Chapter 127: Chapter 128: confession
??"I know you’re still upset about what happened that day, and that day—"
??Alexander began, but was abruptly cut off.
??"Don’t ntion that day."
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Alicia ??cut him off sharply, fixing him with a frosty stare.
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??"You already made your choice, so stop pretending otherwise."
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??Her voice was calm, but every word was sharp.
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??"The mont you walked out of that room, it was over between us."
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Alicia took another step back.
??"There’s nothing left to discuss. But don’t worry—for Nana’s sake, I’ll continue playing along in front of her for now."
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??Alexander’s jaw tightened.
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??"Over?" he said darkly. "I don’t agree."
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"We signed the divorce settlent agreent."
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??"Does that an you won’t keep your promise to Nana?"
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??Alicia gave a faint laugh, as though the question itself were absurd.
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??"Nana’s promise?"
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??She looked straight at him.
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??"When you decided to leave, were you thinking about Nana’s promise then?"
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"Of course I rembered."
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??"Oh?"
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??A cold sneer curved her lips.
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??"If you truly rembered, you would never have insisted on going to Lilian."
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??She stepped closer, her gaze unwavering.
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??"Just admit it, Alexander. You were the first one to break your promise to Nana."
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??Her voice dropped lower.
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??"You chose Lilian over ."
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Alexander’s expression shifted.
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??"I’m sorry. I didn’t realize what she was trying to do. I didn’t know her injuries weren’t serious."
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??"No."
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??Alicia shook her head.
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??"That’s not the point."
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??She moved one step closer until they were standing face to face.
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??"Maybe she deceived you. But the truth remains—you still chose to leave
for her."
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??Her eyes were steady, but pain flickered beneath them.
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??"I tried to stop you."
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??"You still walked away."
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??"You left
there with Michael after hearing the things he said to ."
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??She held his gaze without blinking.
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??"That ans, in your heart, you have always valued her more than ."
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??Her voice turned quiet.
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??"Whether her injuries were real or fake... that has always been the truth."
"And that ring you kept in your car?" Alicia said coldly. "It was ant for Lilian."
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??She held his gaze without blinking.
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??"Even if Michael hadn’t shown up, we would have finished our al... and you still would have gone to her."
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??Alexander’s lips parted, but no words ca out.
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??"Even after learning she lied to you, didn’t you still attend her birthday party today?" Alicia continued.
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??"Didn’t you still play the piano for her?"
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??"Didn’t you still dance with her?"
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??Her voice lowered.
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??"Have you ever done any of that for ?"
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??In truth, Alicia knew she had allowed all of it to affect her.
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??Given Alexander’s history with Lilian, celebrating her birthday should not have been surprising.
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??If it had been any other day, perhaps Alicia would not have cared so much. Alexander and Lilian had known each other for years. Their bond was deep, tangled, and not sothing easily severed.
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??Alicia had long understood one truth.
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??She could never compare to Lilian.
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??Never had. Never would.
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??But their wedding anniversary happened to fall on the sa day as Lilian’s birthday.
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??No wife could calmly watch her husband insist on celebrating another woman that night.
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??Alexander took a slow breath.
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??"I was only planning to drop off the gift and leave..."
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??Alicia let out a sharp laugh.
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??"Drop off the gift and leave?"
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??She stepped closer.
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??"Do you really think you could have?"
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??Her eyes turned colder.
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??"That night, you left in the middle of the night and didn’t return until dawn."
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??"Did you think I wouldn’t notice?"
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??"I woke up when you were on the phone."
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??Alexander’s face paled instantly.
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??Everything he had tried so hard to hide... she had known all along.
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??She had simply chosen silence.
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??Alicia lowered her gaze.
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??"Alexander, just admit it."
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??Her voice was quiet now.
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??"You love Lilian."
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??"No matter what promise you made to Nana, we can only pretend to get along."
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??"You will never love ."
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??"We were always going to divorce sooner or later."
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??"No."
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??Alexander’s voice was hoarse.
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??He stepped forward and caught both her hands tightly in his.
