Chapter 16: Chapter sixteen: The Blackwood family matriarch
Lilian ended the call and placed her phone down slowly.
Kendra raised an eyebrow. "That was bold. But what if Alicia reacts? What if she exposes the marriage?"
A faint smile curved Lilian’s lips.
"She won’t," she said confidently.
Kendra frowned. "How can you be so sure?"
Lilian leaned back slightly, eyes calm and certain.
"Because she’s too proud."
A pause.
"She would never lower herself to fight for sothing like this."
She looked at the dark screen of her phone, her confidence sharpening.
"A woman like her would rather suffer in silence than beco a joke."
Kendra studied her. "And if you’re wrong?"
Lilian’s smile didn’t waver.
"Then I’ll deal with it."
But her eyes darkened slightly.
Three years ago, she had already sensed it.
Alicia Blackwood—quiet, composed, controlled.
But not indifferent.
She had seen it in the way Alicia looked at Alexander when she thought no one was watching.
Care.
Emotion.
Attachnt.
A feeling carefully buried... but not gone.
That was enough.
A woman who loved quietly would never destroy the man she loved.
Especially not his reputation.
Especially not when it could also destroy her own place in his life.
That was why Alicia would stay silent.
Always.
But recently...
Lilian’s gaze tightened slightly.
Sothing had changed.
Alexander was no longer as predictable as he used to be.
Sotis distracted.
Sotis distant.
Sotis... not looking at her the way he used to.
That was dangerous.
She had never considered the possibility of losing him.
Not to anyone.
And certainly not to Alicia.
So it was better to end this quickly.
Before doubt turned into attachnt.
Before silence turned into resistance.
If the scandal continued, Alexander would have no choice.
He would be forced to accelerate the divorce.
To protect his reputation.
To protect Lilian.
And that outco...
was exactly what she wanted.
Alicia’s POV
When work finally ended, I received a ssage.
From Alexander.
"et
at the garage if you’re done."
I stared at it for a mont.
Nothing about it was unusual.
We used to leave together almost every day.
Before everything changed.
Before Lilian returned.
Still... after what happened in his office, I hadn’t expected him to wait.
I picked up my bag and headed down.
The elevator doors opened into the dim underground garage.
And there he was.
Alexander stood beside the car, one hand resting lightly on the door, his posture straight but relaxed.
As if he had been waiting longer than he admitted.
When he saw , he straightened.
But didn’t speak.
I walked over and got into the car without a word.
He followed.
The door closed.
Silence filled the space imdiately.
Only the soft hum of the engine breaking it.
After a while, he spoke.
"Nana called earlier."
I turned my head slightly, but didn’t respond.
"She wants us to have dinner with her tonight."
My fingers tightened faintly in my lap.
He continued, voice steady.
"If everything goes well... I’ll tell her about the divorce."
The words were calm.
But sothing in them wasn’t.
A hesitation.
Small—but there.
It made my chest tighten unexpectedly.
"Mm," I replied softly, turning my gaze to the passing city lights outside.
They blurred into streaks of gold and blue.
Like mories I couldn’t hold onto anymore.
From the corner of my eye, I felt him glance at .
Once.
Twice.
As if he wanted to say sothing else.
But he didn’t.
And I didn’t either.
Nana must have seen the scandal.
That was why she called us.
And since Alexander was already so determined...
It was better this way.
The sooner she knew, the sooner everything could end.
Still...
The silence in the car felt heavier than it should have.
The Blackwood mansion stood tall against the evening sky.
Warm lights glowed from within.
The housekeeper greeted us at the entrance.
"Matriarch Roseline is in the kitchen," she said politely. "Please make yourselves comfortable."
She disappeared inside, returning monts later with drinks and a plate of fresh fruit.
I sat quietly as the familiar atmosphere wrapped around .
Grandmother Roseline Blackwood—the matriarch of the Blackwood dynasty.
A woman who had risen from humble beginnings and built strength through discipline and warmth.
Even with her status, she never lost her simplicity.
She cooked for the family herself.
Knitted scarves in winter.
Corrected mistakes without humiliation.
And loved without condition.
Despite everything that divided the Blackwood family...
Everyone respected her.
Especially Alexander.
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