After work, I returned home alone.
Alexander hadn't come back with me.
The meeting with Lilian was scheduled for the next day, and I wanted to distract myself, so I carried the divorce settlement agreement into the study and spread the papers across the desk.
Under the warm light, every line was clear, clean, and efficient. Just like him.
Alexander Blackwood had always been generous when it came to money.
Ten percent of the company shares. Two villas—except for the one we currently lived in. A penthouse downtown. Thirty million dollars in cash.
I stared at the numbers for a long time, then let out a soft laugh that sounded nothing like laughter.
"So generous, CEO Blackwood."
My fingers brushed the final page.
Was this what two years of marriage were worth? A percentage. Real estate. A transfer amount. He was willing to pay any price... just to be rid of me.
I closed the file before the tears could fall. There was no point dwelling on it.
When I stepped out, Maria was finishing up in one of the guest rooms.
Ever since Alexander mentioned divorce, we had grown distant. Some mornings I woke to an empty bed and had no idea whether he had returned during the night unless Maria told me. So I had asked her to prepare another room.
"I'm done, Mrs. Blackwood," she said warmly.
"Thank you, Maria."
I entered the master bedroom to gather a few necessities.
Behind me, Maria hesitated.
"Should I prepare for a guest?"
My hand froze over the drawer.
Maria had once worked for Nana and moved in after our wedding. She had cared for us like family ever since.
Slowly, I turned around.
"Maria... Alexander and I are getting divorced."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"But why, dear? You two are such a lovely couple."
The words pierced deeper than she knew.
A lovely couple. Yes. We had performed that role perfectly. In front of Nana. In front of society. In front of everyone.
Except inside this house.
I forced a smile.
"You'll understand soon. Please don't tell Nana yet. We'll speak to her ourselves."
Maria nodded sadly and left.
After showering, I changed into pajamas and lay in the guest room bed.
However, sleep refused to come. I opened Twitter to distract myself.
I regretted it immediately.
#LilianSummer
#AlexanderBlackwood
Both names were trending.
My thumb hovered over the screen. Then, against my better judgment, I tapped.
A photo filled my phone. Alexander had one arm around Lilian's waist as they exited an upscale restaurant. I couldn't help but notice it was the same one I had begged him to take me to countless times.
He was always too busy. Yet, tonight he had time. I realized then that he was never too busy—just that he was too busy for me. He had plenty of time to spare when it was for her.
The caption read:
CEO Blackwood and Lilian Summer spotted on a date. Are the former college sweethearts reigniting old flames?
My breathing turned shallow.
Alexander despised publicity. Any rumor involving him usually vanished within minutes. But this post had been online for over an hour.
Which meant only one thing.
He was allowing it. Maybe even protecting it.
My chest ached so sharply I pressed a hand against it.
Only after Lilian returned did I finally understand something.
Alexander was capable of tenderness, patience, and even love. He had simply never chosen to give those things to me.
The comments flooded in beneath the post.
'OMG! They look perfect together.'
'Power couple energy.'
'Look at the way he's looking at her! She's clearly the one.'
My vision blurred.
I locked the phone and placed it face down on the bedside table before curling beneath the blanket.
Quiet sobs shook my body in the dark. All of a sudden, all I could think of was my father and the home I no longer had.
And sometime between heartbreak and exhaustion, I fell asleep.
A sharp knock on the door jolted me awake.
"Alicia."
Alexander's voice.
Still half-asleep, I opened the door. He stood outside in a dark shirt, expression thunderous.
"Why did you leave the master bedroom?"
I blinked in confusion.
"We're getting divorced," I said quietly. "I thought sleeping separately made sense."
His jaw tightened.
"We are not divorced yet."
"But we will be soon. What's the point of pretending everything is normal?"
His eyes turned cold.
"You're coming back to the master bedroom. Now."
"No."
The single word hung between us. His expression darkened dangerously.
"Alicia," he said in a low voice, "even if we divorce, I'm still your brother. You will listen to me."
The words stunned me.
Brother. Husband. Captor.
I no longer knew what role he wanted to play.
"As long as we are legally married, you are not leaving that room again. Is that clear?"
I said nothing.
He seized my wrist and pulled me down the hall. I followed in silence.
What else was there to do?
Inside the master bedroom, he released me and walked straight into the bathroom. Moments later, the shower started.
I stood there motionless, staring at the bed we once shared. Then slowly, I climbed beneath the covers.
The bathroom door opened some time later, and the mattress dipped beside me. Instantly, his familiar scent seemed to envelope me.
And against all reason, my exhausted body relaxed. I could feel his arms gently wrap around my waist, pulling me closer towards him. His warm breath fanned across the bare skin of my neck. We stayed that way until my eyelids felt heavy again.
Just before sleep claimed me again, one thought crossed my mind.
If he wanted Lilian so badly...
Why wouldn't he let me go?