Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Bedti stories
"How did you et your first love and end up together?"
The question hung in the air.
Everyone leaned in, eyes bright with curiosity, eager to hear the answer.
Alexander’s gaze flickered—
Then, almost instinctively, it landed on Alicia.
Her heart skipped.
The room fell silent.
After a brief pause, Alexander spoke, his tone calm and even.
"We t during a campus event. We had to collaborate on a performance. After the show... we got together."
A soft murmur rippled through the group.
"Was it love that developed during rehearsals?" soone asked eagerly.
Alexander gave a short nod.
"Mm."
So that was how it began.
A strange mix of emotions stirred within Alicia.
College romances...
They were always described as pure. Intense. Unforgettable.
Before she had fallen for Alexander, she had once imagined having a love like that—
Sothing simple.
Sothing mutual.
But after falling for him...
That dream had quietly slipped away.
By the ti she entered university, Alexander had already graduated and stepped into the world of business.
She had spent those years chasing after him—
Always a step behind.
And Lilian...
As she once said, she had walked beside him through those youthful years.
Shared the sa monts.
The sa mories.
Perhaps that was why—
Their bond ran so deep.
Alicia’s POV
Since everyone already knew about Alexander’s past with Lilian, the employees quickly connected the dots.
"Was it Miss Lilian?" soone asked eagerly.
"Enough questions for one card," Alexander said calmly, clearly dismissing the topic, while I just sat there, unable to understand my own feelings at the mont.
The ga wrapped up around 4:30.
Everyone gradually returned to their rooms.
I walked back with Amanda, half-listening as she chatted about the ga.
Just as we reached the hallway, my phone buzzed.
Alexander: "Would you like to co over and soak in the jacuzzi?"
I paused.
mories of what happened in the pool yesterday flashed through my mind.
I could already guess what he was thinking.
"No, I need to rest." I replied imdiately.
His response ca quickly.
"Are you sure? There’s only tomorrow left. Are you really planning to use the public pool?"
I hesitated for a mont.
Then typed:
"I’ll go for a soak after dinner."
A few seconds later—
"Then why not eat with
in my room before you soak?"
I stared at the ssage.
He was worried I’d slip away again... just like yesterday.
"...Okay."...
I leaned back against the headboard and briefly scrolled through my phone.
Lilian had a trending topic: #liliansumrtales#.
Curious, I tapped on it.
The two-week interactive show by Arclarie Entertainnt had recently begun. Lilian had been answering interview questions along the way, and today’s episode had just aired.
The trending clip showed Lilian introducing herself, smiling softly as she said she loved stories.
The other guests encouraged her to share one.
After a brief pause, she nodded.
"This is a simple story," Lilian began. "The Tortoise and the Firefly."
"There was once a tortoise who lived alone by a quiet lake. Every night, he would watch the sky, wishing he could shine like the stars."
"One evening, a firefly appeared, glowing softly in the dark. The tortoise was fascinated and said, ’You must be the brightest creature in the world.’"
"The firefly, flattered, began to glow brighter and brighter, circling proudly."
"But in trying too hard to shine, it flew too close to the water... its light flickered—and then it disappeared."
"The tortoise waited all night... but the firefly never ca back."
Lilian lowered her gaze slightly.
"Sotis... trying too hard to shine for others makes you lose yourself."
The guests nodded, exchanging thoughtful looks.
"I think everyone has heard sothing like that before," one of them said.
"Yeah, it sounds familiar," another added.
The host smiled. "Miss Lilian, with your background, no one would expect you to rember stories like this so clearly."
My fingers tightened slightly around my phone.
A bad feeling crept into my chest.
Lilian smiled faintly.
"Actually... I had a friend who used to tell
stories like this whenever I was upset," she said gently. "He learned them from his grandparents. Whenever I couldn’t sleep, he would stay up and tell
stories until I felt better."
The guests exchanged knowing "ohs."
Just as I thought.
A dull ache spread through my chest.
So I wasn’t the only one who had listened to his stories.
Even that—
Had never been mine.
I let out a faint, humorless laugh.
Earlier, during the ga, I had secretly felt a bit of satisfaction knowing Alexander and Lilian had never been physically involved.
How ridiculous.
Even if they hadn’t crossed that line—
What did it change?
Alexander loved Lilian.
He gave her his patience.
His gentleness.
His ti.
I leaned back against the headboard.
I had spent two years married to him.
And in the end—
What did I get?
Not the place of a wife.
But sothing closer to a stranger.
I had his body—
But never his heart.
Almost unconsciously, I opened the OTP fan page.
A new topic was trending.
A fan had dug up an old interview with our grandparents.
In it, Nana talked about raising children traditionally—about telling stories, passing them down through generations.
The implication was obvious.
The "friend" Lilian ntioned—
Was Alexander.
The fans were going wild.
"Every ti she couldn’t sleep, he told her stories..."
"This is the kind of love you only see in fairytales..."
I stared at the screen.
So even that...
Had never been mine.
And here I was—
Still thinking it ant sothing.
A quiet laugh escaped .
It sounded hollow.
At 8 p.m., Alexander sent
a WhatsApp ssage:
"Have you had dinner? Why aren’t you coming over?"
I glanced at it, then exited WhatsApp and turned off my screen.
A mont later, my phone vibrated twice.
I picked it up.
"Reply to
imdiately, or I’ll co to your room to find you."
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
"Not coming tonight."
His reply ca instantly.
"Why? Why didn’t you respond earlier?"
"I didn’t see it. I’m a bit tired tonight. Don’t feel like coming."
Excuses.
Even I knew they sounded like excuses.
"Alicia, tell
the truth. Why?"
"What I said is the truth. I want to rest."
After sending the ssage, I held my phone and waited.
But no reply ca.
I set it aside and lay down, closing my eyes.
Knock. Knock.
My body stiffened.
I had a feeling—
It was him.
Amanda stirred from her bed and walked to the door.
"Who is it?"
"It’s ." His low voice ca through. "I need to talk to Alicia. Let her co out."
"Oh—okay." Amanda turned to . "Director Alicia, CEO Blackwood is looking for you. You should go."
He really ca.
I had no choice.
I slipped on my slippers, walked to the door, and stepped out, closing it quietly behind .
I looked at him.
"What are you doing here? Do you need sothing?"
"You tell ," Alexander replied, his gaze fixed on .
Before I could say anything, he cut in—
"Don’t make excuses. Just tell
the truth. Are you in a bad mood?"
"There’s no reason. Don’t ask
again."
"Did you watch Lilian’s show?"
I said nothing.
"You’re jealous, aren’t you?"
"No. Not at all." I shook my head quickly. "Why would I be jealous? Don’t jump to conclusions."
I paused.
Then added, quietly—
"I don’t even like you....."
The air between us froze.
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