Alicia stared at him speechlessly.

But Alexander merely picked up a fork and pushed the salad closer to her.

"Do you want more?"

"...You eat," she replied softly.

Still, after hesitating for a moment, she eventually took a small bite anyway.

During the past few days, Alicia had barely had an appetite because of her grief.

But for the baby’s sake...

she forced herself to eat something every meal.

Seeing her finally eat properly, Alexander quietly picked up another bite and moved to feed her again.

"I’m really full," Alicia said quickly. "You should eat it yourself."

Alexander studied her face carefully.

"Not eating anymore?"

A trace of concern lingered in his eyes.

"No," she replied softly. "I’m done."

Only then did Alexander finally put down the utensils.

Afterward, he gently lifted her out of the single chair and settled her carefully onto the couch before covering her with a blanket.

"Then rest for a while."

Alicia looked up at him helplessly.

"You haven’t slept in two days either," she said quietly. "You should rest too."

The moment he heard the concern in her voice, something in Alexander’s expression softened instantly.

His tired eyes seemed to brighten slightly.

Because compared to the day Roseline passed away—

when Alicia’s eyes had looked painfully empty and lifeless—

this version of her was different.

She was slowly beginning to accept reality again.

And most importantly...

she was starting to notice him again too.

"Alright," Alexander replied softly.

After finishing his meal, he threw away the trash and quietly lay down beside her.

Alicia cracked one eye open to glance at him.

The L-shaped couch was large, but not nearly large enough for two adults to rest comfortably together.

Yet despite the many empty couches nearby, Alexander still chose to lie beside her.

"With all this space," Alicia asked softly, slightly amused, "why are you squeezing yourself there?"

Alexander simply raised a hand and gently covered her eyes.

"Don’t talk," he murmured quietly. "Just sleep."

After staying busy for days without rest, all Alexander wanted now...

was to stay close to her.

And before long, exhaustion finally overtook him.

Alicia’s POV

When I woke up, Alexander was no longer beside me.

Two days had passed in the blink of an eye.

And today...

Nana was finally being laid to rest.

Several black SUV’s followed behind the hearse as it slowly departed from the funeral home, moving through the main streets of Velaridge City before heading toward the Blackwood family’s private cemetery on the outskirts.

They wouldn’t allow me to go.

The cemetery was located high in the mountains, and everyone insisted it was too dangerous for me to climb in my condition.

Before leaving, Alexander specifically instructed Jim to take me home directly.

I didn’t argue.

At least...

not until I was about to leave the funeral home.

That was when I unexpectedly saw Aunt Angela.

I froze slightly in surprise.

No one had mentioned she was coming.

But then again...

it was still her mother’s funeral.

"Aunty," I greeted softly with a faint smile. "You’re here."

But instead of responding warmly, Angela looked at me with pure disgust.

Well at least that was expected towards me.

"What are you doing here, you witch?"

My smile froze instantly.

For a moment, I thought I had heard wrong.

But Angela’s furious expression made it clear I hadn’t.

"After killing my mother, you still have the nerve to show up here?" she snapped as she stepped closer. "Do you have no shame at all?"

I stared at her blankly in complete shock.

"What...?"

"What kind of cursed existence are you?" Angela continued bitterly. "First your parents died, and now you entered our family and killed my mother too."

Her eyes burned with resentment.

"Who’s next, hm?"

"Alexander?"

Her words hit me so suddenly my mind went blank.

What was she talking about?

How did Nana’s death have anything to do with me?

I stood frozen in place as she continued walking toward me.

We were only a few feet apart when suddenly an angry voice rang out behind us.

"Angela! What are you doing?!"

Uncle Steve hurried over immediately and positioned himself protectively in front of me.

"You just arrived and you’re already causing trouble?" he snapped angrily. "Mother is being buried today, for goodness’ sake!"

Angela let out a cold laugh.

"If you respected Mom so much, then you shouldn’t let that murderer appear here."

"Stop calling her that," Uncle Steve growled. "Mother’s death had nothing to do with Alicia."

Angela scoffed.

"If she and her father hadn’t forced their way into this family, we wouldn’t even know who she was!"

"Angela, stop talking."

"If Alexander hadn’t married her, he wouldn’t have abandoned Lilian like he did!"

Her voice grew sharper with every word.

"And Lilian wouldn’t have confronted Mom that night and worsened her condition overnight!"

"She even caused Alexander to step down from the company!"

The moment those words left her mouth—

my eyes widened completely.

Lilian...

went to see Nana?

What was she talking about?

"Angela, I said enough!" Uncle Steve shouted furiously. "When are you finally going to grow up instead of behaving like a spoiled child?!"

Then he suddenly turned toward me.

The anger in his eyes disappeared instantly, replaced by worry.

He gently held my arm and carefully guided me toward the exit.

Only then did I finally snap out of my shock.

"Uncle..."

My voice trembled badly.

"Is it true?"

"Am I really the reason Grandma died?"

The moment the words left my mouth, Uncle Steve’s expression changed immediately.

"Shh," he said quickly. "Don’t say things like that."

"You are NOT responsible for any of this."

"Then why did Nana suddenly get worse?" I asked desperately, stopping in place. "Why is Aunt Angela blaming me?"

A painful thought slowly surfaced in my mind.

Was I really bad luck?

"Alicia." Uncle Steve sighed deeply before gently patting my head.

"You don’t need to worry about anything Angela said."

"She’s emotional right now and not thinking clearly."

Then his expression grew complicated.

"I stayed behind because I needed to finish handling a few things here. After the burial... we’ll talk properly, alright?"

I stared at him silently for a few seconds before finally nodding weakly.

Uncle Steve personally opened the car door for me and made sure Jim drove away safely before returning toward his own car.

As the car pulled away, I glanced back through the mirror.

Aunt Angela was still standing beside Uncle Steve’s car, visibly furious.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Because the only thing repeating endlessly inside my mind...

was her words.

Did Lilian really come to see Nana that night?

If she did...

what exactly happened between them?

And if Alexander already knew about it—

then why didn’t he tell me?