‎Third Person POV

Two days later, another topic exploded across the internet.

Almost overnight, all of Lilian’s endorsements and variety show collaborations began quietly announcing contract terminations. Several brands even deleted her promotional posters and replaced her with new models at lightning speed.

The online community instantly connected it to Alexander’s recent interview.

"Did Alexander and Lilian break up?"

"Looks like CEO Blackwood is finally returning to his family."

"Didn’t they say there was nothing between them? Then why is he suddenly cutting her off?"

Sharp-eyed netizens quickly noticed that even Blackwood Dominion Enterprises had already removed Lilian’s endorsement advertisements from its official platforms.

For a time, speculation spread wildly online.

Many people believed Alexander had finally decided to play the role of the devoted husband and distance himself completely from Lilian.

When Director Holland heard the news, he was both surprised and relieved.

As one of the directors at Arclarie Entertainment, he had long been pressured by Alexander’s influence to give Lilian resources and opportunities she wasn’t always suited for.

Now that Alexander had withdrawn his support, he could finally make proper casting decisions and promote artists more fairly.

At the same time, Director Holland couldn’t help recalling when they had lunch together not long ago.

Back then, Alexander and Lilian had appeared extremely close.

Meanwhile, Aiden and Alicia had been sitting together laughing and chatting naturally.

Thinking back on it now, Director Holland suddenly felt awkward, especially remembering how he had jokingly teased Aiden and Alicia right in front of Alexander that day.

Fortunately, Alexander didn’t seem like the type to hold grudges over something so trivial.

Meanwhile, when Aiden saw the news, he let out a cold, bitter laugh.

‎Alexander Blackwood really was something else.

‎First, he had stepped forward to clarify the rumors, making the public believe there had never been anything inappropriate between him and Lilian.

‎And now, not long after the interview aired, news spread that Lilian’s endorsement resources and support from Blackwood Dominion Enterprises had quietly begun disappearing one after another.

‎To outsiders, it looked as though Alexander was finally drawing boundaries for Alicia’s sake.

‎But Aiden wasn’t a fool.

‎He had personally seen Alexander and Lilian together before — the subtle intimacy between them, the unspoken closeness, the way Alicia had stood quietly beside them enduring everything in silence.

‎Even people within the industry had assumed Alexander and Lilian were the real couple.

‎So what was this now?

‎A grand declaration of love?

‎A public attempt at playing the devoted husband?

‎Disgusting.

‎When Aiden first watched the interview, he had actually thought Alexander would finally clear Alicia’s name.

‎At the time, he had even thought coldly to himself:

‎At least Alexander still has a bit of conscience.

‎But then—

‎He heard Alexander calmly refer to Alicia as his wife.

‎Aiden froze instantly.

‎His grip tightened unconsciously around his phone as his eyes locked onto the screen.

‎Wife.

‎Married for two years.

‎For a moment, his chest felt strangely hollow.

‎So even back when he first met Alicia...

‎She had already belonged to someone else.

‎Bitterness spread silently through his heart.

‎He forced himself to continue watching.

‎But the more Alexander spoke, the darker Aiden’s expression became.

‎The public didn’t know the truth.

‎They hadn’t seen Alicia standing there quietly while Alexander protected Lilian over and over again.

‎They hadn’t seen the way Alicia swallowed every grievance alone while the entire industry treated Lilian as the woman beside Alexander Blackwood.

‎And now Alexander was standing before cameras, acting as though he had always loved Alicia deeply.

‎As though he were some affectionate husband trying desperately to protect his wife.

‎The hypocrisy of it made Aiden’s chest burn with anger.

‎How could someone like Alexander deserve Alicia?

‎What angered him most wasn’t even the affair itself.

‎It was how Alicia had endured everything quietly, clearly doing it for Alexander’s reputation...

‎Yet the only thing she seemed to receive in return was hurt.

‎

Alexander’s POV

I had a lunch meeting with several business associates to discuss a few projects.

Since they were the ones who insisted on meeting outside the office, I let them choose the location.

At exactly 2:00 p.m., Jim drove me there.

The restaurant was hidden deep inside a narrow alley. Cars had to be parked outside before walking the rest of the way in, but despite the inconvenient location, the place was surprisingly popular. The interior was elegant, the service impeccable, and the food well-known throughout the city.

After arriving, I left Jim in the car and headed inside alone.

The meeting lasted longer than expected.

By the time we finished discussing business and ordered lunch, the weather outside had already darkened considerably.

Rain soon began pouring heavily against the windows.

After the meal, my associates left first while I stayed behind to wash my hands.

When I finally stepped out of the restaurant, the owner personally handed me an umbrella since the parking area was some distance away.

I thanked him briefly and walked out into the rain.

The alley was nearly deserted.

Rainwater splashed endlessly against the ground, the sound echoing through the narrow passageway.

As I approached the mouth of the alley, several men walked toward me holding umbrellas, chatting and laughing casually among themselves.

At first glance, nothing seemed unusual.

Then—

A cold flash of white light suddenly appeared before my eyes.

Instinct took over immediately.

I grabbed the man’s wrist just as the knife thrust toward my abdomen.

The umbrella slipped from my hand and crashed onto the wet pavement.

Rain poured down instantly, soaking my hair and clothes.

Before I could fully process the situation, the remaining men abruptly threw aside their umbrellas and pulled knives from beneath their jackets.

Six of them.

So this wasn’t robbery.

It was planned.

One blade slashed toward my shoulder.

I dodged sideways and kicked sharply at the attacker’s wrist.

Clang!

A dagger fell onto the ground.

Rainwater streamed down my face as I backed against the cold wall, staring at the men surrounding me.

The heavy rain blurred their appearances, making it impossible to clearly see their faces.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly.

"You damn capitalist!" one tall man shouted with bloodshot eyes. "You think people like you can do whatever you want?!"

He lunged at me furiously.

I sidestepped, twisted his wrist violently, and drove my elbow into his chest.

He staggered backward with a painful grunt.

But the others immediately closed in.

Knives flashed dangerously through the rain.

Though I reacted quickly, one blade still sliced through my suit sleeve.

Shhk!

A sharp sting spread across my arm.

Blood mixed with rainwater and dripped silently down my fingertips.

I kicked another man hard in the stomach.

He crashed onto the ground, clutching himself while coughing violently.

"Enough!" one of the men suddenly shouted, panic creeping into his voice. "This is going too far!"

But by then, things were already out of control.

The alley had become a chaotic blur of rain, violence, and flashing blades.

I grabbed one attacker by the collar and slammed him against the wall—

Just then—

A presence suddenly rushed toward me from behind.

Cold danger surged through my instincts.

I turned sharply—

But it was too late.

A knife drove straight toward my back.

"Alexander! Watch out!"

A woman’s terrified scream pierced through the rain.

Thwack!

The sound of a blade piercing flesh echoed through the alley.

"Ah—!"