, but he forced a smile. "That's... unexpected," he replied, though the strain in his voice was unmistakable. "You've always been comfortable running things abroad."

"I was," Alexander agreed, "but times are changing. I want to be here more often. Especially now."

There was a finality in his tone, a sense that this decision had been long considered. Marcus smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. **Elena** could feel the tension rising from across the table, but she kept her gaze down, knowing that Marcus's wrath would soon be unleashed behind closed doors.

Once Alexander left the room, Marcus excused himself abruptly. Elena followed his retreating form with her eyes, knowing full well what was coming. She could hear his heavy footsteps as he marched up the stairs, slamming the door to his office behind him.

It didn't take long for the storm to break. Behind the closed doors of his office, Marcus erupted. The muffled sounds of him shouting echoed through the walls. Elena didn't need to hear the exact words to know what was happening. His anger was palpable, his jealousy of Alexander growing stronger with each passing day.

To Marcus, Alexander's decision to move his business here felt like a challenge, a subtle undermining of his own authority. In his mind, his older brother had always been the more successful, the more admired one—especially now that Liam adored him and even Elena seemed to soften in his presence.

Marcus's jealousy festered like an open wound, but he knew he couldn't let it show. Not publicly. Not in front of Alexander. So, he raged in private, cursing his brother under his breath, vowing to find a way to put him in his place.

As the night grew darker, Elena retreated to her room—the room she now shared with Marcus, though in reality, they were farther apart than ever. She laid down on the cold, hard floor, pulling her thin blanket over her. Her body ached from the day, but it was her mind that refused to rest.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she slipped into a dream.

In her dream, she was no longer confined to the suffocating walls of her home. Instead, she stood in an open field, the sun warming her skin and the air filled with the scent of wildflowers. She felt light, free, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.

In the distance, she saw **Alexander**, standing beneath a large oak tree, his hand outstretched, waiting for her. She hesitated for a moment, unsure, but then she moved toward him. As she drew closer, she saw the warmth in his eyes, the softness of his smile. There was no tension, no fear—just love.

When she reached him, he took her hand in his, pulling her into his embrace. The touch was tender, gentle, everything she had longed for but had been denied. His arms wrapped around her, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

"You don't have to stay," he whispered into her ear, his voice filled with a quiet assurance. "You deserve more than this."

In her dream, Elena believed him. She closed her eyes, leaning into the comfort of his presence, allowing herself to feel something she had forgotten—hope.

They stood there for what felt like an eternity, wrapped in each other's arms, the world around them quiet and still. There were no harsh words, no bruises to hide. Only peace.

But as dreams often do, this one began to fade. The warmth of Alexander's embrace slowly dissipated, the sound of his voice growing distant until she was left standing alone in the field. The sun dimmed, and the reality of her life began to seep back in.

Elena woke with a start, the cold floor beneath her a harsh reminder of where she truly was. She blinked, disoriented, the remnants of the dream still clinging to her. For a moment, she could still feel Alexander's arms around her, the warmth of his body against hers. But as she sat up, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders, the dream slipped away, leaving her with the cold reality of her situation.

Marcus's rage had likely subsided for now, but Elena knew it was only a matter of time before it returned. And though she had dreamed of a life with Alexander, where she was cherished and loved, she was trapped in a life with Marcus—a life of fear and control.

But that dream, brief as it was, gave her a glimmer of something she hadn't felt in years. It gave her the faintest whisper of hope.

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