Chapter 116: Chapter 116:Date night interruption
??Alexander raised an eyebrow, then gave a low chuckle.
??"Alicia, what are you saying?"
??"Nothing." I lowered my gaze with a small smile. "Just pretend I’m being unreasonable."
??I hid the bitterness in my eyes.
??But why was he so willing to give
the bracelet, yet unwilling to part with that ring?
??The answer was obvious.
??He was biased.
??No matter what I did, I could never compare to Lilian.
??That ring—judging by the design and craftsmanship—must have taken ti, thought, and effort.
??The bracelet?
??That was only money.
??That was the difference.
??Still, it was sothing Alexander had spent a great deal on.
??I didn’t want to ruin his mood.
??Perhaps he thought I was rely sulking, because he said nothing more.
??Instead, he poured
a small glass of wine.
??"A little drink?"
??"Mm."
??Our glasses touched with a soft chi.
??I lifted mine, took a sip, and began eating.
??Just as he had done before, Alexander reached over, took the steak from my plate, and placed it in front of himself.
??With practiced ease, he cut it into neat pieces before returning it to .
??"Thank you."
??"No need."
??I took a bite.
??"It’s delicious."
??"If you like it, I’ll bring you here again next ti."
??We raised our glasses once more.
??Our eyes t briefly as we drank.
??Warmth slowly spread across my face.
??I couldn’t tell if it was from the wine... or from the quiet intimacy of the mont.
??After a while, Alexander set down his knife and fork.
??"I’m going to the restroom for a mont."
??He rose from his seat and walked out.
??Watching his tall figure disappear through the door, I touched my heated cheek.
??I thought...
??If Alexander wanted
tonight—
??I didn’t think I would refuse.
??Just then, the phone he had left on the table suddenly rang.
??My hand paused before I reached for it.
??The caller ID glowed across the screen.
??Lilian.
I froze for a mont.
??I rembered what Lilian had said that day—
??Alexander would do anything for Lilian. One phone call, and she could summon him away.
??Before I could think better of it, I rejected the call and placed the phone back on the table.
??Two seconds later, it rang again.
??I declined it once more.
??Lilian was not soone who gave up easily.
??If Alexander didn’t answer, she would keep calling until he did.
??My fingers tightened around the phone.
??A bitter impulse rose in .
??Without hesitation, I deleted the missed calls, switched off Alexander’s phone, and returned it to exactly where it had been.
??Just then, the private room door opened.
??Alexander walked back in and resud his seat as though nothing had happened.
??After a while, noticing I had barely eaten, Alexander lifted his gaze.
??"Are you done?"
??He glanced at the untouched dishes.
??"Would you like to try the desserts here?"
??"Sure."
??I called the waiter over, opened the nu, and ordered two desserts.
??The waiter bowed and left.
??Only a few monts passed before the private room door was violently shoved open.
??Both Alexander and I looked up.
??The person standing there was not the waiter.
??It was Michael Livingston.
??His usually polished appearance was gone. His tie was crooked, his breathing uneven, his face filled with fury.
??"Michael?" Alexander rose halfway from his seat, startled. "What are you doing here?"
??Michael strode inside.
??"What am I doing here?" he snapped. "You’re sitting here enjoying candlelight and wine while chaos has broken out outside. Do you have any idea what’s happening?"
??Alexander’s brows furrowed sharply.
??He set down his knife and fork.
??"What happened?"
??Michael stared at him as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
??"Lilian was in the middle of a show when a stage malfunction caused a fire accident. She was trapped and badly burned."
??The blood drained from my face.
??My ears rang.
??That call just now...
??Michael’s voice turned even harsher.
??"The entire venue is in chaos, and you’re here having dinner? Why didn’t you answer your phone?"
??A wave of nausea rolled through .
??If I had answered...
??If I hadn’t turned it off...
??Would anything have changed?
??I stood so abruptly my chair scraped against the floor.
??"Michael, calm down," I said quickly. "If Lilian was injured, she would already be at the hospital. What matters now is getting news from the operating room, not blaming Alexander."
??Michael slowly turned toward .
??The contempt in his eyes was unmistakable.
??"Who asked you to speak?"
??His voice was sharp enough to cut flesh.
??"A woman who’s trying to steal another woman’s place should know when to stay silent."
??I went rigid.
??Michael took another step forward.
??"I tolerated your presence before because of Chairwoman Roseline. Don’t mistake restraint for respect."
??Each word landed like a slap.
??I had never been close to Alexander’s friends.
??Still, I believed we could remain civil.
??I never imagined he would humiliate
so openly—
??especially in front of Alexander.
??My fingers trembled at my sides.
??Slowly, I turned to look at Alexander.
??For one suspended mont, the room fell silent.
But instead of looking at Michael, Alexander slowly turned his cold gaze toward .
??He held up his phone.
??"When I stepped out just now," he asked quietly, "did you touch my phone?"
??The chill in his eyes made my blood run cold.
??My hands tightened at my sides.
??Still trembling, I forced myself to et his gaze.
??"Yes," I said. "Soone called you... and I turned it off."
??Alexander’s jaw tightened.
??"Alicia," he said in a low voice, "why would you do that?"
??"Why?"
??A bitter laugh escaped
before I could stop it.
??My eyes burned.
??"Because she called at a ti like this. Because the mont she calls, you run to her."
??My voice shook.
??"Is it so wrong that I don’t want my husband rushing off to another woman? Is that so petty? Am I just so jealous woman who can’t bear seeing the two of you entangled forever?"
??I hadn’t ant to say any of it.
??The words tore out of
on their own.
??Alexander stared at .
??His throat moved as he swallowed hard.
??Before he could speak, Michael stepped forward impatiently.
??"Alexander, stop wasting ti and go to the hospital."
??His tone was sharp with urgency.
??"Lilian is badly injured. The fire terrified her. The doctors say her condition is critical."
??Alexander loosened his collar.
??His brows remained tightly drawn as he lowered his eyes and fell silent.
??Michael’s anger only deepened.
??"What are you hesitating for?"
??He pointed toward the door.
??"When Lilian called you, the fire hadn’t fully spread yet. She trusted you. She needed you. If you had answered, maybe she wouldn’t have been hurt this badly."
??Each word struck like a hamr.
??"And now you’re going to leave her alone in the hospital while she fights for her life?"
??The room fell into suffocating silence.
??At last, Alexander spoke.
??"I understand."
??He straightened and picked up his coat.
??Then he looked at Michael.
??"Take Alicia ho for ."
??My heart dropped.
??Alexander turned and walked toward the door.
??I stepped forward instinctively.
??"Alexander!"
??He paused but didn’t turn.
??"Don’t forget what day this is!" My voice trembled. "Lilian is surrounded by doctors. She doesn’t need you there!"
??The frustration I had buried all night finally burst free.
??No—
??it was jealousy.
??Jealousy so fierce it made
hate myself.
??For once, I wanted to be selfish.
??I wanted Alexander to belong to —
??just for today.
??Slowly, he turned back.
??His expression was unreadable.
??"I know what today is," he said quietly. "But Lilian is seriously hurt. I have to go."
??He turned again.
??"Alexander! Are you really leaving?"
??He kept walking.
??Sothing inside
snapped.
??"Fine!"
??My eyes burned as I stared at his back.
??"Then listen carefully, Alexander Blackwood—if you walk out that door tonight, there will be no future for us.".....
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