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??"You’re wrong."
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??His eyes locked onto hers.
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??"If that were true, everything would be easier."
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??"We could simply keep acting in front of Nana."
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??He swallowed hard.
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??"But no one can control their heart."
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??A bitter smile touched his lips.
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??"I thought I loved Lilian too."
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??"But now... when I close my eyes..."
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??"Even in my dreams..."
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??"All I see is you."
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??His grip tightened slightly.
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??"Alicia, you’ve beco such a part of my life that even I failed to notice when it happened."
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??He drew a slow breath.
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??"I think..."
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??"I’ve really fallen for you."
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??Alicia froze.
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??She stared into his eyes, disbelief written plainly across her face.
He said... he had fallen for her?
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??How was that even possible?
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??Alexander looked at her steadily, his eyes earnest and sincere, as though he were speaking nothing but the truth.
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??Could it really be true?
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??The man she had waited for all these years was suddenly confessing that he had feelings for her.
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??Should she be happy?
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??Yes.
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??She should have been.
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??But she wasn’t happy at all.
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??All she felt was a cold, heavy sadness spreading through her chest.
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??In the next mont, Alicia forced herself back to her senses and smiled faintly.
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??"Stop joking, Alexander."
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??How could he possibly like her?
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??For all these years, she had never once managed to warm his heart.
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??And now, with Lilian back in the picture—now that the woman he once loved had returned—he was saying he had fallen for her?
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??It was absurd.
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??"I’m not joking, Alicia."
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??His voice was low and serious.
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??"You know I would never joke about sothing like this."
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??After a long silence, Alicia laughed again.
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??"What’s so funny?" he asked, frowning.
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??"I just think it’s laughable."
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??Her smile faded.
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??"If your so-called feelings for
an staying tangled with
while still maintaining ties with Lilian..."
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??She t his gaze coldly.
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??"Then I’d rather not have them."
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??"I already told her." Alexander cut in imdiately.
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??"This will be the last birthday I ever spend with her."
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??Alicia stared at him, searching his face carefully for even the slightest trace of deception.
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??But to her disappointnt, she found none.
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??If he was lying, then he was a master at it.
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??Alicia gave a soft scoff.
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??"So you’re saying..."
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??She paused.
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??"We’re not getting divorced?"
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??Every year after this, September twenty fifth would remain their wedding anniversary.
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??Not Lilian’s birthday.
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??"Yes," Alexander said firmly.
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??"We’re not getting divorced."
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??Alicia stood motionless, unable to react.
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??The very thing she had wished for all this ti was suddenly happening.
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??Was she happy?
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??Of course she should have been.
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??Yet it felt nothing like she had imagined.
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??There was no excitent.
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??Only disbelief.
Lately, the only future Alicia had allowed herself to imagine was one where she divorced Alexander.
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??She had not dared hope for anything else—least of all a future where they remained married.
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??And now, the one thing she had never even permitted herself to dream about was suddenly unfolding before her eyes.
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??"Are you so shocked you can’t speak?" Alexander teased when he saw her stunned expression.
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??"No," she denied at once.
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??Alexander studied her for a mont before speaking more softly.
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??"Alicia, Lilian’s condition is connected to ."
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??His tone turned serious.
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??"I promised that if she stayed in this country, I would make sure her future was secure. I can’t cut ties with her overnight."
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??He paused, then added,
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??"But I can reduce how often we et."
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??"If nothing important cos up, I won’t see her."
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??His gaze settled on Alicia.
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??"From now on, the person in my heart will only be you."
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??"Can you accept that?"
Alicia remained silent.
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??She did not know how to answer him.
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??The resentnt she once buried had already taken root, and trust did not return so easily.
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??Seeing her silence, Alexander continued.
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??"I won’t et Lilian alone again."
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??"If you’re willing, I’ll bring you along whenever I have to see her."
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??"If you don’t want that, I’ll bring soone else with ."
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??"Or you can choose a secretary yourself to keep an eye on ."alexander pushed.
This ti,
??Alicia finally spoke....
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