Chapter 9: Chapter nine:we aren’t divorced yet
After work, I returned ho alone.
Alexander hadn’t co back with .
The eting with Lilian was scheduled for the next day, and I wanted to distract myself, so I carried the divorce settlent agreent into the study and spread the papers across the desk.
Under the warm light, every line was clear. Clean. Efficient.
Just like him.
Alexander Blackwood had always been generous when it ca 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 ti, 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 .
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 ntioned divorce, we had grown distant. So mornings I woke to an empty bed and had no idea whether he had returned during the night unless Maria told .
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 , 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 perford 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.
Sleep wouldn’t co.
To distract myself, I opened Twitter.
I regretted it imdiately.
#LilianSumr
#AlexanderBlackwood
Both nas were trending.
My thumb hovered over the screen.
Then, against my better judgnt, I tapped.
A photo filled my phone.
Alexander had one arm around Lilian’s waist as they exited an upscale restaurant I had begged him to take
to countless tis.
He was always too busy.
Too busy for .
Yet tonight, he had ti.
For her.
The caption read:
CEO Blackwood and Lilian Sumr spotted on a date. Are the forr college sweethearts reigniting old flas?
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 ant 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 sothing.
Alexander was capable of tenderness.
Capable of patience.
Capable of love.
He had simply never chosen to give those things to .
The comnts flooded in beneath the post.
They look perfect together.
Power couple energy.
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.
I thought of my father.
I thought of the ho I no longer had.
And soti between heartbreak and exhaustion, I fell asleep.
A sharp knock on the door jolted
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 ."
The words stunned .
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
down the hall.
I followed in silence.
What else was there to do?
Inside the master bedroom, he released
and walked straight into the bathroom.
Monts 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 so ti later.
The mattress dipped beside .
His familiar scent surrounded .
And against all reason... my exhausted body relaxed.
Just before sleep claid
again, one thought crossed my mind.
If he wanted Lilian so badly...
Why wouldn’t he let
go?
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